Second Life Forums Archive - Prim texturing help

Roen Fardel

Registered User

Join date: 29 Sep 2005

Posts: 4

11-09-2005 09:55

I'm working on a sword, and the blade is too fanciful and elaborate to make entirely out of prims, so I decided to use a single prim and make the blade as a texture on it. Anyway, I've made my .TGA with the needed alpha channel, but when I put it on the prim, the areas that I need to be transparent came out as black! Does anyone know what's going on and how to fix it?

Alain Talamasca

Levelheaded Nutcase

Join date: 21 Sep 2005

Posts: 393

11-09-2005 11:10

Did you save the file as a 32bit Targa instead of 24 bit?
Some software allows either, and you must specify.

Did you remember to erase the extra background color on the original drawing layer so that when you add your alpha mask, it actually comes out clear?

What software are you using?
How did you go about creating your texture?

If you trace your procedure step by step, it is more likely that someone will be able to point out where you went wrong, than to have people guess from a description of the end product.

_____________________

Alain Talamasca,
Ophidian Artisans - Fine Art for your Person, Home, and Business.
Pando (105, 79, 99)

Daz Honey

Fine, Fine Artist

Join date: 27 Jun 2005

Posts: 599

11-09-2005 11:12

there is a very nice tutorial on http://www.sluniverse.com (scroll halfway down the page) for making alpha-tex in p-shop yea for Cristiano!

_____________________

All children are artists. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up. - Pablo Picasso

Roen Fardel

Registered User

Join date: 29 Sep 2005

Posts: 4

11-09-2005 11:44

I'm using photoshop 7.0. I did make sure to save my first try as a 32 bit .TGA. I think I forgot to delete the background on that one. My next attempt I made sure to delete the background, but I don't think I saved it as a .TGA. When I uploaded that one, I didn't get black, but the parts I needed invisible were still visible. I'll try it as a .TGA when the grid is back up.

Also, I have my alpha set as a separate layer, like in the clothing templates. This layer is visible when I save.

Unfortunately, this is all I can remember of my process, since I have made numerous ill-fated attepmts.

Daz, the tutorial wouldn't work for me. It gave me a configuration error message.

Chosen Few

Alpha Channel Slave

Join date: 16 Jan 2004

Posts: 7,496

11-09-2005 12:22

From: Roen Fardel

I'm using photoshop 7.0.

That's your problem right there. Get the free 7.0.1 update from Adobe.com. 7.0 saves targas differently than all other versions of Photoshop. It was a failed experiment on Adobe's part. They acknowledged the mistake and patched it quickly after first release.

Oh, and by the way, Alain, erasing the background is completely unnecessary. Anything that's black on the alpha will be invisible, regardless of what color it is on the other channels.

_____________________

.

Land now available for rent in Indigo. Low rates. Quiet, low-lag mainland sim with good neighbors. IM me in-world if you're interested.

Alain Talamasca

Levelheaded Nutcase

Join date: 21 Sep 2005

Posts: 393

11-09-2005 12:30

Good to know, Chosen...
Thanks.

I use the Gimp and know almost nothing about Photoshop since its price-point is such that I can buy a legit copy of Photoshop or I can get a new machine.

I need the new machine.

_____________________

Alain Talamasca,
Ophidian Artisans - Fine Art for your Person, Home, and Business.
Pando (105, 79, 99)

Prim texturing help
Roen Fardel Registered User Join date: 29 Sep 2005 Posts: 4	11-09-2005 09:55 I'm working on a sword, and the blade is too fanciful and elaborate to make entirely out of prims, so I decided to use a single prim and make the blade as a texture on it. Anyway, I've made my .TGA with the needed alpha channel, but when I put it on the prim, the areas that I need to be transparent came out as black! Does anyone know what's going on and how to fix it?
Alain Talamasca Levelheaded Nutcase Join date: 21 Sep 2005 Posts: 393	11-09-2005 11:10 Did you save the file as a 32bit Targa instead of 24 bit? Some software allows either, and you must specify. Did you remember to erase the extra background color on the original drawing layer so that when you add your alpha mask, it actually comes out clear? What software are you using? How did you go about creating your texture? If you trace your procedure step by step, it is more likely that someone will be able to point out where you went wrong, than to have people guess from a description of the end product. _____________________ Alain Talamasca, Ophidian Artisans - Fine Art for your Person, Home, and Business. Pando (105, 79, 99)
Daz Honey Fine, Fine Artist Join date: 27 Jun 2005 Posts: 599	11-09-2005 11:12 there is a very nice tutorial on http://www.sluniverse.com (scroll halfway down the page) for making alpha-tex in p-shop yea for Cristiano! _____________________ All children are artists. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up. - Pablo Picasso
Roen Fardel Registered User Join date: 29 Sep 2005 Posts: 4	11-09-2005 11:44 I'm using photoshop 7.0. I did make sure to save my first try as a 32 bit .TGA. I think I forgot to delete the background on that one. My next attempt I made sure to delete the background, but I don't think I saved it as a .TGA. When I uploaded that one, I didn't get black, but the parts I needed invisible were still visible. I'll try it as a .TGA when the grid is back up. Also, I have my alpha set as a separate layer, like in the clothing templates. This layer is visible when I save. Unfortunately, this is all I can remember of my process, since I have made numerous ill-fated attepmts. Daz, the tutorial wouldn't work for me. It gave me a configuration error message.
Chosen Few Alpha Channel Slave Join date: 16 Jan 2004 Posts: 7,496	11-09-2005 12:22 From: Roen Fardel I'm using photoshop 7.0. That's your problem right there. Get the free 7.0.1 update from Adobe.com. 7.0 saves targas differently than all other versions of Photoshop. It was a failed experiment on Adobe's part. They acknowledged the mistake and patched it quickly after first release. Oh, and by the way, Alain, erasing the background is completely unnecessary. Anything that's black on the alpha will be invisible, regardless of what color it is on the other channels. _____________________ . Land now available for rent in Indigo. Low rates. Quiet, low-lag mainland sim with good neighbors. IM me in-world if you're interested.
Alain Talamasca Levelheaded Nutcase Join date: 21 Sep 2005 Posts: 393	11-09-2005 12:30 Good to know, Chosen... Thanks. I use the Gimp and know almost nothing about Photoshop since its price-point is such that I can buy a legit copy of Photoshop or I can get a new machine. I need the new machine. _____________________ Alain Talamasca, Ophidian Artisans - Fine Art for your Person, Home, and Business. Pando (105, 79, 99)

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Prim texturing help