Second Life Forums Archive - Alpha channel woes

Tharkis Olafson

I like cheese

Join date: 17 Nov 2004

Posts: 134

12-21-2004 18:49

Ok, let's start off here by saying I'm using Photoshop CS, now that we got that out of the way here's my problem. I am taking an existing image I made a while back, and trying to make a tattoo from it. My problem is that the black doesn't have an RGB value of 0 0 0, it's 1 1 1. In any other world it wouldn't be much of a problem. But since black is the alpha transparency color, anything other than pure black is semi-transparent. Thus I get a semi-transparent tattoo.

Any ideas on how to make the black be pure black without losing the detail of the edges and fine lines of the image? Any help here would be greatly appreciated.

Tharkis Olafson

I like cheese

Join date: 17 Nov 2004

Posts: 134

12-22-2004 06:50

Man, 16 views and no answer.. I was hoping there would be some easy way to do this with another layer or something that I could merge or something with the channels. I can't believe no one has an idea of what I could do here.

Sensual Casanova

Spoiled Brat

Join date: 28 Feb 2004

Posts: 4,807

12-22-2004 07:12

I am sorry, I don't have an answer for you... but I want you to know you aren't being ignored

I use Photoshop 7.0 and Alpha cahnnels are not required...

_____________________

Sensual Designs & Animations
Sensual Productions

Teleport to Sensual Designs & Animations

SuezanneC Baskerville

Forums Rock!

Join date: 22 Dec 2003

Posts: 14,229

12-22-2004 07:48

Perhaps if we knew what the file looks like or had a copy available we would be able to help better.

_____________________

-

So long to these forums, the vBulletin forums that used to be at forums.secondlife.com. I will miss them.

I can be found on the web by searching for "SuezanneC Baskerville", or go to

http://www.google.com/profiles/suezanne

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http://lindenlab.tribe.net/ created on 11/19/03.

Members: Ben, Catherine, Colin, Cory, Dan, Doug, Jim, Philip, Phoenix, Richard,
Robin, and Ryan

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Jolene Jade

JOJO THE GREAT

Join date: 12 Aug 2003

Posts: 459

12-22-2004 08:35

cant you just convert the file.....like to PSD?

Govindira Galatea

Just ghosting...

Join date: 6 Mar 2004

Posts: 416

12-22-2004 08:45

If you have the alpha channel available to you as a selection, you can do the following:

1) create a new image the same size as your present image

2) fill the new image with black at 0, 0, 0 RGB levels

3) editing your new black image, load the alpha channel from your tattoo

4) copy your new black selection (CTRL C)

5) here you can proceed several ways, but I favor this: paste/create new image from your selection. CTRL V

6) Voila, you should have a second image, that is the same size as your original tattoo, with black 0,0,0

I know this works with PaintShopPro8, which is what I use. I'm hoping that you can adapt it to Photoshop CS (which I have, but find so crippled that I gave it up immediately)

Good luck!

~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."

Jolene Jade

JOJO THE GREAT

Join date: 12 Aug 2003

Posts: 459

12-22-2004 08:50

From: Govindira Galatea

If you have the alpha channel available to you as a selection, you can do the following:

1) create a new image the same size as your present image

2) fill the new image with black at 0, 0, 0 RGB levels

3) editing your new black image, load the alpha channel from your tattoo

4) copy your new black selection (CTRL C)

5) here you can proceed several ways, but I favor this: paste/create new image from your selection. CTRL V

6) Voila, you should have a second image, that is the same size as your original tattoo, with black 0,0,0

I know this works with PaintShopPro8, which is what I use. I'm hoping that you can adapt it to Photoshop CS (which I have, but find so crippled that I gave it up immediately)

Good luck!

~Govi~

brilliant govi...but if its jpeg file its not gonna support alpha...which if we knew file format...mite help to give better insight...

Tharkis Olafson

I like cheese

Join date: 17 Nov 2004

Posts: 134

12-22-2004 09:20

at the moment it's in a PSD file so I can pretty much do whatever I want with it. My question is that if I fill the selection, won't it fill the anti-aliased outline as well? What I was thinking of doing is taking my selection and grow -> smaller by maybe a pixel or two to take the anti-aliased edges out of the selection, then fill the selection, then grow it again, flatten and save.

Think it will work?

Tharkis Olafson

I like cheese

Join date: 17 Nov 2004

Posts: 134

12-22-2004 09:23

From: Govindira Galatea

If you have the alpha channel available to you as a selection, you can do the following:

1) create a new image the same size as your present image

2) fill the new image with black at 0, 0, 0 RGB levels

3) editing your new black image, load the alpha channel from your tattoo

4) copy your new black selection (CTRL C)

5) here you can proceed several ways, but I favor this: paste/create new image from your selection. CTRL V

6) Voila, you should have a second image, that is the same size as your original tattoo, with black 0,0,0

I know this works with PaintShopPro8, which is what I use. I'm hoping that you can adapt it to Photoshop CS (which I have, but find so crippled that I gave it up immediately)

Good luck!

~Govi~

This might just be crazy enough to work! j/k Good idea, I'll give it a shot to see if it works. Worse comes to worse I may have to look at gimp or possibly PSP as a photochop replacement.

Namssor Daguerre

Imitates life

Join date: 18 Feb 2004

Posts: 1,423

A simple one step solution

12-22-2004 09:30

Tharkis, if your image is black and white, which I assume it is, if you are eventually placing it on an alpha channel, you can fix your problem with one command.

Set up a new "Levels Adjustment Layer" for your image and click "Auto". That's it. Your background will turn to a pure black. You can check that by turning on your "info" window and running your cursor over the background. It should read 0,0,0 for the RGB values.

_____________________

Tharkis Olafson

I like cheese

Join date: 17 Nov 2004

Posts: 134

12-22-2004 09:34

From: Namssor Daguerre

Tharkis, if your image is black and white, which I assume it is, if you are eventually placing it on an alpha channel, you can fix your problem with one command.

Set up a new "Levels Adjustment Layer" for your image and click "Auto". That's it. Your background will turn to a pure black. You can check that by turning on your "info" window and running your cursor over the background. It should read 0,0,0 for the RGB values.

You are my personal hero.

Trifen Fairplay

Officially Unofficial

Join date: 19 Jul 2004

Posts: 321

12-23-2004 16:28

From: Tharkis Olafson

You are my personal hero.

lol

_____________________

Shops for rent, search for the Fairplay Shop Network in the find menu.
Most shops only 1.5$L per prim!
Come visit Fairplay Community Center location in my picks.(still under construction)

Missbehavin neva

Registered User

Join date: 11 Oct 2004

Posts: 21

Thank You, Thank You Thank You

:

12-29-2004 13:58

Govindira Galatea,

Thank you soo much for your adviceon creating transparant images in PSP 8! I have been waiting for this!!!

I can't wait until I get home from work to playin my PSP!

Missbehavin neva

Registered User

Join date: 11 Oct 2004

Posts: 21

I give up!

12-29-2004 21:29

Iam such a dumb@ss! I STILL can't figure it out! Been sitting here.. I have PSP 8.2... It is not workin.. the so called transparent background come out WHITE. What am i doing wrong.. we need that class! hahaha I have been working on this same image for nearly 2 hours now and no such luck. I am going to bed. hahah PLEASE Help! I will pay for a step by step tutorial.....

Cheri Skye

Does "guest" ever go away

Join date: 3 Dec 2004

Posts: 6

12-29-2004 22:10

From: Missbehavin neva

Iam such a dumb@ss! I STILL can't figure it out! Been sitting here.. I have PSP 8.2... It is not workin.. the so called transparent background come out WHITE. What am i doing wrong.. we need that class! hahaha I have been working on this same image for nearly 2 hours now and no such luck. I am going to bed. hahah PLEASE Help! I will pay for a step by step tutorial.....

To create transparency in PSP 8... create your garment, tattoo, etc on a layer of its own, with transparency. Then, however way it works best for you, get ONLY your colored pixels selected. If it's a simple piece of clothing, or relatively so, then use magic wand on all the transparent selections (making sure to add to the selection with each "chunk" of transparency you click) then, simply invert the selection and go to Selection > Load/Save Selection > Save Selection to Alpha Channel. Save the selection on an alpha channel, and then save your file as a Truevision Targa.

Load up the image in game, and see your transparency at work.

Hope that helps!

paulie Femto

Into the dark

Join date: 13 Sep 2003

Posts: 1,098

i have a notecard

12-30-2004 10:40

Neva, I created a notecard on making transparency in PSP 8. It has helped many peeps. I'll drop it on ya inworld as soon as we all can get in.

_____________________

REUTERS on SL: "Thirty-five thousand people wearing their psyches on the outside and all the attendant unfettered freakishness that brings."

Cheri Skye

Does "guest" ever go away

Join date: 3 Dec 2004

Posts: 6

12-30-2004 14:04

I should have added... THAT is a quick down and dirty version of getting transparency, AND ... it does not work for partial transparency. I was tired. Forgive me. What I was hoping that it would show is that transparency in tga files created from PSP 8 is totally dependant on what you are able to "save to alpha channel." (Which in short, are selections and MASKS.)

I'm still learning to do transparency properly in PSP 8 myself... so any help that's sent my way is MUCH appreciated, too.

Alpha channel woes
Tharkis Olafson I like cheese Join date: 17 Nov 2004 Posts: 134	12-21-2004 18:49 Ok, let's start off here by saying I'm using Photoshop CS, now that we got that out of the way here's my problem. I am taking an existing image I made a while back, and trying to make a tattoo from it. My problem is that the black doesn't have an RGB value of 0 0 0, it's 1 1 1. In any other world it wouldn't be much of a problem. But since black is the alpha transparency color, anything other than pure black is semi-transparent. Thus I get a semi-transparent tattoo. Any ideas on how to make the black be pure black without losing the detail of the edges and fine lines of the image? Any help here would be greatly appreciated.
Tharkis Olafson I like cheese Join date: 17 Nov 2004 Posts: 134	12-22-2004 06:50 Man, 16 views and no answer.. I was hoping there would be some easy way to do this with another layer or something that I could merge or something with the channels. I can't believe no one has an idea of what I could do here.
Sensual Casanova Spoiled Brat Join date: 28 Feb 2004 Posts: 4,807	12-22-2004 07:12 I am sorry, I don't have an answer for you... but I want you to know you aren't being ignored I use Photoshop 7.0 and Alpha cahnnels are not required... _____________________ Sensual Designs & Animations Sensual Productions Teleport to Sensual Designs & Animations
SuezanneC Baskerville Forums Rock! Join date: 22 Dec 2003 Posts: 14,229	12-22-2004 07:48 Perhaps if we knew what the file looks like or had a copy available we would be able to help better. _____________________ - So long to these forums, the vBulletin forums that used to be at forums.secondlife.com. I will miss them. I can be found on the web by searching for "SuezanneC Baskerville", or go to http://www.google.com/profiles/suezanne - http://lindenlab.tribe.net/ created on 11/19/03. Members: Ben, Catherine, Colin, Cory, Dan, Doug, Jim, Philip, Phoenix, Richard, Robin, and Ryan -
Jolene Jade JOJO THE GREAT Join date: 12 Aug 2003 Posts: 459	12-22-2004 08:35 cant you just convert the file.....like to PSD?
Govindira Galatea Just ghosting... Join date: 6 Mar 2004 Posts: 416	12-22-2004 08:45 If you have the alpha channel available to you as a selection, you can do the following: 1) create a new image the same size as your present image 2) fill the new image with black at 0, 0, 0 RGB levels 3) editing your new black image, load the alpha channel from your tattoo 4) copy your new black selection (CTRL C) 5) here you can proceed several ways, but I favor this: paste/create new image from your selection. CTRL V 6) Voila, you should have a second image, that is the same size as your original tattoo, with black 0,0,0 I know this works with PaintShopPro8, which is what I use. I'm hoping that you can adapt it to Photoshop CS (which I have, but find so crippled that I gave it up immediately) Good luck! ~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."
Jolene Jade JOJO THE GREAT Join date: 12 Aug 2003 Posts: 459	12-22-2004 08:50 From: Govindira Galatea If you have the alpha channel available to you as a selection, you can do the following: 1) create a new image the same size as your present image 2) fill the new image with black at 0, 0, 0 RGB levels 3) editing your new black image, load the alpha channel from your tattoo 4) copy your new black selection (CTRL C) 5) here you can proceed several ways, but I favor this: paste/create new image from your selection. CTRL V 6) Voila, you should have a second image, that is the same size as your original tattoo, with black 0,0,0 I know this works with PaintShopPro8, which is what I use. I'm hoping that you can adapt it to Photoshop CS (which I have, but find so crippled that I gave it up immediately) Good luck! ~Govi~ brilliant govi...but if its jpeg file its not gonna support alpha...which if we knew file format...mite help to give better insight...
Tharkis Olafson I like cheese Join date: 17 Nov 2004 Posts: 134	12-22-2004 09:20 at the moment it's in a PSD file so I can pretty much do whatever I want with it. My question is that if I fill the selection, won't it fill the anti-aliased outline as well? What I was thinking of doing is taking my selection and grow -> smaller by maybe a pixel or two to take the anti-aliased edges out of the selection, then fill the selection, then grow it again, flatten and save. Think it will work?
Tharkis Olafson I like cheese Join date: 17 Nov 2004 Posts: 134	12-22-2004 09:23 From: Govindira Galatea If you have the alpha channel available to you as a selection, you can do the following: 1) create a new image the same size as your present image 2) fill the new image with black at 0, 0, 0 RGB levels 3) editing your new black image, load the alpha channel from your tattoo 4) copy your new black selection (CTRL C) 5) here you can proceed several ways, but I favor this: paste/create new image from your selection. CTRL V 6) Voila, you should have a second image, that is the same size as your original tattoo, with black 0,0,0 I know this works with PaintShopPro8, which is what I use. I'm hoping that you can adapt it to Photoshop CS (which I have, but find so crippled that I gave it up immediately) Good luck! ~Govi~ This might just be crazy enough to work! j/k Good idea, I'll give it a shot to see if it works. Worse comes to worse I may have to look at gimp or possibly PSP as a photochop replacement.
Namssor Daguerre Imitates life Join date: 18 Feb 2004 Posts: 1,423	A simple one step solution 12-22-2004 09:30 Tharkis, if your image is black and white, which I assume it is, if you are eventually placing it on an alpha channel, you can fix your problem with one command. Set up a new "Levels Adjustment Layer" for your image and click "Auto". That's it. Your background will turn to a pure black. You can check that by turning on your "info" window and running your cursor over the background. It should read 0,0,0 for the RGB values. _____________________
Tharkis Olafson I like cheese Join date: 17 Nov 2004 Posts: 134	12-22-2004 09:34 From: Namssor Daguerre Tharkis, if your image is black and white, which I assume it is, if you are eventually placing it on an alpha channel, you can fix your problem with one command. Set up a new "Levels Adjustment Layer" for your image and click "Auto". That's it. Your background will turn to a pure black. You can check that by turning on your "info" window and running your cursor over the background. It should read 0,0,0 for the RGB values. You are my personal hero.
Trifen Fairplay Officially Unofficial Join date: 19 Jul 2004 Posts: 321	12-23-2004 16:28 From: Tharkis Olafson You are my personal hero. lol _____________________ Shops for rent, search for the Fairplay Shop Network in the find menu. Most shops only 1.5$L per prim! Come visit Fairplay Community Center location in my picks.(still under construction)
Missbehavin neva Registered User Join date: 11 Oct 2004 Posts: 21	Thank You, Thank You Thank You : 12-29-2004 13:58 Govindira Galatea, Thank you soo much for your adviceon creating transparant images in PSP 8! I have been waiting for this!!! I can't wait until I get home from work to playin my PSP!
Missbehavin neva Registered User Join date: 11 Oct 2004 Posts: 21	I give up! 12-29-2004 21:29 Iam such a dumb@ss! I STILL can't figure it out! Been sitting here.. I have PSP 8.2... It is not workin.. the so called transparent background come out WHITE. What am i doing wrong.. we need that class! hahaha I have been working on this same image for nearly 2 hours now and no such luck. I am going to bed. hahah PLEASE Help! I will pay for a step by step tutorial.....
Cheri Skye Does "guest" ever go away Join date: 3 Dec 2004 Posts: 6	12-29-2004 22:10 From: Missbehavin neva Iam such a dumb@ss! I STILL can't figure it out! Been sitting here.. I have PSP 8.2... It is not workin.. the so called transparent background come out WHITE. What am i doing wrong.. we need that class! hahaha I have been working on this same image for nearly 2 hours now and no such luck. I am going to bed. hahah PLEASE Help! I will pay for a step by step tutorial..... To create transparency in PSP 8... create your garment, tattoo, etc on a layer of its own, with transparency. Then, however way it works best for you, get ONLY your colored pixels selected. If it's a simple piece of clothing, or relatively so, then use magic wand on all the transparent selections (making sure to add to the selection with each "chunk" of transparency you click) then, simply invert the selection and go to Selection > Load/Save Selection > Save Selection to Alpha Channel. Save the selection on an alpha channel, and then save your file as a Truevision Targa. Load up the image in game, and see your transparency at work. Hope that helps!
paulie Femto Into the dark Join date: 13 Sep 2003 Posts: 1,098	i have a notecard 12-30-2004 10:40 Neva, I created a notecard on making transparency in PSP 8. It has helped many peeps. I'll drop it on ya inworld as soon as we all can get in. _____________________ REUTERS on SL: "Thirty-five thousand people wearing their psyches on the outside and all the attendant unfettered freakishness that brings."
Cheri Skye Does "guest" ever go away Join date: 3 Dec 2004 Posts: 6	12-30-2004 14:04 I should have added... THAT is a quick down and dirty version of getting transparency, AND ... it does not work for partial transparency. I was tired. Forgive me. What I was hoping that it would show is that transparency in tga files created from PSP 8 is totally dependant on what you are able to "save to alpha channel." (Which in short, are selections and MASKS.) I'm still learning to do transparency properly in PSP 8 myself... so any help that's sent my way is MUCH appreciated, too.

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Alpha channel woes