How to convert JPEG to DDS
- Add your .JPEG file - drop it in the box above or click to browse.
- Convert it to .DDS in a few seconds.
- Download your new .DDS file.
What to expect
- DDS block compression (DXT/BC) is lossy and stacks on top of the JPEG's existing compression.
- JPEG has no alpha channel, so the DDS starts opaque unless transparency is added separately.
- Choosing the correct DDS compression (for example BC7 versus an older DXT mode) affects how the texture looks in an engine.
Frequently asked questions
Why convert JPEG to DDS?
DDS is Microsoft's DirectDraw Surface texture format for DirectX, used by games like Skyrim, Fallout and Source-engine titles. Converting a JPEG to DDS prepares the image for use as a game or 3D texture.Is DDS lossy like JPEG?
It can be. DDS commonly uses block compression (such as DXT/BC formats), which is itself lossy. Since the JPEG was already lossily compressed, the DDS inherits that loss and may add more depending on the compression chosen.
Does DDS include mipmaps?
DDS supports mipmaps, the smaller pre-scaled copies used for distance rendering, but whether they are generated depends on the conversion settings. The JPEG itself contains no mipmaps.
What opens a DDS file?
Free viewers like XnView MP and IrfanView display DDS, and editors such as Paint.NET and GIMP open and save it. Game engines and DirectX read it directly as a texture.
Programs that convert JPEG: Paint.NET · GIMP · Easy2Convert JPG to DDS · GIMP for Mac · GIMP for Linux · XnView MP
