I thought I followed the sparse directions, but Gimp can't load or save as .dds. Could someone who has gotten it to work please provide directions that avoid compiling programs, obscure acronyms, etc.?
Heh, in other words, for the sort of folk like me, not exactly computer brain dead, but in need of specific step by step instructions.
BTW: the files I downloaded are Gimp, GTK2, (from sourceforge) and the Gimp plugin from the Nvidia site. Hope these were correct.

Which version of gimp you running? i'm on 2.2 and am fairly sure I didnt have to download any plugins or anything like that. The .DDS is simply there as an option in the Select File Type (By Extension) in the Save As box.

Will,
2.2.13
Where did you get your version? As I understand it, since it's open source code, what you get one place isn't the same as that from somewhere else.
Something I read while researching mentioned 'Ghost Script.' I figured that was where my problem was, heh, uhless that's what the GTK2 is.

edited on Mar. 9, 2007 01:27 pm by Jimbeau

Pretty sure we're running the same version mate. Sure it doesnt give you the option under save as/file extensions menu?

and i'm fairly sure i got it from download.com

edited on Mar. 9, 2007 02:00 pm by super_will

what size did you make the picture you were trying to save.. how many pixels wide and high?

512x.
The error message said something like DDS unknown format. Wouldn't load an existing one, either. Hmm, not sure, but I think that was the same size.
I got the one from Cnet. I'll give that a try when I get home. Sure would be slick if that's all I need.

Ok, I now officially give up on Gimp.
I looked into Devil. What a nightmare.
I'm really ticked at the graphics world. It's not like dds was invented yesterday.
However, I'm not too pleased with IW. I mean we're not dealing with state of the art here. 512x is still considered huge. PCX format with engine defined 'see through' would have been all that was needed. (Alpha channels have their uses, but are certainly not needed in a closely defined game environment.) Why in the heck did IW go with a format that is not universally available? Bet it had something to do with those cute little blurbs about Nvidia being the ultimate... yada yada.
--
I'm through ranting now.

I haven't used GIMP, but if it will let you save it as a .psd and you have flattened it, then gave it a proper alpha channel, use "DDS Converter 2" to convert it to .DDS