Multimedia Formats and Tools

This page is intended to move here all info about multimedia file formats that is commonly used in other wiki pages and the related PC tools

A lot more fileformats not added yet to the page are listed in: http://www.psdevwiki.com/ps3/XMB_database#Promoter

Image

DDS

Direct Draw Surface (DDS)

DDS normal maps

Normal maps are a 3D effect, the word "normal" is a reference to the Y axis (of the 3D space defined by X,Y,Z axis), is also known as "elevation". Normal maps can make small areas of a surface to be displayed with a displacement up or down, they also reacts to the lights of the scene dinamycally

NVIDIA Normal Map filter plugin for photoshop

The NVIDIA Normal Map filter creates normal maps from grayscale height maps. The filter UI provides a powerful 3D preview and a variety of filtering options. For MIP-mapped normal maps, the NormalMap Filter should be used for preview only, and then the grayscale map exported via the DDS plugin with "Normal Map Settings..." enabled. This will create a normal map with maximal detail and fidelity for all texture levels, without undesirable filter aliasing.

An easy way to create normal maps in photoshop by using the Normal Map plugin:

In tab: Filter ---> Ndivia Tools
-height generation - 7x7 / minZ-0 scale-2.2
-3D view options - animate light
-height source - Average RGB (or "Alpha Channel" in case you created an alpha channel with this purpose)
-Alpha field - height

• DDS Tools
  • Gimp DDS plugin http://code.google.com/p/gimp-dds/
  • Gimp Normal Map Plugin http://code.google.com/p/gimp-normalmap/
  • Photoshop DDS plugin https://developer.nvidia.com/nvidia-texture-tools-adobe-photoshop Tutorial: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_SpdM5cLuQ (in spanish)
  • 3DS Max DDS Plugin https://developer.nvidia.com/content/3ds-max-dds-plugin-1008271100
  • NVIDIA DDS Thumbnail Viewer for windows explorer https://developer.nvidia.com/sites/default/files/akamai/tools/files/DDS_viewer.exe
  • NVIDIA DDS Legacy Texture Tools https://developer.nvidia.com/legacy-texture-tools and https://developer.nvidia.com/sites/default/files/akamai/tools/files/DDS_Utilities_8.31.1127.1645.exe (includes a command line texture converter)
  • Crazybump is a quick and easy tool for creating normal maps from a texture. http://www.crazybump.com/ Tutorial: http://iamsparky.wordpress.com/crazybump/

GTF

Graphics Texture Format (GTF) is a container for storing one or multiple textures ("pack GTF") data in a layout that can be used as is by RSX.

PNG

PS3 supports PNG images in 24 bits (for RGB channels), and 32 bits with transparency (24 bits for RGB channels + 8 bits for an alpha layer). "PNG Interlaced" and "APNG (Animated Portable Network Graphics)" formats are not supported by the PS3.

MPO

Is a 3D image format. The MPO MA for 3DS is different and this is not so much documented, it might be Sony/PS3 specific enough to be on wiki.

Since fw 3.70 with specifics sixasis controls (on PlayMemories but also from XMB), PS3 as well as Nintendo 3DS or some Sony & Fuji camera can read MPO images as specific format (otherwise display as simple JPG).

MPO Splitter: code&credit (and compiled) https://anonfiles.com/file/c70ac8535cc097ca13541e00261f8952

• MPO MA & MPO 3D

On the Sony MPO format Multi Angle (rco image), e.g.: the picture is 15 embedded Jpg Exif images with no padding (but can be modulate probably).

Fuji format:

Audio

VAG

• Tools
  • MFAudio v1.1 (converts WAV to VAG): http://www.zophar.net/utilities/ps2util/mfaudio-1-1.html or http://dl.qj.net/software/utilities/mfaudio-11.html or http://downloads.ziddu.com/downloadfile/3353225/MFAudiov11.zip.html

AT3

Can be created by saving the file as a .WAV container using the ATRAC3 Codec @ 66Kbps.

Mono and stereo channels are supported

Video

PAM

Pam files can contain audio or have the audio separwted in a .AT3 track, used in Content Information Files

Interactive

SWF

Shockwave Flash, used in Content Information Files and Widgets

3D

DAE

DAE (Digital Asset Exchange) is an XML file that contains COLLADA content. COLLADA is an open standard created by sony for interactive 3D applications. Is used to export and import files from 3-D authoring applications (Maya, SoftImage, and 3ds max) in .dae format https://collada.org/

There is a collada plugin for [Blender] (link is at bottom of page). Both blender and the collada plugin are free and open source projects

• DAE tools
  • COLLADA plugin for Blender http://colladablender.illusoft.com/ http://sourceforge.net/projects/colladablender/

Generic Tools

• Irfanview: Imageviewer with lots of supported formats [Irfanview] (there is a plugin for .DDS)