Second Life Forums Archive - Problem with transparencies in PS CS

Juro Kothari

Like a dog on a bone

Join date: 4 Sep 2003

Posts: 4,418

05-25-2004 12:59

I cannot for the life of me figure out how to get transparencies to work correctly on Photoshop CS...

Does anyone know?

-tia!

Hiro Pendragon

bye bye f0rums!

Join date: 22 Jan 2004

Posts: 5,905

05-25-2004 13:05

You'll want to save as Targa (TGA) 32-bit, non-compressed.

Does this answer your question, or are you looking for detailed help on how to make transparent layers in PS?

-Hiro Pendragon

Cybin Monde

Resident Moderator (?)

Join date: 27 Jan 2004

Posts: 2,468

or...

05-25-2004 18:51

...are you having a problem with the Alpha channel?

let us know what's up.. your answer will be quick and painless.

_____________________

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"There is no life I know to compare with pure imagination. Living there, you'll be free if you truly wish to be."
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Juro Kothari

Like a dog on a bone

Join date: 4 Sep 2003

Posts: 4,418

05-26-2004 16:20

hey... sorry for the delay on my response, I almost forgot I posted here!

anyway, i'm not sure where the problem is. i *think* i'm having issues with the alpha channel. i'm familiar with saving the art out at TGA, 32-bit, but when i do that, it's not tranparent.

basically, i need some steps for this in CS.

tia!

Malachi Petunia

Gentle Miscreant

Join date: 21 Sep 2003

Posts: 3,414

05-26-2004 18:08

Juro, assuming that CS is not radically different than PS7: make a selection of the things you want to be visible, open the channel toolbar at the bottom you will find a "create channel from selection". When you press this, a new channel will be created in addition to the R, G, & B channels (usually named something like "Alpha 1"

. Ensure that there are only RGB & one A channel; PS will allow you to make multiple alpha channels but gets confused when saving.

Then when you save as 32bit uncompressed TGA, only your original selection will be visible, the unselected part will be transparent. If you wanna get really funky, the alpha channel is not binary off or on but can be anything from fully black to fully white (and I always forget which is which but it will be obvious). If, for example, you create an alpha channel from a feathered selection, the opacity will be feathered as well. You can also select the alpha channel itself and paint on it in shades of grayscale.

More than you wanted to know, I imagine...

Coreina Grace

never posts

Join date: 14 Feb 2004

Posts: 63

05-28-2004 10:59

I had a problem in CS when I first switched over from 7. See, in 7 I was able to cheat. That version let me just DELETE the areas I wanted transparant (so you would see the gray/white grid), and avoid doing the alpha channel at all.

Now, in CS I need to actually make the alpha channel to retain the transparancy, so I just select the areas I want visible and use 'save selection as channel' feature.

Nicola Escher

512 by 512

Join date: 1 May 2003

Posts: 200

05-29-2004 14:20

Juro:

Have a look at my tutorial which covers creating Alpha Channels using Photoshop CS. Link is in my sig below.

Nicola

_____________________

NicolaEscher.com
Tutorials, fashion, and photos.

Quicksilver Pendragon

Unofficial SL Nutso

Join date: 12 Feb 2004

Posts: 28

05-29-2004 22:57

From: someone

Originally posted by Coreina Grace
I had a problem in CS when I first switched over from 7. See, in 7 I was able to cheat. That version let me just DELETE the areas I wanted transparant (so you would see the gray/white grid), and avoid doing the alpha channel at all.

Now, in CS I need to actually make the alpha channel to retain the transparancy, so I just select the areas I want visible and use 'save selection as channel' feature.

I experienced this when I went to CS as well, for other reasons I went back to 7 because I was mroe familiar with it, and it was taking me much longer to do actual work on.

Problem with transparencies in PS CS
Juro Kothari Like a dog on a bone Join date: 4 Sep 2003 Posts: 4,418	05-25-2004 12:59 I cannot for the life of me figure out how to get transparencies to work correctly on Photoshop CS... Does anyone know? -tia!
Hiro Pendragon bye bye f0rums! Join date: 22 Jan 2004 Posts: 5,905	05-25-2004 13:05 You'll want to save as Targa (TGA) 32-bit, non-compressed. Does this answer your question, or are you looking for detailed help on how to make transparent layers in PS? -Hiro Pendragon
Cybin Monde Resident Moderator (?) Join date: 27 Jan 2004 Posts: 2,468	or... 05-25-2004 18:51 ...are you having a problem with the Alpha channel? let us know what's up.. your answer will be quick and painless. _____________________ "We, as developers, are doing the easy part – building the scaffolding for a new world. You, as the engines of creation, must breathe life into it." - Philip Linden "There is no life I know to compare with pure imagination. Living there, you'll be free if you truly wish to be." - Willy Wonka (circa 1971) SecondSpace (http://groups.myspace.com/secondspace) : MySpace group for SLers.
Juro Kothari Like a dog on a bone Join date: 4 Sep 2003 Posts: 4,418	05-26-2004 16:20 hey... sorry for the delay on my response, I almost forgot I posted here! anyway, i'm not sure where the problem is. i think i'm having issues with the alpha channel. i'm familiar with saving the art out at TGA, 32-bit, but when i do that, it's not tranparent. basically, i need some steps for this in CS. tia!
Malachi Petunia Gentle Miscreant Join date: 21 Sep 2003 Posts: 3,414	05-26-2004 18:08 Juro, assuming that CS is not radically different than PS7: make a selection of the things you want to be visible, open the channel toolbar at the bottom you will find a "create channel from selection". When you press this, a new channel will be created in addition to the R, G, & B channels (usually named something like "Alpha 1". Ensure that there are only RGB & one A channel; PS will allow you to make multiple alpha channels but gets confused when saving. Then when you save as 32bit uncompressed TGA, only your original selection will be visible, the unselected part will be transparent. If you wanna get really funky, the alpha channel is not binary off or on but can be anything from fully black to fully white (and I always forget which is which but it will be obvious). If, for example, you create an alpha channel from a feathered selection, the opacity will be feathered as well. You can also select the alpha channel itself and paint on it in shades of grayscale. More than you wanted to know, I imagine...
Coreina Grace never posts Join date: 14 Feb 2004 Posts: 63	05-28-2004 10:59 I had a problem in CS when I first switched over from 7. See, in 7 I was able to cheat. That version let me just DELETE the areas I wanted transparant (so you would see the gray/white grid), and avoid doing the alpha channel at all. Now, in CS I need to actually make the alpha channel to retain the transparancy, so I just select the areas I want visible and use 'save selection as channel' feature.
Nicola Escher 512 by 512 Join date: 1 May 2003 Posts: 200	05-29-2004 14:20 Juro: Have a look at my tutorial which covers creating Alpha Channels using Photoshop CS. Link is in my sig below. Nicola _____________________ NicolaEscher.com Tutorials, fashion, and photos.
Quicksilver Pendragon Unofficial SL Nutso Join date: 12 Feb 2004 Posts: 28	05-29-2004 22:57 From: someone Originally posted by Coreina Grace I had a problem in CS when I first switched over from 7. See, in 7 I was able to cheat. That version let me just DELETE the areas I wanted transparant (so you would see the gray/white grid), and avoid doing the alpha channel at all. Now, in CS I need to actually make the alpha channel to retain the transparancy, so I just select the areas I want visible and use 'save selection as channel' feature. I experienced this when I went to CS as well, for other reasons I went back to 7 because I was mroe familiar with it, and it was taking me much longer to do actual work on.

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Problem with transparencies in PS CS