Intel has extended Photoshop* to take advantage of the latest image compression methods (BCn/DXT) via plugin. The purpose of this plugin is to provide a tool for artists to access superior compression results at optimized compression speeds within Photoshop*.
Project maintained by GameTechDevHosted on GitHub Pages — Theme by mattgrahamGetting Started (Installation)
- Close Photoshop
- Download the IntelTextureWorks_1.0.4.zip file and expand it on your local computer
- Copy the desired plugin from either of the following unzipped folders
- .../IntelTextureWorks_1.0.4Pluginsx64IntelTextureWorks.8bi
- .../IntelTextureWorks_1.0.4PluginsWin32IntelTextureWorks.8bi
- Paste the plugin into the appropriate Photoshop Plugin folder
- D:Program FilesAdobe Photoshop CC 2014RequiredPlug-InsFile Formats
- D:Program FilesAdobeAdobe Photoshop CS6 (64 Bit)Plug-insFile Formats
- Copy the cubemap scripts from:
- .../IntelTextureWorks_1.0.4PhotoshopScriptsIntelTextureWorks-ConvertCubeMap.jsx
- .../IntelTextureWorks_1.0.4PhotoshopScriptsIntelTextureWorks-CubeMapGaussianBlur.jsx
- Paste the cubemap scripts into:
- D:Program FilesAdobe Photoshop CC 2014PresetsScripts
Saving Files via Plugin
Intel® Texture Works Plugin for Photoshop. Intel has extended Photoshop. to take advantage of the latest image compression methods (BCn/DXT) via plugin. The purpose of this plugin is to provide a tool for artists to access superior compression results at optimized compression speeds within Photoshop.
- File > Save As
- Select 'Save as type' > Intel® Texture Works (*.DDS;*.DDS)
- Navigate to store location
- Assign file name
- Save
- Select desired plugin options and preview (pan/zoom), as necessary
- Ok
Loading Files Saved via Plugin
Multiple resident DDS plugins can result in a texture display error on load. To avoid this, use the following process to reload textures saved with the Intel® Texture Works plugin for Photoshop
- File > Open As
- Select Intel® Texture Works (*.DDS;*.DDS) as type (to the right of 'File name' field)
- Select file
- Select desired mipmap loading options if applicable
- Select desired color profile loading options
Logging Bugs, Enhancements, & Feedback
Use the GitHub Issue Tracking System to log your bugs, enhancement (requests), and feedback (general impressions appreciated). Labels really help here - please use them.
NOTE:
- Not all authoring apps can read the latest BCn textures. We're keeping a running list of authoring app BCn load status on the Wiki here
- To implement BCn texture compression in your own apps and engines download the sample source code here
- The FAQ is also available on the Wiki
Requirements
- Windows* (32/64) versions 7, 8, 10
- Photoshop* CS6 through CC2015
Photoshop Dds Plugin Free To Skip. If that doesnt interest you, feel free to skip the next section. You will also need these templates of.tobj files. There should be two templates: one named paintjob013.tobj and one named paintjobstyle13.tobj. Extract the two templates to a temporary folder; youre about to edit them. May 06, 2021 Download the DDS Plugin on the NVIDIA web site to download. Click the 'Download' Button, and select the 'Texture Tools for Adobe Photoshop'. Now you just have to decide between the 32-Bit and 64-Bit variant. Name Intel® Texture Works Plugin for Photoshop Cost Free (Open Source) Download Intel GitHub. Description A plugin for loading and saving DDS texture files with Adobe Photoshop.
Prerequisites
- Visual Studio 2012 (or possibly higher, although so far all builds created with 2012)
- Photoshop CS6 SDK, can be obtained from here: http://www.adobe.com/devnet/photoshop/sdk.html
- Adobe Photoshop 32 or 64 bit, CS6 or higher.
First time set-up
- Install Photoshop CS6 SDK on developer machine
- Open IntelTextureTools solution
- Go to Property Manager and edit settings for Microsoft.Cpp.Win32.user and Microsoft.Cpp.x64.user, adding the following User MacroPHOTOSHOP_SDK_CS6 =
- Choose platform appropriate to the version of Photoshop you wish to test with (Win32 or x64)
- Build! For convenience plugin binaries will be copied to '~/Plugins/[platform]' folder.
To easily run/debug from Visual Studio
- create an alias/shortcut to the appropriate platform folder and place it in the matching Photoshop Plug-ins folder (this will allow photoshop to load plugin from build location)
- in plugin project, select Properties->Configuration->Debugging->Target and browse to photoshop executable
Photoshop Dds Plugin Mac
3rd Party code ##
This project utilizes the following code (located under 3rdParty folder)
- DirectXTex, from https://github.com/Microsoft/DirectXTex (Sourced from tag Jul2015)
- Intel, BC compression code and helpers
Intel has extended Photoshop* to take advantage of the latest image compression methods (BCn or DXT) via plugin. The purpose of this plugin is to provide a tool for artists to access superior compression results at optimized compression speeds within Photoshop.
Before Compression 769k TGA
After BC7 Fine Compression 257k DDS
Benefits
- Access to hardware supported superior compression results
- Compression at optimized speeds
- Previewing and convenience features to aid productivity
- Runs within established content tool
- Pluggable architecture for future compression schemes
FAQ
Q: Why do we still need texture compression?
A: Demand for more realism in games via textures has increased with every new graphics hardware improvement. Effective texture memory management (compression), is still required to keep pace with this demand.
Q: How can I minimize artifacts errors?
A: Higher bit depths and or finer (slower) compression formats (e.g. BC7 fine)
Q: Why would I use BCn over lossless PNG?
A1: PNG, JPG, etc. saves disk space and transmission time over the internet but have no impact on optimizing textures for use in graphics hardware memory whatsoever
A2: BCn optimizes textures for real-time use in graphics memory and saves space on disk. However, not all applications can read or load the newer BCn compression formats - This free sample code will allow you to implement optimized BCn in your app.
Q: Once I have a .DDS with BCn what do I do with it?
A: You can assign the texture to your object in any app that supports the chosen BCn format
Q: What game engines support DDS?
A1: Unreal* offers BC7 as a texture compression option on build
A2: Maya* 2015+ supports BC7 in Viewport2.0
Q: Is there support for Microsoft DirectX* 11.3 and 12?
A: Yes the newer BCn formats are supported in DirectX*11.2 and 12
Q: How do I know what compression is best for what?
A: See Export Formats table below
Q: What are the HW requirements for BCn
A1: Older graphics (< DirectX 10) won't support newer BC6 and BC7
A2: Low power graphics like PowerVR don't support BC compression
Q: Is a Mac* version available
A: No, not at this time
Key Features
- Multiple image format support for BCn,
- Save with
- Microsoft DirectX 10 extended header for sRGB
- Read DirectX10 extended header DDS files into Photoshop
- Choice of Fast and Fine (more accurate) compression
- Support for alpha maps, color maps, normal maps
- Support for cube maps
- BCn Compression
- Gaussian Blur Script
- Convert Horizontal cube cross to from Layers script
- Load or Edit mipmaps levels as layers - Repack mipmaps upon save
- Real-time preview to visualize quality trade-offs
- Photoshop Batch or Action support
- Save plugin settings as Presets
- Extensible
Cube Map Tools
Gaussian Blur Script
Allows you to apply a gaussian blur value across all individual layers (sides) of the cube map. Layers can then be saved directly to a single DDS file in the BCn format of choice or converted to a horizontal cube cross using the Convert Cube Map script provided to evaluate if desired.
Photoshop Dds Plugin Intel
Convert Cube Map Script
Enables 2-way conversion from a horizontal cube cross to individual sides as layers for image processing and back again.
Export Formats
Available formats change based on Texture Type chosen. Contextual guidance in simple terms is also provided. Color format list shown at left. Full list shown below.
Photoshop Cc Dds Plugin
| BC1 | RGB | 4BPP | aka DXT1 | Useful for color maps or normal maps if memory is tight. Contains RGB types of data |
| BC1 | sRGB | 4BPP | aka DXT1 | Same as above with sRGB extended header only on DirectX10 + level hardware |
| BC3 | RGBA | 8BPP | aka DXT5 | Useful for color maps with full alpha, packing color and mono maps together. Contains RGBA types of data. |
| BC3 | sRGBA | 8BPP | aka DXT5 | Same as above with sRGB extended header only on DirectX10 + level hardware |
| BC4 | R | 4BPP | Grayscale | Useful for height maps, gloss maps, font atlases or any other grey-scale image |
| BC5 | RG | 8BPP | aka 3Dc | Useful for tangent space normal maps. A two Channel Tangent Map |
| BC6H | RGB | 8BPP | Fast Compression | Useful for HDR 16 images only on DirectX11+ level hardware |
| BC6H | RGB | 8BPP | Fine Compression | Same as above with longer optimized compression time for a finer result |
| BC7 | RGBA | 8BPP | Fast Compression | Useful for high quality color maps, color maps with full alpha. It provides the best quality compression only on DirectX11+ level hardware |
| BC7 | RGBA | 8BPP | Fine Compression | Same as above with longer optimized compression time for a finer result |
| BC7 | sRGBA | 8BPP | Fast Compression | Same as BC7 Fast above with sRGB extended header only on DirectX10 + level hardware |
| BC7 | sRGBA | 8BPP | Fine Compression | Same as BC7 Fine above with sRGB extended header only on DirectX10 + level hardware |
| None | RGBA | 32BPP | Uncompressed |
Requirements
- Windows* (32 or 64) versions 7, 8, 10
- Photoshop* CS6 through CC2015
Reference
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