Them PDN files......

[snoopy55]

In working on SMR I'm creating Construction Kits to skin engines and cars for the game by other forum members. The main creator of the files right now uses Paint.net to do his work. I much prefer GIMP except for the fact that his files are PDN and, as far as I know, no plug-in has been written for GIMP to handle them. Am I wrong in this, or have I just not been able to find it?

[rich]

as far as I know, no plug-in has been written for GIMP to handle them. Am I wrong in this, or have I just not been able to find it?

I think that is correct.

A bit of a struggle finding anything for converting paint_dot_net files.

The usual xnview/irfan forums did not offer much hope. One telling line was ... "paint.net developed jointly with uni of 'something' and Micro$oft". Any file format + M$ = pita

Same thing with online convertors, I am sure you have already looked at these.

One small ray of hope, some command line converters from here

http://www.comsquare.ch/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=36&Itemid=55

Thankfully these do not rely on the dot_net installations and even work in linux with WINE.

They are beta and there are caveats for pdn to bmp/png format, png works best.

I have tried the other way png -> pdn and trying out in a windows noteboot with PaintdotNet & AFAIK works ok. The snag with this is - no layers.

edit:

I've had a closer look at the read me files (never rtfm LOL) that come with the zips. It does look like you can save a multilayer pdn as separate images and conversely combine a set of separate images into a layered pdn. Worth giving it a try & if it works, perhaps setting up a batch file. There are gimp scripts that assist in saving layers as separate images. A good one is Saul Goodes script 'sg-save-all-layers.scm' - towards the end of this page.

http://flashingtwelve.brickfilms.com/GIMP/Scripts/

best of luck