problems with Alpha channel

Ive followed every tutorial out there to a Tee. I am still not getting the clothes to come out right, I think it has somthing to do with my Targa file. When I do a save as and select Targa, it changes the save options below. Where it had alpha chanel selected, it deselects it and selects copy only. Could this be why my clothes are not turning out? Im not getting any transperenty in like shirts, the things i cut out are white , ect.

Are you very very very very sure you have an alpha channel, instead of just a layer called 'alpha'? TGA files with no alpha channels do not allow you to select the alpha channel checkbox.

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Hi Cappacino. First, don't worry about the TGA outputting as a copy. That's what it's supposed to do. The reason is so that your layered work will not be destroyed when you output to the flat TGA. Otherwise, you'd have to start all over again if you needed to make changes sine TGA's do not support layers.

As for the alpha channel being grayed out, it sounds like either you don't have an alpha channel present in the first place, as Cottoneil said, or else you're using Photoshop 7.0. If it's the latter, then there's an easy fix. Go to www.adobe.com and download the free 7.0.1 upgrade. 7.0 had a problem with its TGA saver utility (among other things). 7.0.1 fixes that.

Thank you Chosen, I do have photoshop7.0! I am sure thats it, however I tried to dl that file and can not do it I bought this computer from somone and part of the reason I bought it was because it had PS 7 on it. Now im finding out that its a bootleged copy of photoshop.... So looks like I need to go buy ps now! But the good news is I now can stop beating my head against the wall over this...LOL

PS7 is usually the culpret for alpha problems, so it was an easy guess. Buying the current version would certainly be a good idea. However, I'm suprised you're having trouble downloading the update. Out of curiousity, what is it doing?

You don't need to buy anything to handle alpha channel. Just download the Gimp (free).

It downloads ok but when i go to install it , it ask for the exact path for photo shop 7. I put it in c/program files/photoshop 7 , exactly how its listed and it says it can not find it there. I went to troublshooting on thesite, it suggest to reinstall photoshop, so Im thinking its not a leagle copy.

The Gimp can be downloaded from here:
Download both the GTK and the Gimp Installer. Install the GTK first.
http://gimp-win.sourceforge.net/stable.html

There is a hack called Gimpshop that makes it behave a bit closer to PS here:
http://plasticbugs.com/?page_id=294

Another free image editor to try is Paint .NET. Has less functionality than The Gimp and no support for alpha channels as I can remember. But for those not dealing with alphas, this is more straightforward.
http://www.eecs.wsu.edu/paint.net/

For those who want to see thumbnails of their .TGA files in the windows explorer, there is a plugin that allows this here:
http://greggman.com/pages/thumbplug_tga.htm

The instructions for handling alpha channel in the Gimp are hard to find, so here they are:

1. Check to top of the image window for mode. RGB will work. Indexed will not work. To change indexed to RGB, use this path (toolbar, image window):
Image>Mode>RGB.

2. Add ttranzparency layer: Layer>Transparency>Add alpha channel

3. Select the area you want to be transparent.

4. Erase the selection with ctl-k or the eraser. This should show you the checkerboard indicating transparency. TM

Here's the rule of thumb for whether or not your Photoshop (and any other software) is legal. If the original owner is not using it anymore, he or she has given you the original installation material (CD), and he or she has removed/destroyed all other copies in his or her possession, then it's legally yours. If the original owner has kept a copy for himself/herself, then your copy is bootleg.

Since the updater asked you to re-install, and you didn't do it, I'm assuming you don't have the installation disk, which likely means the person you bought the computer from either never had it to begin with, or else kept it. If it's the latter, and you can get it from the person, then it's legally yours. If not, or if it's the former, then you may be out of luck.

Assuming you can legalize the copy by obtaining the install CD, you might not actually need to re-install. Try putting the updater right in your Photoshop folder before starting it. If it's already in that foler, my guess is it won't have to go looking for it, and the step that was problematic will be eliminated. Again, that's just a guess, but give it a whirl.

Another option would be just to download the TGA plug-in. It's listed on the same page you got the 7.0.1 update. It's under Photoshop 7.0. It won't solve the other bugs in 7.0, but it will straighten our your TGA situation.

In any case, it still makes sense to get the new version. First, if your current copy is illegal and you have a conscience, which it very much sounds like you do, then it's simply the only right thing to do. Second, there are a number of new features since version 7 that are really great.

Thanks for all your help! I have downloaded gimp but I was just learning the PS software and I think I finally get it, LOL, So next week I will go and buy a newer version of photoshop and it will be leagel.