Bug? DDS Not Working anymore (Solved)

[IckyATLAS]

I changed the title as the way I would do my skins do not work anymore.

 

This was my usual process:

 

Open the Public PSD Skin as published by Jason in Photoshop Elements

Do the modifications into a visible user layer and save it as DDS file.

I use the NVidia Plugin downloaded from the Developer website.

The compression used is DXT5 as per image below

 

When the DDS file is put in the folder, I can access it in the sim as usual in the Custom skins.

 

But the plane is always completely cyan color. It is not flat it has metallic shine but it has a unique color all over the plane.

Here is the result with the original P47D-28 file

 

 

Very strangely the inside of the cockpit is correct. 

Any ideas? 

 

See also the below issue:

 

I recently wanted to make a new skin for the Yak 1s69 with Win 10 Photoshop and I get when saving the psd file as a dds file the following error message: Too Many Channels (5)

 

I use the Nvidia Texture Tools and DDS application for Photoshop. As I have an Nvidia Graphics Card I took the Nvidia version.

To be sure that this was not an error due to my modifications I tested this with the Public skin (untouched as is) that is released by Jason and I get the same error.

 

I skinned in the past with 4K Public skins and had never this issue. Has something changed as all skins are being updated maybe for the new graphic rendering technology?

 

I then decided to test with some of other skins and just downloaded today the P47D-28 Public and the U2VS Public PSD files. When I tried to save them as DDS, the P47D-28 file does open the DDS application and I can proceed.

However the U2VS one generates the same error: Too Many Channels (5)

 

I am at a loss here because it seems some of the released skin files do work others generate errors.

I am a very occasional and with very limited competence as skinner, so before posting this as a bug maybe I missed something. The "pro" skinners do seem to be able to skin without an issue. I saw no similar issue on the forum.

Thank you for your help on this.

Edited January 14, 2022 by IckyATLAS

[Rjel]

I'm still using CS2 so maybe something has changed in later versions but all appears to be working as usual on my end. Any chance you have an upper layer in your skin template that might be the color you showed in your screenshot that you've forgotten about?

 

As to the Too Many Channels (5), is it possible you aren't clicking the Flatten Image tab and then clicking OK when the Discard hidden layers popup appears before trying to save the image?

 

Edited January 14, 2022 by Rjel
spelling

[Jaws2002]

I had similar problems some time ago, when i switched to Windows 10. Couldn't figure it out, so i tried Intel's tool for a while and then the new Nvidia tool. 

For some reason the new Nvidia tool was very slow. Then, when I swapped my CPU, I reinstalled windows and now the new Nvidia tool works really good and fast.

 

Nvidia isn't updating the old tool, for a while, so it could be messed up by windows updates or game updates. 

 

If you have up to date windows 10, try the new tool. again. 

Edited January 14, 2022 by Jaws2002

[IckyATLAS]

I finally solved the issue.

For whatever reason on Win10 with Photoshop Elements 2021 and Nvidia Texture tools it does not work.

A "pro" skinner here on the forum kindly gave me an advice and that is to use the Intel Texture Works, and it does work perfectly.

 

Here it is: Intel® Texture Works Plugin for Photoshop*

 

No need to flatten anything. Once you have done your changes in .psd file just save in the DDS format and there it goes. Perfect.

And the compression time extremely fast compared to the Nvidia one, maybe because it uses better the Intel CPU I have.

 

P.S.

I also decided to upgrade to the full Photoshop version which allows to work in a more straightforward manner with the Channels and so playing with Alpha Channels is now much more pleasant.

Edited January 15, 2022 by IckyATLAS

[jollyjack]

I agree, flattening is not needed, only the visible layers are used for the DDS output file.

[Taurus]

Flattening is NOT NEEDED!??

 

That is a major game changer for me! Thanks for sharing!

[jollyjack]

On 2/14/2022 at 10:53 AM, Taurus said:

Flattening is NOT NEEDED!??

 

That is a major game changer for me! Thanks for sharing!

 

To be sure, that is when exporting a DDS; I used to flatten always as a welknown forummer taught me.

You run the risk of loosing your edited layers if you accidentally save your PSD that way. Stupid me, as control-S is a thing i do often automatically.

[Taurus]

Don't save.      Don't save.      Don't save.       Hmmm, Been a while, don't loose your changes -> Save.     OH NO! 

 

I have had only one hang using the new driver, otherwise loving it.

[15[Span.]/JG51Navarro]

Hello everyone,

 

I am using a payment version of Photoshop 2022 and although I have installed, I believe correctly, the DDs plugins (both the IntelTextureWorks and the one listed on FnordSoftwareBlog) I am still unable to convert PSD files to DDS. 
However if I can open and save other DDS files, weird or maybe not so much...!? 
I'm completely new in this world of skins and I'm probably skipping some steps.
Any advice or suggestions to help me solve this issue would be greatly appreciated.

 

Regards,

15(Span.)/JG51Navarro

[VBF-12_Stick-95]

On 6/23/2022 at 1:05 AM, 15[Span.]/JG51Navarro said:

Hello everyone,

 

I am using a payment version of Photoshop 2022 and although I have installed, I believe correctly, the DDs plugins (both the IntelTextureWorks and the one listed on FnordSoftwareBlog) I am still unable to convert PSD files to DDS. 
However if I can open and save other DDS files, weird or maybe not so much...!? 
I'm completely new in this world of skins and I'm probably skipping some steps.
Any advice or suggestions to help me solve this issue would be greatly appreciated.

 

Regards,

15(Span.)/JG51Navarro

 

I just upgraded from PS v23.3.1 to v23.4.2 and spent the last 3 hours figuring out how to get the DDS file ability back.  Long story short, access to the DDS file format is under Save a Copy in the new version NOT Save As within the old version.

 

I also installed the latest nVidia Texture Tool Explorer but I'm not sure if it's needed.  Instead I use the files mentioned in this article:  https://www.christoph-werner.de/2015/11/03/hint-how-to-setup-dds-support-inside-adobe-photoshop-cc/

 

Download link for plugin files mentioned in article:  https://www.mediafire.com/file/jl6n9z6jmk54qhm/Adobe_PS_DDS_file_creator_legacy.zip/file

 

I created a skin today with the new PS and the legacy DDS plugin and it worked fine.

 

Shot of legacy dds plugin:
 

 

Edited July 21, 2022 by VBF-12_Stick-95

[15[Span.]/JG51Navarro]

1 hour ago, VBF-12_Stick-95 said:

 

I just upgraded from PS v23.3.1 to v23.4.2 and spent the last 3 hours figuring out how to get the DDS file ability back.  Long story short, access to the DDS file format is under Save a Copy in the new version NOT Save As within the old version.

 

I also installed the latest nVidia Texture Tool Explorer but I'm not sure if it's needed.  Instead I use the files mentioned in this article:  https://www.christoph-werner.de/2015/11/03/hint-how-to-setup-dds-support-inside-adobe-photoshop-cc/

 

Download link for plugin files mentioned in article:  https://www.mediafire.com/file/jl6n9z6jmk54qhm/Adobe_PS_DDS_file_creator_legacy.zip/file

 

I created a skin today with the new PS and the legacy DDS plugin and it worked fine.

 

Shot of legacy dds plugin:
 

 

 

Hi Stick-95, thank you very much for your answer. I am pretty sure this will help me a lot! I'll give a try later on...

 

Regards,

15(Span.)/JG51Navarro