picture compression/conversion

Hi Allll,

I have made a skybox, and to keep the image good res i made the pics 512 X 512 bitmaps which are 768k... (lowering to 245 colors was not acceptable)..

Now within unreal editor i compressed them to DXT 5 making each image 342k..

What I would like to know is what is the difference between DXT 1, 3, 5 as i notice that the different formats are used for different pictures within unreal textures ???????? Which do you use for what ?

Also does anyone know of a good FREE *.dds to *.bmp converter?

Attached for your viewing is a pic of the skybox with basic terrain sketch that i made with Terragen...( a good free skybox creator)...

cheeeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrssssssssss ato

Hi Vito,,,,,

thx for the info .... well I'll probly just use dxt 5 most of the time then..
its great having the compression within the editor but it would be handy to be able to compress externally too.

AHA i found one ... for anyone who is looking for the converter here is a good dds to various formats including bmp application that is free--- dxtbmp

http://www.mnwright.btinternet.co.uk/programs/dxtbmp.htm

to make bmp to dxt x (with my ati card) The Compressonator 0.75 is free and good..

cheeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrrssssssssss a