how to affect the gamma of a dds file

I have texture that's a .dds file and it appears (if I look at the thumbnail in windows explorer) to be very pale.

When I import it as a bitmap and choose 'use system's default gamma' the little preview looks full/dark/correct.

In the Vray material editor it looks pale.

In the viewport it looks correct/dark.

In the Vray RT it looks correct/dark.

If I click 'view image' within the bitmap controls is also looks fine.

But... when I actually render it goes back to pale.

Tried messing with the output and adding a col correction and playing with the gamma - doesn't do anything.

You should be able to open it in photoshop? Make a copy, adjust gamma 0,454, save and load the copy into max and see if it helps?

Nah, can't open those in Photoshop. Hoped there was a way to affect the gamma in 3ds max. Although there is some Nvidia software that can maybe open them.

I have never worked with this file type, but this video suggests that GIMP can open and edit them with a plugin:

GIMP is, of course, free as is the plug-in.

When you import the bitmap in Max, there is a option that you can overwrite the gamma in the image, you can also use the HDRI Vray shader, and adjust the gamma there.

Also check in your Max settings if Gamma is affecting your material editor, or inputs and outputs; everything should match or should be "Lineal"