Transparent question?

is there anyway to download a full permission texture from SL to your desktop so you can make it transparent in photoshop? or is there a way to make a full permission texture transparent in SL without putting it on a prim?

With a Full Permissions texture, open the texture so that you can see it and it must be the active window if you have several SL client windows open. In the upper left corner, select "File" and then "Save File As..." and that will download the texture for you.

Use your graphics program as usual on the texture (after downloading) to achieve any transparencies. The Designers forum has a sticky at the top that explains ALL about transparencies in TGA files.

There is no way to make a texture transparent within the SL client. You have to put it on a prim to change its transparency.

Honor and obey any restrictions on your use that came with the texture you've downloaded.

Once an texture is in SL and you didnt get it in there, there is no legal way to get it out. There are many illegal ways.
Permissions are for sl only. Full Permissions do not confur public domain status on the texture. Full permissions is sort of like creatuve commons.
So just remember, if you see in world, try remaking outside.

Umm. Thunderclap, I'm sorry, but it is simply not true that this is always illegal.

It's very easy to legally get a texture out of SL, work on it, and re-upload it. All you need to do is purchase textures that specifically allow this in the texture agreement, and follow Govindira's instructions.

Many texture creators allow you to "tweak" the textures to your liking, and re-upload them to SL to use on your builds.

I'm not aware of any that allow you to sell your "tweaks" as textures, or to use them for things other than SL, but that's a different question.

Just be sure you read the agreement before you purchase the texture.