Second Life Forums Archive - PSP9 partial transparency color problem

a lost user

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09-05-2005 11:10

I have searched and read the forums until my eyes are bleeding, and the rivulets of blood are forming eyes and they are beginning to bleed.

I created a slave silk bottom using a skirt template. It has a band around the waist, and, a piece of 35% transparent purple material hanging in the front and back with matching bands across the bottom. This is in PSP9.

I have no trouble creating the mask layer. It comes out black where total transparency is needed, as it should. It is white in the area of the bands around the waist and at the bottom of the skirt, as it should be. The area where I want 35% transparency is gray, as it should be. As soon as I hit the button accepting the mask in the alpha channel my 35% transparency area on the raster layer gets lighter in color: extremely pale purple. I then save it as a .tga file.

When I upload the file to SL the 35% transparent layer is completely white, perhaps very light gray. It maintains its transparency, but, loses the color altogether. I've tried using different colors and different levels of transparency, but, they all come out exactly the same - transparent with no color. I can, of course tint the area with color using the appearance function, but, that tint also applies to the waist band and the band at the bottom of the skirt which I do not want.

What am I doing wrong? I have seen silks with white waist bands and various colors of tinted transparent material, so I know it's possible.

Any help is appreciated.

P.S. I know absolutely nothing about Photo Shop. I only have experience with Paint Shop Pro.

Govindira Galatea

Just ghosting...

Join date: 6 Mar 2004

Posts: 416

Suggestion

09-05-2005 11:58

One thing I do in PSP8--to check my results and to see what's going on--is to use the alpha channel as a selection (i.e., load selection from alpha channel), then copy the selection (CRTL-C), then paste into a new picture (CTRL-V). The resulting new picture will look like the clothing item's texture as SL will use it, if I've done everything right. If it doesn't, it reveals what I've done wrong quickly (and cheaply, in time and $L).

It sounds like what you're doing is correct, but I hope this hint allows you to see what's going wrong.

~Govi~

_____________________

From: Caron Warner Lieber, woolgatherer

"A person who talks fast often says things she hasn't thought of yet."

From: Amosis Leontopolis Thomas

"The Creator has a Master Plan: Peace and Happiness through all the Land."

Weedy Herbst

Too many parameters

Join date: 5 Aug 2004

Posts: 2,255

09-05-2005 13:10

Sounds to me like you are missing a few steps.

I hear you say, you are able to create the mask, but are you saving the mask to an alpha channel?

That said, when saving to a .tga, first you must preset the option to 24 bit uncompressed.

If you upload the image and see white, where you wanted your alpha, then you probably missed one of these steps.

Personally, my alpha of choice is to make the mask in black, then use new mask/from image/any non-zero value/save to alpha channel.

_____________________

a lost user

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32bit TGA,please!

09-05-2005 14:25

I do not have a quote handy right away,but I am more than sure that there s a whole paragraph on the topic of the TGA file in the PDF attached to the download zip of all templates.... and if i am not mistaken it strongly encourages you to save the TGA in 32 bit uncompresses, not 24. 24 is used ONLY when you design a grayscale texture that your users will modify later.
Just my 2C

Anna

a lost user

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09-05-2005 14:36

I know how to make the mask. I know how to save it to the alpha channel. I know how to save it as a .tgs file.

The result in SL is transparent white instead of transparent purple. The partially transparent area is coming thru with partial transoarency, but, in white instead of purple. You can still see thru it. The problem is not that it doesn't come out transparent. The problem is that it loses the color I set it to.

a lost user

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09-05-2005 14:49

in answer to Anne, psp9 does not give 32 bit as an option. as i understand it, 24 bits are assigned to RGB with the other 8 bits for the black and white.

Weedy Herbst

Too many parameters

Join date: 5 Aug 2004

Posts: 2,255

09-05-2005 15:02

From: Padme Mostel

I know how to make the mask. I know how to save it to the alpha channel. I know how to save it as a .tgs file.

The result in SL is transparent white instead of transparent purple. The partially transparent area is coming thru with partial transoarency, but, in white instead of purple. You can still see thru it. The problem is not that it doesn't come out transparent. The problem is that it loses the color I set it to.

What selection are you using? Opacity, Any non-zero value or Luminesence? Try different combinations. White does not make as good a mask as black in some cases. As I prefer to mask from non-zero values.

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a lost user

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09-05-2005 16:08

i have used opacity, non zero and luminence with the same results

a lost user

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09-05-2005 17:56

Quick answer:
6. After the mask layer is created, go to Layers--->Load/Save Mask-->Save Mask to Alpha Channel.

Long Answer:
http://www.sluniverse.com/kb/article.aspx?id=10190

Follow the tutorial from start to end. I can do semi-transparent with PSP 4.0 (1995 version) without any problems, so you must be missing a step along the way.

MistySue Wallaby

Registered User

Join date: 22 Apr 2005

Posts: 40

09-06-2005 05:17

sorry, I don't have the answers, but I think I understand the question.

You are successfully making transparent, semi-transparent and opaque areas in your TGA files. The problem sounds like the semi-transparent areas become shades of grey instead of the color that you wish.

In other words, you are wanting to know how in the TGA file to make semi-transparent purple instead of semi-transparent grey, right?

a lost user

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Posts: ?

09-06-2005 05:33

thank you mistysue for understanding the question. i thought that i made it clear several times that i know how to make transparent and semi-transparent areas. everyone wants to teach me how to save a mask to an alpha channel. lol.

the problem is that my semi transparent areas lose their COLOR not their semi-TRANSPARENCY. I am not missing a step in the process. that was the first thing i checked.

i can make semi transparent areas. i just can't make them in any color except white. no matter what color i make the semi transparent area, it comes out semi transparent white. if i make it semi transparent black, in sl it is semi transparent white. if i make it semi transparent purple, it comes out semi transparent white. if i make it semi transparent orange it comes out semi transparent white....etc...etc...etc

a lost user

Join date: ?

Posts: ?

09-06-2005 06:35

okay. mystery solved. you can't use 35% or 50% transparency without losing color. i know 75% works, so i won't bother trying to figure out what the real limitation is. thanks all for your input.

PSP9 partial transparency color problem
a lost user Join date: ? Posts: ?	09-05-2005 11:10 I have searched and read the forums until my eyes are bleeding, and the rivulets of blood are forming eyes and they are beginning to bleed. I created a slave silk bottom using a skirt template. It has a band around the waist, and, a piece of 35% transparent purple material hanging in the front and back with matching bands across the bottom. This is in PSP9. I have no trouble creating the mask layer. It comes out black where total transparency is needed, as it should. It is white in the area of the bands around the waist and at the bottom of the skirt, as it should be. The area where I want 35% transparency is gray, as it should be. As soon as I hit the button accepting the mask in the alpha channel my 35% transparency area on the raster layer gets lighter in color: extremely pale purple. I then save it as a .tga file. When I upload the file to SL the 35% transparent layer is completely white, perhaps very light gray. It maintains its transparency, but, loses the color altogether. I've tried using different colors and different levels of transparency, but, they all come out exactly the same - transparent with no color. I can, of course tint the area with color using the appearance function, but, that tint also applies to the waist band and the band at the bottom of the skirt which I do not want. What am I doing wrong? I have seen silks with white waist bands and various colors of tinted transparent material, so I know it's possible. Any help is appreciated. P.S. I know absolutely nothing about Photo Shop. I only have experience with Paint Shop Pro.
Govindira Galatea Just ghosting... Join date: 6 Mar 2004 Posts: 416	Suggestion 09-05-2005 11:58 One thing I do in PSP8--to check my results and to see what's going on--is to use the alpha channel as a selection (i.e., load selection from alpha channel), then copy the selection (CRTL-C), then paste into a new picture (CTRL-V). The resulting new picture will look like the clothing item's texture as SL will use it, if I've done everything right. If it doesn't, it reveals what I've done wrong quickly (and cheaply, in time and $L). It sounds like what you're doing is correct, but I hope this hint allows you to see what's going wrong. ~Govi~ _____________________ From: Caron Warner Lieber, woolgatherer "A person who talks fast often says things she hasn't thought of yet." From: Amosis Leontopolis Thomas "The Creator has a Master Plan: Peace and Happiness through all the Land."
Weedy Herbst Too many parameters Join date: 5 Aug 2004 Posts: 2,255	09-05-2005 13:10 Sounds to me like you are missing a few steps. I hear you say, you are able to create the mask, but are you saving the mask to an alpha channel? That said, when saving to a .tga, first you must preset the option to 24 bit uncompressed. If you upload the image and see white, where you wanted your alpha, then you probably missed one of these steps. Personally, my alpha of choice is to make the mask in black, then use new mask/from image/any non-zero value/save to alpha channel. _____________________
a lost user Join date: ? Posts: ?	32bit TGA,please! 09-05-2005 14:25 I do not have a quote handy right away,but I am more than sure that there s a whole paragraph on the topic of the TGA file in the PDF attached to the download zip of all templates.... and if i am not mistaken it strongly encourages you to save the TGA in 32 bit uncompresses, not 24. 24 is used ONLY when you design a grayscale texture that your users will modify later. Just my 2C Anna
a lost user Join date: ? Posts: ?	09-05-2005 14:36 I know how to make the mask. I know how to save it to the alpha channel. I know how to save it as a .tgs file. The result in SL is transparent white instead of transparent purple. The partially transparent area is coming thru with partial transoarency, but, in white instead of purple. You can still see thru it. The problem is not that it doesn't come out transparent. The problem is that it loses the color I set it to.
a lost user Join date: ? Posts: ?	09-05-2005 14:49 in answer to Anne, psp9 does not give 32 bit as an option. as i understand it, 24 bits are assigned to RGB with the other 8 bits for the black and white.
Weedy Herbst Too many parameters Join date: 5 Aug 2004 Posts: 2,255	09-05-2005 15:02 From: Padme Mostel I know how to make the mask. I know how to save it to the alpha channel. I know how to save it as a .tgs file. The result in SL is transparent white instead of transparent purple. The partially transparent area is coming thru with partial transoarency, but, in white instead of purple. You can still see thru it. The problem is not that it doesn't come out transparent. The problem is that it loses the color I set it to. What selection are you using? Opacity, Any non-zero value or Luminesence? Try different combinations. White does not make as good a mask as black in some cases. As I prefer to mask from non-zero values. _____________________
a lost user Join date: ? Posts: ?	09-05-2005 16:08 i have used opacity, non zero and luminence with the same results
a lost user Join date: ? Posts: ?	09-05-2005 17:56 Quick answer: 6. After the mask layer is created, go to Layers--->Load/Save Mask-->Save Mask to Alpha Channel. Long Answer: http://www.sluniverse.com/kb/article.aspx?id=10190 Follow the tutorial from start to end. I can do semi-transparent with PSP 4.0 (1995 version) without any problems, so you must be missing a step along the way.
MistySue Wallaby Registered User Join date: 22 Apr 2005 Posts: 40	09-06-2005 05:17 sorry, I don't have the answers, but I think I understand the question. You are successfully making transparent, semi-transparent and opaque areas in your TGA files. The problem sounds like the semi-transparent areas become shades of grey instead of the color that you wish. In other words, you are wanting to know how in the TGA file to make semi-transparent purple instead of semi-transparent grey, right?
a lost user Join date: ? Posts: ?	09-06-2005 05:33 thank you mistysue for understanding the question. i thought that i made it clear several times that i know how to make transparent and semi-transparent areas. everyone wants to teach me how to save a mask to an alpha channel. lol. the problem is that my semi transparent areas lose their COLOR not their semi-TRANSPARENCY. I am not missing a step in the process. that was the first thing i checked. i can make semi transparent areas. i just can't make them in any color except white. no matter what color i make the semi transparent area, it comes out semi transparent white. if i make it semi transparent black, in sl it is semi transparent white. if i make it semi transparent purple, it comes out semi transparent white. if i make it semi transparent orange it comes out semi transparent white....etc...etc...etc
a lost user Join date: ? Posts: ?	09-06-2005 06:35 okay. mystery solved. you can't use 35% or 50% transparency without losing color. i know 75% works, so i won't bother trying to figure out what the real limitation is. thanks all for your input.

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PSP9 partial transparency color problem