Corel PhotoPaint X3, saving alpha to TGA

As a relative newbie, I am starting to make my own clothes. I have successfully used templates in Corel PhotoPaint X3 to create a texture for a shirt, and uploaded it to SL. Indeed, it is currently being worn. I then wished to create some transparency with an alpha channel. When I try to save the work as a 32 bit TGA file, including the alpha channel, the Corel graphics package tells me that I cannot save alpha channels in that format. Has anyone come across this, and does anybody know of a solution for this apparent problem with Corel PhotoPaint X3 ?

I'm replying to my own post question so that anyone looking in on the orginal but not knowing a solution can benefit from what I found out since putting the problem up. There is a downlloadable utility program called TGA Tool 1.1 and I downloaded that from the Leadwerks Software site for free. (http://www.leadwerks.com/). So, from Coreldraw PhotoPaint X3 I saved my artwork for the texture as a TGA file, as you are meant to do, but not with an alpha channel. I saved the artwork for the alpha channel made in 8bit grey scale, as a Windows bitmap .bmp file.

I opened up the TGA Tool and opened the .tga file with my artwork texture. Then you just go to the TOOLS menu on the TGA Tool and you can upload your alpha file (the .bmp file you saved in the 8 bit grey scale). TheTGA Tool then combines the alpha file with the texture and you can see how the transparency is working. Finally I uploaded it into SL. I was working on a shirt texture, so I could try it out on the upper torso. For this test, I then cancelled the upload (saving myself L$10). Hope this is of some use to the minority of folks using CorelDraw, as opposed to the mighty Adobe Photoshop!

Anyone know how to make textures with transparency for SL, using Corel Photo Paint 11?
I am very new to all graphics programs, I have PhotoPaint 11, and I am tearing my hair out trying to get it to work. I have done it with GIMP but I find Corel PHotopaint to be much better for making images.
I can export to TGA files all day long with no problems and they work fine in SL but transparency eludes me.
Tearing my hair out as I have tried so many things and nothing works yet!
Thanks for any help you can offer!
Dirk Olivier
Hey Fyrm- One time I was able to export a TGA file with transparency and it worked in SL, but I cant seem to do it again. I'll try the program you mentioned. Seems a bit involved but it beats nothing! If you have any advice please let me know. THanks!

From this thread: /109/45/83985/1.html#post1355745 entitled: "Does anyone use Corel Photo-Paint?" which can be found using the forum search by using photopaint and transparency as search terms:



I think you will be asked whether to save the TGA as normal or enhanced. Pick normal. Enhanced won't work.

You can save the TGA file as a compressed TGA file - it's worked every time I've done it. The compression is lossless.

===============

You might as well try saving as a PNG file to just to see if it works and if there is any merit to it. PNG does transparency and SL appears to deal properly with PNG files with transparency, if my memory serves.

SuezanneC-
Your reply was verrrry helpful and I have successfully made a number of textures with transparency using your tips, and the tips in the thread you sent.
I suspect part of the challenge some of us face with transparency is the fact that what one sees on the screen before exporting to TGA is not what one sees in SL after uploading a texture with transparency. That, plus the fact that one not only has to learn how to make transparency, but also how to create, select, and edit the transparent parts correctly.
All the help I have received here has made a huge difference to me. It's great to find a place where one can get answers to SL specific problems. I am astounded at the excellent tutorials people have written here and the advice people take the time to offer.
Thanks for your time. Have a great day!
Dirk