Editing DDS Textures

R

Rotator

Hi.

First of all, let me apologize if this has been answered elsewhere, but I can't find it:

I'm trying to edit the default female texture (guess why) and this is what I do:

• Extract customize_player.vpp_pc with Gibbed.SaintsRow3.UnpackVPP.exe
• Extract Default female diffuse.str2_pc with Gibbed.SaintsRow3.UnpackSTR2.exe
• Extract f_ideal_d.cvbm_pc with SR3UnpackTextures.exe
• Edit f_ideal_d.tga.DDS with Gimp 2.8 (loading mipmaps)
• Save as f_ideal_d.tga.DDS using BC3n/DXT5n compression - The resulting file is roughly twice as large as the original?
• Repack f_ideal_d.cvbm_pc with SR3RepackTextures.exe
• Repack Default female diffuse.str2_pc with Gibbed.SaintsRow3.PackSTR2.exe
• Update customize_player.asm_pc with Gibbed.SaintsRow3.UpdateASM.exe
• Repack customize_player.vpp_pc with Gibbed.SaintsRow3.PackVPP.exe
• Delete all temporary files created.

None of the steps above result in any errors, yet the game crashes when I try to continue my campaign ingame.

What am I doing wrong? I've got a feeling it has to do with the compression settings in Gimp, but I'm not sure. Please help.
 
I can see a couple of problems. First is that the BC3n/DXT5n format is for normal maps only. F_ideal_d.tga.dds is a diffuse map so save it as either DXT1 if you have no alpha channel or DXT5 if you do.

Also you don't need to repack the vpp_pc file. Just copy the str2_pc file and the updated asm_pc file to the Saints Row 3 root directory.

When you run updateasm make sure it lists the files you have changed. It sometimes fails silently i.e. doesn't give an error message.
 
Thanks, with DTX1 compression, at least the filesize remains the same.

However, simply placing the str2_pc file in the root directory causes the same crash.
Do I need to remove the original str2_pc (Default female diffuse.str2_pc) from the cache directory before updating the ASM? Do I need to edit the ASM in any way?

I edit the dds, repack to str2, then what?
 
I'm not sure what's wrong. Try looking through this thread and see if it helps.

You haven't altered anything in the cache directory? You shouldn't touch the files in that directory, placing the mod files in the Saints Row root directory will override the files in the cache directory. If you have then use Steam to verify the game files to restore them. The only exception to this rule is the Gentlemen of Steelport mod which alters the patch files but that's only because Idolninja has a Mythbusters level of expertise at modding i.e. he knows what he doing but we are all waiting in anticipation of the day he loses an eyebrow. :)
 
Rotator said:
However, simply placing the str2_pc file in the root directory causes the same crash.
Do I need to remove the original str2_pc (Default female diffuse.str2_pc) from the cache directory before updating the ASM? Do I need to edit the ASM in any way?

I edit the dds, repack to str2, then what?
Click to expand...

Did you update the asm again after repacking? It's going to need to be updated again for the newly packed str2_pc file and also placed in the root alongside it.
 
I haven't altered anything in the cache directory. The game runs without a hitch, when I delete the custom files I make.

I've updated the asm after repacking the str2, but I'm still confused as to whether I'm doing it right.
I extract the Default female diffuse.str2_pc and customize_player.asm_pc from the vpp to a temporary directory.
Then I edit the dds, repack Default female diffuse.str2_pc and update customize_player.asm_pc in the temporary directory.
Lastly I move those two files to the root and launch the game in DX11-mode.
It still crashes when I try to continue my save...

I've got a feeling that the problem might be caused by customize_player.asm_pc referencing more files than just Default female diffuse.str2_pc, but I'm unsure about how to fix that...
I swear I'm not stupid, this problem just has me stumped :D
 
This may be a dumb question, but do you have any other mods installed? I think superdemus' shiny clothing mod uses that asm and possibly a couple of others.
 
No other mods, except an updated shaders.vpp_pc which removes the privacy bar. (again, guess why :D)
This vpp works without a hitch tho, so I can't imagine it interfering with the edited textures...
 
Hello. I learned to work recently with structures. I have one question how to keep changes brought in tga.DDs? Excuse me for my English.
 
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