Alpha Won't Save -- Help :)

I'm trying to make a single white line across the bridge of the nose to the end of the eyes (Apache war line).
-- I set up a alpha texture that is 1024x1024, then paste Chip's Head Template as a second layer.
--Then for my third layer, I paste my white line.
--I even out the white line and then delete the second layer (The face template).
--Then I click on the first layer, use the magic wand, go to Select->Inverse then Windows->Channel.
--I go to save the file as a TGA, but it won't let me.

I've been using this http://www.sluniverse.com/kb/article.aspx?id=10199 as a guide. Am I stupid or is PS being a turd? Thanks all

Once again, here are my 10 steps to a perfect alpha. Moderators, for the ten millionth time, can we sticky this already? As I keep saying, this is only the single most asked about topic on the whole of the forums.

Anyway, Delpha, I glanced at the tutorial you followed. It's got nice visuals, but it seems more than a bit lacking in actual explanation. See how you do with this one. It's for a bikini top, not just a line, but the principle is the same. Just remove the words "bikini top" and replace them with "white line" in your head when you read it. The tutorial has 10 steps to follow, preceded by an explanation of what channels are, what they do, and how they work.

I'm curious what you mean when you say it "won't let" you save as TGA. You should be able to save any image in any format you like simply by going File -> Save As, and then selecting the format from the pulldown menu. It's standard for Photoshop to prompt you that a TGA will be saved as a copy, not as an original, if your working document has more than one layer? Is that what you mean? If so, don't worry about it. That's perfectly normal. Just let it export the copy and then save your layered work as a PSD so you have it later in case you ever need it. If it's doing something other than that, what exactly does it say?

One thought that occurs to me is you ARE using Photoshop, not Photoshop Elements, right? Elements doesn't support alpha channels, so if by chance that's what you're using, then that's your problem. If you're actually using the real Photoshop though, then I can't think of any reason why TGA should be unavailable as a Save As option. If you're still having trouble after following the tutorial, let me know exactly what Photoshop is saying and doing, and I can probably solve it.

Oh, and by the way, you mentioned you're using a 1024x1024 canvas. Make sure you resize that to 512x512 before you upload it. There's never any reason to go that big for a tattoo or any other av texture (skin, clothing, etc.). All it does is cause lag when it's that big. 512x512 is where you want to be. Chip's high res templates are double size just so that all the fine lines in them can clearly be seen; that's all. They're inteded to be shrunk to 512 before upload.

Color Space & Channels
Images designed to be shown on a color screen are comprised three colors (red, green, & blue). The relative brightness of each of these primary colors in each pixel determines each pixel's actual color. For example, a pixel comprised of equal values of red and blue without any green would appear to be purple.

When taken seperately, the individual values for red, green, or blue are represented by a grayscale image called a channel. In an individual channel, white represents the maximum possible concentration of color and black represents the absense of color. Shades of gray represent amounts of color that are less than the maximum. The darker the gray, the lesser the concentration of color. The lighter the gray, the more color is present. So, to go back to the example of combining red and blue values to make a splotch of purple, the splotch would appear white in the Red Channel, white in the Blue Channel, and black in the Green Channel, the reason being that the splotch contains the maximum possible values of red and blue, but no green.

Channels & Transparency (Alpha Channels)
Images that have transparency have the same three primary color channels and also have a fourth channel, called Alpha, which represents opacity. In the alpha channel, white represents comlete opacity and black represents the absense of opacity (transparency). Shades of gray represent semi-transparency. The darker the gray, the more transparent. The lighter the gray, the more opaque.

So, for example, if you are making a bikini top for your avatar, the alpha channel would be white in the shape of the bikini top, and black everywhere else. The white part makes the bikini top 100% opaque so that you won't be able to see through it when it's on the av, and the black part makes the rest of the image invisible so that there appears to be nothing on the av's arms, stomach, etc.

How to Create an Alpha Channel
Let's stick with the example of a bikini top.

1. On the Layers Palette turn off all layers except for the layer that has your bikini on it. (To turn a layer off, click the eyeball symbol to the left of its name.)

2. If the bikini layer has any white space around the bikini itself, use the eraser to get rid of the white space. It's very important at this stage that the bikini be on its own layer with nothing else on it.

3. On the Layers Palette, ctrl-click the icon for the layer with the bikini on it. (The icon is the little picture of the layer directly to the left of the layer's name.) This will select everything on the layer. You should see the "marching ants" outlining your bikini now.

4. On the Layers Palette, click the tab that says Channels to switch it to the Channels Palette. What you should see listed here are the three primary channels for your image, labled, "Red", "Green", & "Blue", and a master channel for the three, labelled "RGB". If you see any other channels besides those four, delete them now.

5. In the lower right corner of the Palette Window, locate the button that looks like a square sticker being peeled from its backing. It's the second one from the right. It's immediately to the left of the one that looks like a trash can. It says "New Channel" when you hover your mouse over it. Click it.

6. You should now see a new layer called "Alpha 1", which is currently all black. Make sure all channels except for Alpha 1 are turned off and that Alpha 1 is turned on. This should have happened automatically when you created Alpha 1, but if it didn't, do it now.

7. Your canvas should now appear to be solid black with the exception that you should still be able to see the "marching ants" outline of your bikini. Paint everything inside the outline white and leave everything outside of it black.

8. Click "Select" on the menu bar at the top of the screen to pull down the Select Menu. Click "Deselect" and you should see the marching ants disappear.

9. On the Channels Palette, trun the red, green, & blue channels back on, and turn Alpha 1 off. Now click the tab that says layers to switch back to the Layers Palette. Create a new layer by pressing the same button you previously used to create the new channel. (Just as it created a new channel while you were on the Channels Palette, it will create a new layer while you're on the Layers Palette.) Click on the name of this new layer and drag it underneath the layer with the bikini on it. Paint the new layer 50% gray or darker; black is fine. (The gray/black layer will prevent the white halo sometimes caused when Alphas are created the way we just did it. If you don't know what I mean by that, don't worry about. Just make sure to always put a gray/black layer underneath your work and you'll never have to see that white halo.)

10. Save your file as a 32-bit TGA and upload it to SL.

Enjoy.

Thanks Madame and Chosen Before I got a chance to fully read both post, I managed to do it the right way. Turned out excellent! Thanks again

We need these great reference materials distilled and compiled for easy access. Otherwise, it's depressingly redundant!

Chosen have you posted in the Hotline 'bout this? You've made this and so many other graphics tips... heck, you could write a nice BOOK on it by now! ^_^

You get my vote. Also, Chip Midnight's templates should be sticked right along with it.

we have a scripting wiki, why not a texture wiki and a building wiki? If it already exists, I apologize, but I looked and couldn't find one.

What a great idea.