TRANSPARENCY for Microsoft Digital Image Pro 7.0

Hello,

I understand to save ast 32-bit TGA. I have everything down pat to make a tattoo except the transparency part.

I am assuming I do this on my program, which is Microsoft Digital Image Pro 7.0, however, what I've read in the forum doesn't seem to apply to Microsoft Digital Image Pro 7.0.

HELP ! How do I do this using Microsoft Digital Image Pro 7.0 ????

Thank You,
MaSong

What are you trying to make? Textures for building or to apply to prims or mesh clothing textures? It's basically the same but one (mesh clothing) requires the use of templates. Any other is a texture made on a square image pallet.........such as 256 x 256 pixels. For transparency you simply need to add an alpha channel.

Not sure how MS Digital Pro works but I'm sure adding channels is covered in the documentation. I assume the program handles layers too...........if not you will be very limited in what you can do with textures useful in SL.

I've never used DIP, but I can tell you I'd be really, really, really surprised if it can do alpha channels. Microsoft has a long history of being the absolute worst of the worst when it comes to graphics applications.

Don't get me wrong; I'm not one of those die-hard MS bashers. There are many things MS does very well. Graphics just doesn't happen to be one of those things.

I've been Googling for the past 15 minutes or so, and I can't seem to find a trial download, a complete feature list, or even so much as a listing of what file formats DIP supports. All I seem to be able to find on it are reviews recommending the program for those who don't want to "have to be a digital artist", bug reports, and of course, sales offerings.

Without a trial or any online documentation, I'm afraid I won't be able to help you. I've got no way of figuring out how the program works. Maybe you'll get lucky, and someone else here will have some experience with it. I wouldn't hold your breath waiting, though. This is the first time I've seen any mention of that program on this forum, and I've been here almost every day for well over four years now. Most people who do texturing work just aren't going to use something like that.

That said, I'll take my best guess at what would probably work. If the program can't do alpha channels, then TGA-style workflow is out of the question. I'm betting DIP can probably do simple transparency with PNG, though. If it can, then that will have to do. You won't have quite as much control, and there's more margin for error, but you should be able at least to use transparency, if not use it terribly powerfully.

The work-flow for simple transparency is really easy to understand (hence the name). It's purely WYSIWYG. Just erase out the areas you don't want to be visible (or don't paint them into existence in the first place), and save as PNG. That's it.

If the program can't even do simple transparency, then I hate to tell you this, but it's pretty much useless. Either way, I'd highly recommend you get a better program. Photoshop is best if you can afford it. Paintshop Pro is a great inexpensive alternative if you'd rather spend less. GIMP is free, and is arguably the second most powerful option, but many find it's interface challenging (including me).

Tons of people use those programs, so you'll find help everywhere. I've never met anyone who uses DIP.