Second Life Forums Archive - Textures w/Alpha Layer

Nicky Turnbull

Registered User

Join date: 6 Feb 2005

Posts: 25

02-06-2005 20:00

Hi i just made a texture for a mask, theres a problem tho....

it is currently in .psd format with an alpha layer.
I want to save it as a targe (.tga) but it wont let me...
as soon as i change to save as .tga from .psd it unchecks the alpha layer box and says i must save it as a copy.

how does that work? i just would like to know so i can make my mask that i'm having trouble with.

mask thread in building section....

/8/04/35162/1.html#post377683

thanks

Troy Kennedy

Registered User

Join date: 1 Feb 2005

Posts: 9

02-06-2005 20:16

Ironicall, Im having the same *EXACT* problem. I followed Nicola's "Alpha Channel Primer" article at spacethinkdream.com, but when I try to save it in PSCS, it too "ghosts" out the checkbox where It says save alpha layers...

HELP US!

Nicky Turnbull

Registered User

Join date: 6 Feb 2005

Posts: 25

02-06-2005 20:17

From: Troy Kennedy

Ironicall, Im having the same *EXACT* problem. I followed Nicola's "Alpha Channel Primer" article at spacethinkdream.com, but when I try to save it in PSCS, it too "ghosts" out the checkbox where It says save alpha layers...

HELP US!

thats the same tutorial i followed and had the same problem.

Chosen Few

Alpha Channel Slave

Join date: 16 Jan 2004

Posts: 7,496

02-06-2005 20:41

What version of Photoshop are you using? If you're Using 7.0, download the free upgrade to 7.01b from adobe.com. That will change the way PS7 saves TGA files to the way all other versions of PS do it.

That having been said, there are some advantages to leaving 7.0 the way it is. It greatly speeds things up, for one, although you have do have to be careful with it or it will generate unwanted artifacts in your image (the white halo of death & destruction is a common one). I use 7.0 for some things and 8 (CS) for others.

Sorry, but I'm too tired right now to explain further, so I'll just say this: If you want to be able to follow to the letter most of the Photoshop/SL tutorials available, upgrade to 7.01b or higher. If you want to be able to make TGA's with transparency a bit faster (without having to manually paint alpha channels) use 7.0, but be careful with it, as you can easily end up with a little freakiness in your image.

_____________________

.

Land now available for rent in Indigo. Low rates. Quiet, low-lag mainland sim with good neighbors. IM me in-world if you're interested.

Troy Kennedy

Registered User

Join date: 1 Feb 2005

Posts: 9

02-06-2005 23:53

IM using CS...

Also... *cough*... itwould be ...ahem...impossible to update my...umm..program... *whistles*.

Nicky Turnbull

Registered User

Join date: 6 Feb 2005

Posts: 25

02-07-2005 03:38

Hmmm, i cant update it either, it says it cant find the file when i have it on the exact folder photoshop is in.... where is there a plugin for it?

Chosen Few

Alpha Channel Slave

Join date: 16 Jan 2004

Posts: 7,496

02-07-2005 05:48

Nicky,

I took a look at your PSD file. In CS, it seems to work just fine. It saves as a copy, and the alpha channel box stays checked. If you're using a version of Photoshop other than 7.0, I'm not sure why it wouldn't be working for you as well. If you are using 7.0, just ditch the alpha channel, save as 32 bit, and everything should be fine.

I'm not sure why you're having update problems.

_____________________

.

Land now available for rent in Indigo. Low rates. Quiet, low-lag mainland sim with good neighbors. IM me in-world if you're interested.

Nyuu Fox

Lord

Join date: 3 Mar 2005

Posts: 2

lol

03-04-2005 03:29

Btw, Photoshop CS = Photoshop 8 : You don't need to do any updating.

Namssor Daguerre

Imitates life

Join date: 18 Feb 2004

Posts: 1,423

03-04-2005 05:10

Not all versions of PS CS/8 work correctly with TGA files. The ones that don't work are called "pirated" versions.

_____________________

Ghoti Nyak

καλλιστι

Join date: 7 Aug 2004

Posts: 2,078

03-04-2005 06:47

In this case, it may not be problems with pirated copies only... I am having difficulties getting it to save this file as targa with alphas as well in Photoshop 7 registered to the university I work for, so I know its not a pirated copy of Photoshop.

Curious.

-Ghoti

_____________________

"Sometimes I believe that this less material life is our truer life, and that our vain presence on the terraqueous globe is itself the secondary or merely virtual phenomenon." ~ H.P. Lovecraft

Ghoti Nyak

καλλιστι

Join date: 7 Aug 2004

Posts: 2,078

03-04-2005 06:53

This one let me save as 32-bit though the alpha was unchecked.
Dunno if it will work cuz I can't test it here.

WARNING: the forums would not allow mer to upload a .tga file, so I changed the extension on this to .jpg TO USE IT YOU MUST CHANGE THE EXTENSION BACK TO .TGA

-Ghoti

_____________________

"Sometimes I believe that this less material life is our truer life, and that our vain presence on the terraqueous globe is itself the secondary or merely virtual phenomenon." ~ H.P. Lovecraft

Wisper Patel

Registered User

Join date: 22 May 2004

Posts: 66

Photoshop 7

03-04-2005 07:50

Photoshop 7.0 has targa issues...as in not preserving it...go to the Adobe site and download the patch that upgrades it to PS 7.01. This solved all my problems with alpha channels in PS 7. I since have gotten CS and haven't had any problems.

Good Luck!

Textures w/Alpha Layer
Nicky Turnbull Registered User Join date: 6 Feb 2005 Posts: 25	02-06-2005 20:00 Hi i just made a texture for a mask, theres a problem tho.... it is currently in .psd format with an alpha layer. I want to save it as a targe (.tga) but it wont let me... as soon as i change to save as .tga from .psd it unchecks the alpha layer box and says i must save it as a copy. how does that work? i just would like to know so i can make my mask that i'm having trouble with. mask thread in building section.... /8/04/35162/1.html#post377683 thanks
Troy Kennedy Registered User Join date: 1 Feb 2005 Posts: 9	02-06-2005 20:16 Ironicall, Im having the same EXACT problem. I followed Nicola's "Alpha Channel Primer" article at spacethinkdream.com, but when I try to save it in PSCS, it too "ghosts" out the checkbox where It says save alpha layers... HELP US!
Nicky Turnbull Registered User Join date: 6 Feb 2005 Posts: 25	02-06-2005 20:17 From: Troy Kennedy Ironicall, Im having the same EXACT problem. I followed Nicola's "Alpha Channel Primer" article at spacethinkdream.com, but when I try to save it in PSCS, it too "ghosts" out the checkbox where It says save alpha layers... HELP US! thats the same tutorial i followed and had the same problem.
Chosen Few Alpha Channel Slave Join date: 16 Jan 2004 Posts: 7,496	02-06-2005 20:41 What version of Photoshop are you using? If you're Using 7.0, download the free upgrade to 7.01b from adobe.com. That will change the way PS7 saves TGA files to the way all other versions of PS do it. That having been said, there are some advantages to leaving 7.0 the way it is. It greatly speeds things up, for one, although you have do have to be careful with it or it will generate unwanted artifacts in your image (the white halo of death & destruction is a common one). I use 7.0 for some things and 8 (CS) for others. Sorry, but I'm too tired right now to explain further, so I'll just say this: If you want to be able to follow to the letter most of the Photoshop/SL tutorials available, upgrade to 7.01b or higher. If you want to be able to make TGA's with transparency a bit faster (without having to manually paint alpha channels) use 7.0, but be careful with it, as you can easily end up with a little freakiness in your image. _____________________ . Land now available for rent in Indigo. Low rates. Quiet, low-lag mainland sim with good neighbors. IM me in-world if you're interested.
Troy Kennedy Registered User Join date: 1 Feb 2005 Posts: 9	02-06-2005 23:53 IM using CS... Also... cough... itwould be ...ahem...impossible to update my...umm..program... whistles.
Nicky Turnbull Registered User Join date: 6 Feb 2005 Posts: 25	02-07-2005 03:38 Hmmm, i cant update it either, it says it cant find the file when i have it on the exact folder photoshop is in.... where is there a plugin for it?
Chosen Few Alpha Channel Slave Join date: 16 Jan 2004 Posts: 7,496	02-07-2005 05:48 Nicky, I took a look at your PSD file. In CS, it seems to work just fine. It saves as a copy, and the alpha channel box stays checked. If you're using a version of Photoshop other than 7.0, I'm not sure why it wouldn't be working for you as well. If you are using 7.0, just ditch the alpha channel, save as 32 bit, and everything should be fine. I'm not sure why you're having update problems. _____________________ . Land now available for rent in Indigo. Low rates. Quiet, low-lag mainland sim with good neighbors. IM me in-world if you're interested.
Nyuu Fox Lord Join date: 3 Mar 2005 Posts: 2	lol 03-04-2005 03:29 Btw, Photoshop CS = Photoshop 8 : You don't need to do any updating.
Namssor Daguerre Imitates life Join date: 18 Feb 2004 Posts: 1,423	03-04-2005 05:10 Not all versions of PS CS/8 work correctly with TGA files. The ones that don't work are called "pirated" versions. _____________________
Ghoti Nyak καλλιστι Join date: 7 Aug 2004 Posts: 2,078	03-04-2005 06:47 In this case, it may not be problems with pirated copies only... I am having difficulties getting it to save this file as targa with alphas as well in Photoshop 7 registered to the university I work for, so I know its not a pirated copy of Photoshop. Curious. -Ghoti _____________________ "Sometimes I believe that this less material life is our truer life, and that our vain presence on the terraqueous globe is itself the secondary or merely virtual phenomenon." ~ H.P. Lovecraft
Ghoti Nyak καλλιστι Join date: 7 Aug 2004 Posts: 2,078	03-04-2005 06:53 This one let me save as 32-bit though the alpha was unchecked. Dunno if it will work cuz I can't test it here. WARNING: the forums would not allow mer to upload a .tga file, so I changed the extension on this to .jpg TO USE IT YOU MUST CHANGE THE EXTENSION BACK TO .TGA -Ghoti _____________________ "Sometimes I believe that this less material life is our truer life, and that our vain presence on the terraqueous globe is itself the secondary or merely virtual phenomenon." ~ H.P. Lovecraft
Wisper Patel Registered User Join date: 22 May 2004 Posts: 66	Photoshop 7 03-04-2005 07:50 Photoshop 7.0 has targa issues...as in not preserving it...go to the Adobe site and download the patch that upgrades it to PS 7.01. This solved all my problems with alpha channels in PS 7. I since have gotten CS and haven't had any problems. Good Luck!

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Textures w/Alpha Layer