About this tool
Game engines want DDS because it is what the GPU reads directly: block-compressed pixels with the mipmaps already generated. Modding tools for Skyrim, Fallout, GTA, and many other games reject PNGs or convert them badly. This tool writes a standard DDS with DXT1 for opaque textures, DXT5 for textures with transparency, or uncompressed 32-bit, plus a full mipmap chain, entirely in your browser.
About the formats: PNG (Portable Network Graphics) is a lossless image format with full transparency support. It is the standard choice for screenshots, logos, icons, and anything with sharp edges or text, but it produces much larger files than JPG or WebP for photographs. DDS (DirectDraw Surface) is the texture format game engines and modding tools use: Skyrim, Fallout, GTA, Unity, Unreal, and countless others. It stores GPU-ready, block-compressed pixels (DXT1/DXT5/BC7) together with a mipmap chain, which is exactly why ordinary image viewers and editors cannot open it without a plugin.
How to use it
- Drop your PNG files into the box above, or click to browse. Nothing is uploaded.
- Adjust the options if you want; the defaults suit most files.
- Click Convert to DDS and wait a moment.
- Download the results individually or all at once as a ZIP.
Questions
Is the transparency in my PNG preserved?
Yes, with DXT5 or the uncompressed format. DXT1 keeps only fully-transparent or fully-opaque pixels, which is why Auto picks DXT5 whenever the PNG has partial transparency.
DXT1 or DXT5?
DXT1 has no real alpha channel and is half the size; use it for opaque diffuse textures. DXT5 keeps smooth transparency for decals, UI, foliage, and anything with an alpha mask. The Auto setting checks the image and picks for you.
Should I generate mipmaps?
Yes for anything rendered in a 3D scene: mipmaps stop distant textures from shimmering, and most engines expect them. Turn them off for UI sprites and textures shown at a fixed size.
Do textures need power-of-two sizes?
Many older engines require 256, 512, 1024, or 2048 pixel dimensions. This tool keeps your image size; use the Resize Image tool first if the game needs a power of two.
Can it write BC7?
Not yet. DXT1 and DXT5 are accepted by every engine and modding tool; BC7 output is planned.
Is it free, are files uploaded, which browsers work: the general questions are answered once for the whole site.