timetraveller's Nexus - Nexus Texture Converter

NTC v1.0

for Nexus: The Jupiter Incident

Release: December 17, 2004

Current Version: 1.0 Build 90

Screenshot

Download v1.0 Build 90 (418KB)

Nexus Texture Converter (NTC) is an attempt to convert proprietery Nexus TEX files to standard image format so they can be modifed using a standard image editor. This way we can start reskinning models, at the least. Luckily, the mesh texture files are being converted okay, so reskinning will now be possible.

First of all, this is a test program. No guarantees. It seems to work, as I have edited a couple of images and had them show in Nexus. You guys will be the test. Let me know how it goes.

Installing NTC:

Unzip the downloaded file and click on the setup.exe to install NTC. Install may be done over top any pre-existing NTC installation.

NTC is written in Visual Basic 6 and should run on most modern systems from Windows 98 on. You will need at least the Microsoft VB6 SP5 runtime files and the Windows Scripting Host installed (both of which you probably already have). Turn off your anti-virus for the install. As always, be sure to virus check any file beforehand.

Read the readme.txt file for tips on how to use NTC.

NTC makes no modifications to your existing Nexus: The Jupiter Incident installation or its registry items.

About NTC:

Currently NTC will convert about 90% of the extracted Nexus TEX files. One or more unknown image file formats still are not resolved. If anyone has any clues, please let me know. Current formats supported are .DDS (DXT1,3,5 compression format), .TGA (Targa Truevision), and .BMP (Windows Bitmap, 24 bit).

NTC is designed to convert only one file at a time. Mass conversion is not possible without full knowledge of the various images contained within the TEX file format. Even so, the current design is oriented around converting one image at a time.

This program does not do a true conversion. All it does is extract the image data and place a valid header in front of it. You must decide by viewing the image which format is the correct one before you convert. NTC makes a best attempt at checking the right format box for viewing and conversion. If it doesn't look right in the viewer, try another format. The Mithis TEX header format is still somewhat of a mystery.

Images must be converted into their proper format. For instance, you cannot convert an inherent .DDS image to a .TGA format and expect it to work, as the core image data will not be correct for .TGA format, even though a .TGA header is applied to it. Stick with the format where the image displays as it should.

I've also added a feature to convert modified images back to TEX format. Caution must be used when using this feature. No guarantees. It will only work for existing images that have been converted with NTC, modified in your image editor (leaving the original width and height alone), then converted back to TEX with NTC. I have only tested this feature on a couple of images, so the rest is up to you to test. NTC is a beta (alpha?? hehe) program at best.

Back conversion to TEX using Mithis' Nexus Mod Tool is probably the desired option. However, you will find it easier, I think, to convert back to TEX format using NTC. This option is available if the above rules about image width and height are followed, as far as I know right now.

Nexus Texture Converter

More Tips on NTC:

To view any texture in NTC, you must have the .DDS, .TGA, and .BMP image file types associated with a file viewer.

I use IrfanView here, a popular freeware file viewer. Get it at http://www.irfanview.com/

If you also download the plugin to handle extra image file types, it will display the .DDS format too.

Another great tool for modifying both .TGA and .DDS files (especially where alpha channels are involved) is the front end program DXTbmp (freeware).

You can get DXTbmp at http://fly.to/mwgfx/

It was originally written for Flight Sim, I think, but using it in combination with your standard image editor makes a great combination.

Another must have for reskinning is the Photoshop plugin which will allow you to edit .DDS files. The plugin also works for Paint Shop Pro.

You can get it here, from the NVIDIA site http://developer.nvidia.com/object/nv_texture_tools.html

Note that Nexus mesh texture files are in .DDS format. You will need a way to edit .DDS image files to reskin craft.