Tool for editing dds files

[BobSmall]

What is a good tool for editing the dds files?

Prefer freeware, but payware is also OK if that is a better tool.
I want to change the tail markings.

[Mathias Pommerien]

Hi Bob,

The Gimp is a free graphics editing tool, available here:
http://www.gimp.org/

Paint Shop Pro is a relatively inexpensive tool, this is what the majority of freeware painters use:
http://www.corel.com/servlet/Satellite/ ... bview=tab0

And of course there's the big buck Adobe Photoshop:
http://www.adobe.com/uk/products/photos ... moid=BPCWR

For Adobe Photoshop there's an Nvidia plugin available that allows you to directly open and edit dds files.
I *believe* The Gimp and Paint Shop Pro don't have such plugin.
With these you'd first have to convert the dds file to a usable format such as bmp using either Image Tool that comes with the FSX Software Developement Kit on the Deluxe DVD or using Martin Wright's freeware DXTBmp plus supporting dll files from here: http://www.fly.to/mwgfx

[Mathias Pommerien]

I want to change the tail markings.

I think there are historically correct tailmarkings avbailable at places like Simouthouse, flightsim.com, avsim.com and simviation.com.
There's also repaints and gun effects available

[alx]

And please check also Italian Wings site. You can find historical tail markings
and many new liveries.

http://www.italianwings.it