XCF is GIMP's native format
XCF (eXperimental Computing Facility) stores GIMP's full working state — layers, masks, paths and channels. It's the GIMP equivalent of Photoshop's PSD, and GIMP is what creates it.
Want an XCF from your DDS? Here's why it needs GIMP — and the layered format that works everywhere.
You can't convert a DDS to XCF here — XCF is GIMP's own working format, written by GIMP itself.
XCF (eXperimental Computing Facility) stores GIMP's full working state — layers, masks, paths and channels. It's the GIMP equivalent of Photoshop's PSD, and GIMP is what creates it.
A DDS is a single flattened image. Saving it as XCF wouldn't add the layered, editable structure XCF exists for — so for most needs a standard format is the better target.
DDS (DirectDraw Surface) is Microsoft's texture format for games and 3D apps, storing compressed images with mipmaps that GPUs read directly.
How to open DDS opens in game engines, GIMP (with a plugin), Photoshop (with the NVIDIA plugin) and texture tools; convert to PNG to view normally.
Full DDS format guideXCF is GIMP’s native format preserving layers, paths and channels — the open-source equivalent of PSD.
How to open XCF opens in GIMP; export to PNG or PSD for other apps.
Full XCF format guideThe layered editor format that Photoshop, GIMP, Photopea and Affinity can all open.
DDS → PSDLossless with transparency — perfect for graphics, logos and screenshots.
DDS → PNGLossless and uncompressed — ideal for editing, archiving and print.
DDS → TIFF