How to Open DDS Files: Top 5 Ways

The DDS format was created by Microsoft along with Microsoft DirectX 7.0 and was developed as a container format for bitmaps consisting of compressed and uncompressed pixel formats.

This format is great for storing graphics, textures, and game maps on your computer. However, this format is not that common, so most people don’t know how to open it.

If you don’t know how to open DDS files on Windows and Mac. Here is a complete guide to opening DDS files on your computer.

Ways to Open DDS Files

1. Use DDS Viewer
2. Convert DDS Image/File to PNG
3. Use GIMP
4. Use Nvidia’s Texture Tools for Photoshop
5. Other Tools You Can Use

.DDS option no.

DDS or DirectDraw Surface is a Microsoft format for storing files in a compressed form, which can later be decompressed if necessary for use. This format typically stores graphics textures and environment cubemaps as a data file.

How to open DDS file

1. Use a DDS Viewer

• Download the DDS Viewer installation file from its official page to your device.
• After downloading the file, open it to start the installation process.
• After installing the tool, launch the DDS Viewer.
• Now select the DDS file in the Open window.

• Click the Open button.
• Resize the DDS file by typing in the Width and Height fields.
• Once you have selected the correct size, press the green checkmark button.
• You can also rotate the image by clicking the Rotate Right and Rotate Left icons.

2. Convert DDS file to PNG

• Open the Aconvert DDS to PNG converter in your preferred browser.
• Select the DDS file by clicking the “Choose File”button.

• If the PNG file format is not already selected as the target format, click the box in front of it and select PNG from the drop-down menu.
• After selecting the file and setting the target format, click the “Convert Now”button.
• Then click the “Save”button to upload a new PNG image.

3. Use GIMP

• Download the GIMP file from its official page.
• After downloading the file, run the file to install the tool and run it after the installation is complete.
• Once the GIMP tool opens, navigate to “Choose File”and with it selected, click “Open”.

4. Use Nvidia Texture Tools for Photoshop

• Download NVIDIA Texture Tools, also known as Windows Texture Viewer, from its official website.
• Select the OS version you are using.
• Select the Photoshop plugin installer to install the plugin.

• After that, open Photoshop and click “Filter”.
• Now go to NvTools and select NormalMapFilter to open a window with numerous options for opening DDS files in Photoshop.

5. Other Tools You Can Use

If these methods don’t work for you, you can also use the following tools to get the job done:

• dotPDN paint.net (Windows)
• Apple preview (macOS)
• XnViewMP (multi-platform)
• Irfanview (Windows)

Conclusion

Not being able to open a DDS file can be frustrating, especially if you’re stuck in between. But the good news is that some easy solutions to open DDS file on your computer are mentioned above in this article.

So what are you waiting for? Use any solution to open the DDS file and return to your project.

FAQ

How to open and edit DDS files?

You can use Adobe Photoshop to open and edit DDS files on your computer. Here are a few steps to follow: – Download the Adobe Photoshop application. – Launch the application after installing it. – Go to the “Select Files”section. – After selecting the files, click “Open”.

Can you convert a DDS file?

Yes! You can convert DDS file to other format like JPG, PNG, PDF, etc. with Aconvert DDS to PNG Converter.

Does Photoshop work with DDS?

You can use Photoshop to open and save DDS files. However, not all Photoshop applications can be used to edit a DDS file. Only a few third-party Photoshop apps provide this feature.

Is DDS better than PNG?

DDS and PNG cannot be compared as they are used for different reasons.