TGA and transparent backgrounds

[molucca]

Steve,

E3 does TGA format. I was able to read and write a transparent file.

Rich

[DoddTheSlayer]

Hey thanks everyone. I did not expect so much effort to answer the question.
I will take a look at gimp.
The only other freebie i know of that is quite powerfull is paint.net

If i ever get to create my leaded window i will post a game screenshot.

[handrawn]

never knew that Rich - thanks

Dodd - I've been looking at photoshop - it appears that although it supports 32bit tga - it doesn't show transparent like png - but black

http://www.photography-forums.com/t7...le-format.html

might help

I would use gimp, myself I think

good luck

[molucca]

Steve,

I believe Painter is simailr. You need to use the channel to make a selection. Rich

[handrawn]

yes painter is similar and it doesnt do png format or transparent tif - have to use psd to import/export on layers - the bottom layer [canvas] can never have transparency in painter - and unlike photoshop background layer it cannot be deleted.

I try to steer clear of the channel selection stuff myself where I can as it always seems the long way round for what want to do - so I'm rusty

[DoddTheSlayer]

perhaps it is easier to ask.

If you wanted to make a leaded window where the leading is completely opaque and the glass in between the leading is transparent, How would YOU do it.
I am assuming that alpha channel masking is the only way.
Is there another ?

[handrawn]

do you mean that the glass is 100% transparent - ie nothing there, or partially - and which program?

[DoddTheSlayer]

Well since glass is never 100% transparent i mean partially enough to see that there is glass there, but yes to totally opaque leading.


As for which program...any that will acomplish the task.

what i have

psp5
psp7
paint.net
adobe photoshop 10
gimp (just downloaded)

[DoddTheSlayer]

Well yes to simplify things the glass would be totally transparent since i can always use the game editor to make the glass as a seperate object and then put the leading over it as another object until i know enough to do it all in one tga file.


As for which program...any that will acomplish the task.

what i have

psp5
psp7
paint.net
adobe photoshop 10
gimp (just downloaded)

[handrawn]

if any program fisrt choice vector or bitmap [raster - pixel]

my choice would be vector and xara xtreme - but you could use inkscape which is free and the vector partner of gimp

if you go bitmap gimp is a good choice

heres a stylised example of what you can do in a vector program - this is just done with a shape and very basic - you can of course draw it