Name On Boat

I am try to put a name on my boat,i have put letters on a board as if was a photo ,but am worried abt link board to the boat as it might interfere with the scripts on the boat.Any ides anyone,Thank You.

Why don't you just create an alpha texture with text....then place that prim on the side or back of the boat. I don't understand the confusion.

im not sure what a Alpha texture is ,but will find out thanks

An alpha texture is one that has portions that are see-through…transparent.


Create your text or artwork in Photoshop--be sure you select 'trasparent background’ when opening a new document.

After you’ve created all your artwork, select the empty background grid space. Then invert this selection in the selection menu bar—this will marquee-select your artwork.

(this step may not be needed, but I do it anyway) In the selection menu, save your selection.

Next, go into layers menu and create a clipping mask—choose to reveal selected. Be sure you still have your artwork or text selected still.

After you’ve created a clipping mask, save your document as a TARGA file, and make sure it’s 32 bit.

Upload to SL…and boom…the alpha texture is completed. In SL create a prim...find or buy a totally transparent alpha texture and texture your prim with this. Then select a particular side of the prim, and texture it with your created alpha texture.

This may be an intermediate tutorial...sorry if it's confusing to you.

Thank You

I normally don't interfere when someone replies to someone with support...

But I have [found*] that not only does Photoshop suck, but its expensive.
Get Gimp (its free and runs on Windows)

Take your jpg image, goto:

Layer > Transparancy and select either "Color to Alpha" or "Add Alpha Channel"

"Cut" out the parts your want transparent with the wand (if you selected Add Alpha)

Save as .tga (remove both checkmarks), then upload.

I prefered this as it is much easier, didn't need to understand layers, flatening layers, spending an hour looking for a good tutorial, spending money and only takes a second for someone who doesn't care to learn about graphics and another software program.



[begin flaming here]

thanks

Holy moly!! I dropped in just to mention that if it is a sailing boat, many people put names on them using custom sails.

But WOW Gimp does that? I have been wistfully thinking how nice it would be to make an occasional alpha texture, I even own an older photoshop, but haven't had the month or so it would take to learn it ... Thanks!