MSFS24 Converting ktx2 textures

[FlakNine]

Is there not a tool DDS to KTX2 files ?

Yes there is, written by someone else. I have a link to it in the description of my ImageToMSFSKTX2 script. I had planned to start looking at building DDS to KTX2 conversation into my script until I became aware of that other converter under development.

Edit: now I'm back at my PC I can share the link to the DDS > KTX2 tool written by Budzique. You can find it at: https://flightsim.to/file/89849/2020-to-2024-livery-converter

 

[manxtt]

Yes there is, written by someone else. I have a link to it in the description of my ImageToMSFSKTX2 script. I had planned to start looking at building DDS to KTX2 conversation into my script until I became aware of that other converter under development.

Edit: now I'm back at my PC I can share the link to the DDS > KTX2 tool written by Budzique. You can find it at: https://flightsim.to/file/89849/2020-to-2024-livery-converter

thanks

 

[Randy WA UTC-8]

I pieced together a batch file setup to convert ktx2 textures to PNG, TIF or JPG. Place the ktx2 textures into the input folder and double-click the BAT file. The results are in the output folder.
Extract_KTX2.zip

You can still use the texture.cfg to reference textures without including them in your project, just as in MSFS2020. A referenced texture file will display the associated ktx2. The batch file uses the NVidia Texture tools. Get the whole set of tools here: Nvidia Texture Tools Exporter You will need to join or log into their developer home to access the tools.

Thanks for this. Sometimes I want to do this work on my laptop which doesn't have a dedicated Nvidia graphics card so the Nvidia texture tool creates errors. I'll have to find another tool or online place for occasional conversion from KTX2 to PNG.

 

[B21-soaring]

Are we really still stuck with needing to use the entire f-ing SDK package build process just to convert a PNG to MSFS2024 KTX2? Huge credit to the developers of the 1000-line scripts to automate the entire process but isn't there a better way?

For a livery mod of course the original KTX2/json files already exist so the process is just to update the existing texture and then the layout.json. Hence KTX2 => PNG => editor => KTX2 and view your art in the sim...

I've looked at the albedo MSFS KTX2 files (i.e. the main ones for the livery mods) in a hex editor and AFAIK they're bog-standard V2 KTX containers (hence you can open/display them in Nvidia Texture Tools) just with the inclusion of a couple of Asobo-specific key/value pairs within the standard file format. I don't buy the mysterious arguments that Asobo are doing something clever or radical with the file, it's more likely just a lack of information about what MSFS 2024 expects in there.

It seems like the main constraint is to inject those Asobo keys into the file key/values section as everything else in the file header is completely generic as far as I can tell. The Nvidia tool won't do that AFAIK, so it might mean writing a program with the KTX library. So we'd end up with a tool similar to MSFSLayoutGenerator.exe where you just drop a PNG and that's it.

Anyone else looked into the specifics of the KTX2 file to judge if there's mileage to the KTX code api approach ? A whacky alternative I can think of is using the NVidia Texture Tool for PNG => KTX2 (that's a simple load/save) and a custom executable that splices the MSFS2024-compatible binary header into the front of that KTX2 file. The KTX V2 format is pretty simple, but it's binary which is a bit of pain in the ass.

 

[rhumbaflappy]

I might be wrong, but the easiest way for me to create a KTX2 texture is to let the fspackagetool make it. Attached is a small example of a project. Drag'n'drop it on the fspackagetool to make the textures.

 

[DeltaTango]

Hi,
i want to delete the annoying propeller blur of the CTLS. The files I have downloaded but I can't open with the nvidia tool. How can I change these files?

Internal info: nvttui::ExporterPlugin::OpenFileFromFilename, line 1983.
Error: main(): OpenFileFromFilename(input\flight_design_ctsl_propellerblur_albd.png.ktx2) failed!
Processing...
Error: KTX reader reported: Does not know about supercompression scheme 65536.

DDS reader reported: The DDS file's first four characters were incorrect (expected "DDS ", but the first four characters were character values 171, 75, 84, and 88)!

 

[Santo]

Hi,
i want to delete the annoying propeller blur of the CTLS. The files I have downloaded but I can't open with the nvidia tool. How can I change these files?

Hey, DT. Any updates on this matter?

I'm trying to figure it out how to open textures, and having the exact same issue. Both with the Exactract_KTX2, and Nvidia texture tools (standalone and Photoshop plugin)

 

[uuseri]

I pieced together a batch file setup to convert ktx2 textures to PNG, TIF or JPG. Place the ktx2 textures into the input folder and double-click the BAT file. The results are in the output folder.
Extract_KTX2.zip

You can still use the texture.cfg to reference textures without including them in your project, just as in MSFS2020. A referenced texture file will display the associated ktx2. The batch file uses the NVidia Texture tools. Get the whole set of tools here: Nvidia Texture Tools Exporter You will need to join or log into their developer home to access the tools.

Are the game devs using some sort unknown compression? I'm getting this error both on your and nVidia's app https://vgy.me/u/yyHxhZ File is glass_albd.png.ktx2 from the C185

 

[GaryGB]

AFAIK, Arno's MCX is able to read all the (current) obscure Asobo / Khronos texture formats for MSFS glTF's.

MCX output would be PNG followed by SDK compiler FSPackageTool output making the necessary obscure Asobo / Khronos texture formats for MSFS glTF's.

GaryGB

 

[rhumbaflappy]

I used the VFS projector to extract the entire microsoft_c185f_skywagon folder to the desktop, and then examined the glass_albd,ktx2. It displays fine in Extract_KTX2 pack and also the nvtt_export app.