BLPNG Converter 

Introduction

While doing various WoW related projects, I was always in need of a utility that would convert BLP images to a more common format. Unfortunately, all the converters I came across would fail on at least one BLP format. Since I recently created a 3ds Max BLP import plugin, I decided to use the knowledge I gained of the format, to make my own converter. This is that converter.

I've used this personally for a few months - converting maps, UI graphics, textures, etc, and have yet to find a BLP file that it not only cannot convert, but cannot convert correctly.

About

BLPNG Converter (Pronounced "Bleeping Converter") Has gotten a bit of a makeover for it's second version. In order to keep things as simple and uncomplicated for the user as possible,it's left it's meager Console life behind, and has been given an actual UI.

In addition, it can now convert from standard Windows image formats (BMP,GIF,JPG and PNG) to the BLP format as well!

Use is still nearly as simple as before - although now you will have to actually open the app first. Once it's open, drop any number of files or folders on the appropriate square, and it will dutifully convert all the appropriate files within, to the desired format.

The addition of the UI has also brought some additional options with it. You can now choose files or a folder from the appropriate menu choices, and set the desired BLP format details. In addition, you can also select to have BLP Converter save your settings between sessions - although, this does require it to leave a settings file, in a folder, in your AppData/Application Data folder.

Despite, and even considering this, it remains just as portable as the original version. Run it from wherever you'd like, and if you should choose to want to get rid of it, just dump it in your recycle bin and forget it.

Oh a few other things.

1) The UI will display a progress bar, count, percent complete, and the current file - while it's processing - but the fancy Taskbar progress bar also makes its return. So if you're doing a huge conversion job, and want to work on other things - feel free to minimize it or let it sit in the background. Well, as long as you have Windows 7+

2) Instead of the fancy Yellow progress bar on the Taskbar, if it's unable to convert some files, the "Conversion Complete" message that shows up at the end, will now have a yellow "caution" icon next to it, with a link to allow you to see what didn't get converted, and why.

3) More of a warning: The "Conversion Complete" message will show up at the end of any action, and the green checkmark only means that it didn't encounter any errors. There's currently no special status if it didn't find anything to convert - such as if you happen to drop a folder of png files, on the "To Png" square.

Requirements

Yep, I'm about to say that 'N' word...

.NET 4.0 is required.
aaaand...Visual C++ Redistributable

Which also means that this is, indeed, a Windows application...and this time written in Managed C++, instead of C#.

Despite the odd requirements, it has been tested, and does still work in Windows XP.

As far as you Mac people go - here you go.


Supported Formats

This is for reference, and completeness only. You're not expected to, or required to know this.

BLPNG Converter converts all known (to the author) varieties of the BLP format to PNG. This includes...

• BLPs with and without minmaps
  
• Indexed (256 color) BLPs with 0, 1, 4, and 8 bit alpha
  
• DXT Compressed BLPs with 0, 1, 4, and 8 bit alpha, as well as handling both types of 8 bit alpha (DXT3 and DXT5)
  
• Uncompressed BLPs with 0 or 8 bit alpha