Originally Posted by daluved1

make sure you selected "8.8.8.8 ARGB 32 bpp | unsigned"

Originally Posted by daluved1

Okay, I think I see why you're getting the "too many channels" error, that means you probably need to flatten the image before exporting it to a DDS.

Flattened simply means that there is only one layer in the image. In Photoshop, from what I can tell from my own experience, any transparency in the image is seen as another layer, even if it shows that you only have one background layer.

In part 4, step 7 when you delete the duplicated background layer, the image should automatically be flattened. However, if the canvas color is set to transparency for some wonky reason, then simply try reflattening the image again. This should give you an all white background with your stencil somewhere in the middle. In short: If you see the grey/white checkerboard when you try to save it as a DDS, then you need to flatten the image to turn the background white. This should solve that error...I hope...

Now, GIMP is another story, I believe that you indeed can export a DDS with the transparency showing. So that shouldn't throw you off, however I'll go check that out and verify if it's true.

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Now, this funny business about the unsupported DDS error might mean that you saved it as the wrong file type. I've never tried to save it as a Targa first, so it might be that saving it as a targa then exporting it as a DDS is doing something weird to the file.

First, go back and look at the DDS file you saved. The file size should be 5,462 KB. If it's less or--God forbid--more than that, then your image was corrupted in the saving process.

Hopefully you saved your psd (if using photoshop) or your xcf (if using GIMP).

Re-open your psd/xcf and try saving it as a DDS again. (Make sure all 4 channels are there correctly and that the image is flattened).

If using the NVIDIA plug-in make sure you selected "8.8.8.8 ARGB 32 bpp | unsigned", and MIPmaps were generated.

If using the plug-in for GIMP make sure the "RGBA8" format was selected and the the Generate MIPmaps box was ticked.


I really hope that helped, but if it doesn't...let me know and I'll ponder over this some more.

And, I also wanted to say thanks for all the lovely compliments! Although I haven't slept much since I first made the tutorial, staying up late to answer questions for you guys is worth the insomnia If it wasn't for MTS/TSR tutorials, I wouldn't know how to do much of anything for the Sims 2 or Sims 3. So I figured that I should give back to the community.

Much love!
-Alaina

&&Amber, I love your deviantArt You should check out mine.

Originally Posted by daluved1

Okay, I think I see why you're getting the "too many channels" error, that means you probably need to flatten the image before exporting it to a DDS.

Originally Posted by Snaitf

Please, do NOT use 8.8.8.8 ARGB as this is a completely UNcompressed image format, and you will end up with HUGE files. Use either DXT3 or DXT5 for images with an Alpha layer, or DXT1 for images with no alpha layer.

Originally Posted by Delphy

Sadisticpyro, DBPF compressing 8.8.8.8 still means that the actual texture itself in memory takes up 5mb in size. Lots and lots of these (which I can see happening) means you quickly chew up texture memory. There is a reason DXT was invented you know.

Considering that to save in DXT is exactly the same dialog as 8.8.8.8 (and less clicks, to boot), this is the prefered method for clothing.

Originally Posted by kookiekween99

Tested it in CAS, and I got a shirt with a black background and white where the image was supposed to be.

I'll try starting over tomorrow and going through the entire process again, but I'm too tired to do any more with it right now.

Originally Posted by Rose_Reveries

Just suspicious, but can you do this in Paint.NET? It seems like you can because you can save in DDS, but I can't follow the tutorials in it...

Originally Posted by Delphy

Sadisticpyro, DBPF compressing 8.8.8.8 still means that the actual texture itself in memory takes up 5mb in size. Lots and lots of these (which I can see happening) means you quickly chew up texture memory. There is a reason DXT was invented you know.

Originally Posted by Sadisticpyro

Oh, I see. Didn't realize this. Does this apply to custom objects as well (buyable paintings, etc.) or just clothing? If so, I'll have to go back and redo pretty much everything I've been working on. *facepalm*

ETA: also, when saving .DDS files on photoshop, I'm getting DXT1/3/5 options. I'm assuming 1 (1-bit) is the lowest quality, and 5 (interpolated) is the highest? Which one would you recommend choosing?

ETA 2: Never mind. I figured out the game itself uses DXT3. :P

Originally Posted by jonha

Hmm, The textures I see in the game are either DXT1 when they have no transparency ot DXT 5 when they have transparency. I would recommend DXT1 for non-transparent textures, as the quality is good and they have the smalles file size.

Originally Posted by Godofgame1st

and my question?

Originally Posted by daluved1

Hmm I never thought to use DXT1, I always assumed that that was the lowest quality. Hm...I'll go try that out.

Originally Posted by jonha

DXT 1 has the same quality as DXT 3 or DXT 5, or maybe even better. It just stores no alpha channel and has the half filesize.

See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S3_Texture_Compression

Originally Posted by t0b1a5

Can someone tell me how to make translucent(sp)/transparent clothing?