why cant I save transparency in targa files?

I have PS 7 and PS elements and cant get either to save the transparency in targa. why is that? anyone know?

With PS7, all you need to do is set background to transparent, erase whatever areas you want to be invisible, and then save as 32 bit TGA. Make sure it's 32 bit and not 24. The first 24 bits in an image describe Red, Green, and Blue values; the extra 8 bits in a 32 bit image describe transparency.

Alternately you can download the 7.01 upgrade for free from adobe.com and then you can use alpha channels.

yes I have that upgrade. have the alpha channel loaded save it as targa 32bit but it saves as a copy w/o transparency and doesn't save layers why oh why maybe its me I'm doing sumthing wrong

If you're manually adding an alpha channel, don't you need to merge all your layers before you save it as a .tga file with a transparent background?

Yes the layers need to be merged and I believe any transparency masks applied before saving.

Ok heres what I got a pic of say a butterfly so just the butterfly is there nuffin around it. well all layers are merged aphla channels loaded. then i go t ot save as targa PSd file shows up first with the layers box checked when I go to save it under targa the layer box fades and the save as copy box is checked and i can't uncheck it. what the bloody heck am I doing wrong?

When you save something as a targa, it automatically makes it a copy of your .psd file. And, it automatically unchecks the layers and alpha boxes. This does not adversely affect your image and its transparency unless you haven't got your alpha channel right.

Have you saved your targa as a 32-bit file and tried to upload it into the game? It will give you the 32-bit option after the "save as copy" part. You can tell before uploading in the previewer if the file has the correct transparency if you have the gray-and-white checkerboard in the background; the checkerboard means it's got a transparency, a solid white background means it doesn't.

You have to add the alpha mask.

You the magic select tool, select the transparent part, then from the menu above use select inverse then click on the channels tab and click click the alpah mask button at the bottom. Bam! an alpha mask. If this doesnt make sense I can make screen shots. I use PS CS

there is a file needed for Adobe Elements that is missing that helps you do the alphas. I can send along that file if you want.

Adobe's Photoshop 7 has a known bug when it comes to targas (you do all the work and it pitches out the alpha channel even if saved at 32 bits). You need to download and install the patch to upgrade to 7.01. This should solve your transparency problems.

http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/detail.jsp?ftpID=1851

Good Luck!

Btw...no need to merge layers...Photoshop automatically flattens your image when you save it as a targa file.

You don't need to merge layers, but the layers you want to save must be visible, and you need an alpha channel. "Save As..." Targa, 32 bit.

ummm Not always... I had a bug that even wouldn't fix in PS 7.0.1 and after a solid YEAR of working with Adobe we found a way around it. My issue was that no matter what, the targas would always come in with a solid white background...

This IS however a bug, if you have had the same problem, let me know and I will give you the series of steps required to work around it. ! Works like a charm...

Feel rfree to IM me inworld - Regards, Baccara

thanks to everyone for all the help Huggzz . crosses fingures hope I firgure it out.


Baccara Rhodes I would love it if you could help me with your way around the trans problem. sounds like the one I'm having. everything thats suppose to be trans is white. Oh the madness of PS!!!


Wisper Patel thanks for the link I will try it too hope it works.

I would love the file to try since I have both of the PS versions thanks

I'd also be interested in hearing about a file that makes Elements behave properly. However, I've found a workaround for Elements that involves using Image Magick, a free image conversion program. For more details, see my little tutorial.

Not sure if this is the exact problem, but after saving to alpha channel and before saving to .tga, go to options and select UNCOMPRESSED 32 bit. SL cannot deal with compressed alphas.

it can't? wierd.
I upped my first texture today and it is a compressed 32bit tga and seems to work fine.
edit:i realize that my texture hasn't got alpha at all.