How to make DDS CoD Map Level Shots Tutorial

Thanks to Shoot for the work put into this tutorial.

When a map loads in a server there is generally a nice nifty picture that depicts what the map is......
Also when in your in the Start New Server menu - you will see the picture when you scroll through the map list - hopefully you have done everything from the arena file tutorial - well now its time to finish the deal and get the level shots to show.

The stock Call of Duty levelshots are in the levelshots folder, they are 1024x1024 DDS Files.
In order to do this you need to have the DDS plugin and associated dll files loaded.

DDS Plugin Installation
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 Here are the links for the required plugin and dll file as well as a DDS thumbnail viewer which will show the DDS files in windows explorer
If you want more detailed information then I suggest you go to the following site. This is where I got the files from for this but there is much much more info there. Nvida DDS Tools and Info

In order to see the DDS images you need the following:
dds.8bi (Photoshop/Paintshop Pro plugin)
msvcr71.dll
** Adobe Photoshop

1. 1. Place the dds.8bi in the following folder: C:Program FilesAdobePhotoshop 6.0Plug-InsFile Formats (Your folder may vary slightly based o�n version number)
   
2. 2. Place the msvcr71.dll in the following location: c:windowssystem

** Paint Shop Pro

1. 1. Open the Paint Shop Pro folder - C:Program FilesJasc Software IncPaint Shop Pro 7 (Your folder may vary slightly based o�n version number)
   
2. 2. Create a plugins folder if you dont already have o�ne.
   
3. 3. Place the dds.8bi file in the : C:Program FilesJasc Software IncPaint Shop Pro 7plugins folder
   
4. 4. Place the msvcr71.dll in the following location: c:windowssystem

I have tested these using Windows XP Pro, Adobe Photoshop 6.0, and Paint Shop Pro 5,7, and 8.

DDS Levelshot Creation
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1. Create a screenshot in the game or take an image you want to use as the levelshot - add text, edit it, just do what you have to do to it. What you are wanting when your done is a 1024x1024 image, crop it resize it just get it to that size.
   
2. Save the 1024x1024 as a dds file - this should appear in the drop down list thru the menus in the graphics program.
   
3. Be sure to save it with the same name as the bsp map
   
4. When you go to save it it will bring up a dialog window that looks like this:
   
   
5. Change the Save Format to DXT1 RGB(No Alpha)
   
6. Check the No MIP maps button
   
7. Click the Save Button

Now you have your Screenshot in the correct format, but where does it go.
Create a levelshots folder in the main folder - main/levelshots
It is important to keep this path when creating pk3 files for distribution.

When your map loads it will have your screenshot as the loading screen if you have done this correctly and if you have the arena file correct the same image will show in the start a new server list also.

Have at it.

I have created a pk3 with a working map, levelshot and arena file so you can tear it apart.
Levelshots-tutorial.pk3