Saving DDS with alpha channel

[CodeCat]

This is driving me crazy...

I have a PSD format skin with an alpha channel. And I want to save it as DDS. When I try to save it, it gives me an error: Unsupported input format. If I remove the alpha channel and save, it all goes fine. But when the alpha is there it goes wrong. How do I get it to work??

[Chrizz]

BTW immo do you got newest version of DXT Compression?

[CodeCat]

You mean it could be a bug in the plugin? Hmm I'll see if I can get the newest one from nvidia...

EDIT: Nope, nothing. :/

[key0p]

I dont know why it doesnt work, but just save the texture as a targa first, then it will work when you save as dds.

[Alphathon]

I've had the same problem. It works if you flaten it first, and it makes no difference, coz u can just undo the flaten when ur done

[theliberator2005]

Flatten??
What's that's supposed to mean, merge the layers?

[Alphathon]

Yeh, thts exactly what it meens - layer>flaten image. It merges all visible layers, discards hidden layers, and calls the new layer background

[Chrizz]

I think it doenst make sens.... cuz i always save DXT/5 with layers so when you flattten it not always work but you can give it a try these errors are very wierd never had this problem i save dds files in all pixel formats etc and never get bugs

[theliberator2005]

Isn't it also possible to apply an additional skin to the model in gmax??

Idea is to apply the Alpha layer seperatly!

[CodeCat]

Chrizz, if you always save as DXT5 then you're wasting space.

DXT1 - No alpha (save as this most of the time)
DXT1 + 1 bit alpha - Only if you have areas that are either FULL alpha or NO alpha.
DXT3 (4 bit explicit alpha) - Saves the alpha channel as you made it. Not good for alpha gradients but good for sharp edges.
DXT5 (4 bit interpolated alpha) - Good for gradients and continuous variations, not good for sharp edges.

The catch is that DXT3/5 are DOUBLE the size of DXT1. But there is NO quality difference in the actual picture. If anything, DXT3/5 look WORSE than DXT1. So use DXT1 whenever you can. Using DXT3 or 5 depends on what you want. DXT3 is more like GIF where DXT5 acts more like JPEG, as far as alpha coding is done.