How to use it
- Keep “Round to a power of two” ticked unless you know the game accepts other sizes.
- Drop in your images.
- Download the DDS files.
What this makes
Uncompressed 32-bit DDS (8 bits each of red, green, blue and alpha) with a single mip level. Every DDS reader and every engine that loads DDS can use it, and nothing is lost in compression. That makes it a safe choice for mod textures, prototypes and tools that re-compress on import.
When you need compressed DDS
Many games expect textures in a particular block-compressed format, commonly BC1/DXT1 for opaque textures, BC3/DXT5 with alpha, or BC7 in recent titles, often with a full mipmap chain. Uncompressed DDS files are four to eight times larger than those. Some games load them happily; others need the exact format. If a game refuses the file or shows it wrongly, use a dedicated texture tool such as NVIDIA's Texture Tools or Microsoft's texconv to produce the specific compression it expects.
Sizes
Power-of-two dimensions are ticked by default, since many engines and nearly all older games require them. Each side snaps to the nearest power of two. Replacement textures for mods should usually match the original texture's size exactly; check it by opening the original with DDS to PNG.
PNG and DDS compared
| PNG | DDS | |
|---|---|---|
| First released | 1996 | 1999 |
| Compression | Lossless | GPU block compression, or none |
| Transparency | Yes, including soft edges | Yes |
| Animation or pages | Only as APNG, rarely used | Mipmaps and cube maps |
| Best for | Screenshots, graphics, text and transparency | Real-time textures in games |
| Support | Universal | Game engines and modding tools |
Questions people ask
Is the DDS compressed?
No. It is uncompressed 32-bit, which every DDS reader accepts. Some games require a specific compressed format instead.
Does it include mipmaps?
No, a single level. Most engines generate mipmaps on import if needed.
Will a mod accept this texture?
Often. If the game needs DXT or BC7 specifically, re-compress with a dedicated texture tool.