Reusing Alpha Channels for Clothing

Hi All,

I have figured out how to make clothing, but i would like to know how to use the same template frame...say for instance, i made a shirt..with a nice texture. Then later on, i wanted to make a different textured shirt...do i have to go through the whole process again, or is there a way that i can save the shirt that i made before and just change the texture to it?

I am working with PSP X, and having a blast with it. It just gets tedious, filling in the blank spaces so that the only thing left is the outline of the shirt and gloves. I just want to be able to bypass that erasing part..it takes up the most time.

Any help is WAY appreciated!

Slay

I think you make the shirt in black/white and then change with color and texture in game. Something like that at least

if I understand you, you are using the template file from LL, drawing over it, and then saving it?

in PSP (I only have 7/8 so can't give exact instructions) you can make a new layer, draw your shirt into that, hide the other layers, and export the visible part....

this way you don't lose the template, and can even make sub templates (using mask to limit you to say a t-shirt)

(you can also save masks to disk if this is what you are talking about, then reload them later for similar clothing types)

you should never use erase to remove template layouts, just paint in a new layer, and hide the template layers when you are done and want to export/save_as your image

if you want to edit an old design, open the image, copy and "paste as new layer" into the template.... then use as before

Thanks for the advice. I'm not using LL templates, but Chip Midnight's Templates. I may switch over and use LL, cause when i finish making my clothing, for some reason, it wont upload to SL. Perhaps I'm trying to upload the wrong thing?

actually chips are superior in several ways.... but you have to remember to shrink them before exporting IIRC... and of course as always, save copy as tga, options set for uncompressed (sl will compress it on upload anyway)

To answer your 1st question .... Yes you can use previous masks for new clothes. I work mainly in Photoshop but i believe PSP is similar in that it uses layers. the thing to do is save your creations as PSP files which also save all the layers and then just create new layers with the new textures and turn off the older ones.

As regards uploading things that you create using chips templates all you need to do it make sure they are TGA files. 32 bit if alpha channels are used and 24 bit if no alpha is present.


Chip will very likely add some comments to this thread as normal and will clear up any other questions you may have.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank both Chip and Robin for their many informative posts. You guys rock!!!

I use PSP X and the answer is yes. You have to save the channel to your drive and then load it back in.
An easier way to do it, is to save a white version of your garment with the alpha channel already embedded so you don't have to do anything.

Also PSP X user.....
Once you have got your mask layer just right, in the layers menu choose save mask to disk, then you can keep loading it from your harddrive into any new file you make.
Keep a PSP copy of your complete file before..... saving the mask to the alpha channel and deleting it, then save as tga.
If you're using multiple layers for shading, details and such, hanging on to a PSP file will allow you to simply replace the fabric layer for a new outfit without losing all your other work.
As for saving as tga, PSP doesn't let you save it as a 32 bit, but if your file has an alpha it will do the work for you automatically.
Have fun.