TGA format and alpha channels

catballoo · Post by **catballoo** » Thu Dec 14, 2006 1:36 pm

Hello there. This is my first post... because this is the first problem I've ever had with PI having used it for everything since it's earliest releases. I fear that I have finally hit the point where I must look to another product to find a solution.

I am learning to make clothing for avatars, and the output format has to be .TGA in order to preserve the alpha channel and allow any transparencies (cut-out shapes in the clothing or 'chiffon' style effects) to reveal the skin underneath (the avatar is not my creation, I merely have to make sure that the clothing's transparencies work when applied to the avatar - please note that .PNG and .GIF are not an option. It has to be a .TGA).

I have noted elsewhere on the Web Board that this is possible by "Making a selection, saving it in the selection manager and then merging it back into the document to create the alpha in a tga export". I have tried to do this, but it seems that any attempt to merge will simply remove the alpha channel. If the alpha channel is not preserved as a separate entity during the saving process, it would seem that no transparency is retained.

Can anyone tell me what I'm doing wrong here, or give me an idiot-proof explanation on how to create an alpha channel and preserve transparency during the TGA saving process?

Many thanks in advance for any help you can give. I know it can be done in Photoshop, but there is no way I can afford to buy it!

Best wishes,
Cat

catballoo · Post by **catballoo** » Thu Dec 14, 2006 11:34 pm

Don't worry, I've managed to answer my own question... if it's puzzling anyone else using PI version 12, you need to switch the interface into Video & DVD mode and choose File --> More Save Options --> Save For Video and then save in .TGA format. Miraculously (and bizzarely) this will also save the alpha channel. Why it doesn't do this in Full Edit mode is a complete mystery to me. I had assumed that 'Full Edit' meant that *everything* was available.

Next time I have a problem, I'll have to remember to put on my deerstalker first! Talk about well hidden!! Would've been so much easier to find if Ulead had put something about it in the Help system.

Best wishes,
Cat

heinz-oz · Post by **heinz-oz** » Thu Dec 14, 2006 11:44 pm

I have configured my own custom work space, must remember though, to put this capability into it as well. Thanks for sharing that with us.

catballoo · Post by **catballoo** » Fri Dec 15, 2006 11:16 am

My pleasure, Heinz Oz

Just didn't want anyone else to have to go through the same frustration... it's taken me five solid days to find that solution. It's Sod's Law that it would finally reveal itself *after* I'd posted here. Story of my life!

I'm just thankful that I don't have to buy and learn another product, as I love PI and have come to know it so well (I took all the wonderful workshops at PIRC last year which were a revelation). I refused to believe that it wasn't in there somewhere!!

I will take your tip and configure my own workspace. Bless you for that.

Best wishes,
Cat

Freddy888 · Post by **Freddy888** » Wed Jul 25, 2007 10:40 pm

Hi I have PI 10 SE and I am having the same problem but this solution does not seem possible in this version.

What I need to do is save a TGA file with an Alpha channel. I cannot find any help on this so could someone please advise me how to do it.

Freddy888 · Post by **Freddy888** » Thu Jul 26, 2007 4:56 pm

Hmm, there doesn't seem to be much activity in this area of the forum. What are the chances on getting some support for my problem?

I'm thinking it has something to do with using the mask mode, but the help for it is really poor - about one line stating the obvious, but with no actual help at all.

Freddy888 · Post by **Freddy888** » Mon Aug 13, 2007 3:23 pm

Well I am not impressed by the lack of support. I have got myself Paint Shop Pro instead and will be using that in future. Sad to see you are letting down what was a nice product....

Goodbye and thanks for all the fish.