Paint Shop Pro won't load transparent files right

[jariesuicune]

I use PSPV (yes, it's a fossil, but it's what I have and use), but have been coming across an annoying problem: Files with transparent portions get loaded with weirdly blocky black areas, or strangely stretched colors in blocks, and I can't figure out how to fix this, setting aside buying a newer version (which I can't afford currently, so that's not an option).
Out of curiosity, I've tried PSP 7 and 9 trial versions: 7 also failed to load them correctly, but 9 showed transparent space like it should.

I doubt it matters, but I notice that Paint also fails to load them right, but Windows Preview loads them properly, as annoying as it is.

[Kathy_9]

What type of image are you viewing (gif, png, pspimage, etc.)? Did that same image look correct previously in your version of PSP? It also might help if you post a photo to show us what you are describing.

[jariesuicune]

Ah, good idea; here you go.

This is a comparison of the same PNG file being loaded. The right is PSP5, failing to show it with transparency, the left is Windows Preview, showing it correctly (the colors are off on the Preview image for some reason, but whatever, you see what I mean).

A comparison screenshot; the colors render a bit off on the Windows Preview for some reason, but the point of the comparison is clear.

PSP7Trial had the same issue as PSP5, but PSP9Trial showed it correctly like Preview does.

Also, I've found that apparently PSP5 DOES recognize the data right, since if I re-save the file to a new location, it's the same as if I'd just copied it (I'm not genius with programs, but from what I understand, if it was simply not loading that data or whatever, then it wouldn't be included when it saves. PSP5 apparently does support use of Alpha Layer, which I believe to be at least related due to other things I've looked up online, but I don't know any option that relates to it rendering when loading the file or something like that; it may not be at all.

I don't know if it'll help, but here's where I got the original file:
http://www.pixiv.net/member_illust.php? ... d=12037035

[Kathy_9]

I just downloaded the image you used and tested it in PSPX5 and PSPX7. I am showing expected transparency in both programs.

Click image for larger view

Sorry but it just clicked that you said PSP5 and not PSPX5. I don't have anything that old loaded on my system to test on but maybe someone else does.

[jariesuicune]

Yeah, but thanks for looking into it at all! Maybe it would have been better if I'd said it the original way, as PSPV?
Any newer version shouldn't have any trouble, since as I said, PSP9 loaded them fine, though PSP7 didn't, so I guess maybe it was new to PSP8 or9 to load them correct normally? I wish I knew...

[hartpaul]

Have just tested and PSP7 shows transparency as does 8 with pngs. Have you had any success with PSP5 showing transparency at all?
While searching I came across this history of versions of PSP, which was on wikipedia but now removed. Had to get it from the wayback machine.
http://web.archive.org/web/201401041016 ... ntShop_Pro

Update: Sad news!!
I downloaded and installed an evaluation copy of PSP5.
1. in PSPX4 I made a new transparent document, placed a couple of shapes on it, merged down (kept transparency around the objects )
2. Saved it to a desktop folder as a png file.
3. The png file reloaded into X4 and showed transparency
4. The png file loaded into PSP5 and teh transparent areas were black.
Conclusion: PSP5 does not support transparency. - time to bite the bullet and upgrade. The operations are similar and you can keep working with PSP5 until you are familiar with the latest version.
I checked in PSP 5 by making a new document and making it transparent was not an option. Edit - did not scroll down and you can make a transparent canvas in PSP5 just not save it as a png file.
Update: Further testing shows that transparency can be seen / produced with pSP5 and PSP7 but not saved for reloading as a png.

[jariesuicune]

That's odd... my PSP7(trial version) testing shows the same problem as PSPV... Could you have already changed something that fixed it there?

Hold on, you said the transparent areas were black in PSPV? Is that in the same manner as what I showed, or as having all the transparent areas be black? If that's the case, then it may be changeable to white, making it work correct...? Even if it couldn't be changed to white, I wouldn't mind transparent areas being black either.

Oh, another program that has the same issue is Windows Paint, at least as of Vista's version.

[hartpaul]

The versions I used were PSP 5.00 and PSP 7.00
1. I made a new document in each of 5 and 7 with background transparent.
2. I saved as a png then reloaded into 5 and 7 and later versions
In all cases the png loaded as white.

3. I made a new document with white background and used an eraser to make a V . It left a color matching the background color (blue in this case on the Materials palette).
4. I promoted the white background to a layer and used the eraser again. This time transparency showed (so I had a blue V and a transparent V on a white background).
5. Saved as png and again on reloading it was all white apart from the blue V.
Being able to save a png and maintain transparency did not start til the base version 8.00 of PSP8. PSP5 and PSP 7 cannot directly save a png and keep transparency, but a psp file can.

In PSP 7 they have the png Optimiser.
6. I repeated steps 3 and 4 but saving a transparency and also an erased section in PSP7 as above using the optimiser with 'Alpha Channel Transparency' selected and also 'Existing Image or layer Transparency'
This loaded into 5 and 7 as black anywhere the image was transparent.

So Saving transparency gives white, using the optimiser (7) gives black. Neither 5 or 7 can save or even with optimiser maintain png transparency in those versions.

PSP7 can with PNG optimiser save transparency in pngs which can be seen in version 8 or later.

I loaded your image from the site and in 8 it shows outside as transparent and in 7 an 5 the outside is black suggesting that it has been an optimised png.

I really think if you are going to do much with transparency that you will have to start using a version higher than 7.
You could of course promote the image, use the magic wand to select the black and then delete it and have your image on a transparent background. But as mentioned, the only way you can keep the transparency is to save it as a psp file.

[jariesuicune]

That again is odd, since when I saved the file as a PNG with transparency in PSP5.0, then loaded the new file in either WinPreview or PSP9, it loaded just fine, and still had the odd areas where the transparency should be in 5.0.

Hm... could there be some other system setting that affects it as well? Just have to wonder, since we are getting different results from what seems to be the same tests.

[hartpaul]

Once again, with any problems, someone else must be able to reproduce that problem to understand what is happening and offer a solution. I cannot get any png saved with transparency in PSP5 to show that transparency in post 8 versions of PSP nor when reloading into pSP5 - all transparent areas show as white. I am using XP and Win 7. Even the View as thumbnails shows them as white.
Can you go through the series of steps you do in detail to save an image in PSP5 with transparency and then have that transparency show in post 8 versions of PSP.

Update:
I did a gogle search on Save Transparency in PSP5 and found an answer.
It shows you how to save a png with some areas transparent and reload that in PSP8 and above and show that transparency immediately.
It also shows how to recover that transparency when reloaded into PSP5
https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic ... j1wg2AfQpE
About 3-4 screens down are the detailed instructions

PSP 8 and above
File >Save as > Save as type png and OK
and to recover
File> Open

PSP5
Masks> New > From Image> Source Opacity
Masks > Save to Alpha Channel
Masks > Delete
File > Save As > Save as type png OK

and to recover:
File > Open
Masks > Load from Alpha Channel
Masks >Delete > Yes > OK

-- what a task---- please, please upgrade, it really won't be that different and because you can have different versions installed and active you can still use the old version while becoming familiar with the new.

[jariesuicune]

^_^; I'm grateful for your help, but I think you've kind of missed the point of what I was hoping for.

I just collect art, and use PSPV to browse it (as it's built-in browser is superior to any other's, including later versions I've tested [they have annoying traits that get in the way of what I do]). When I do want to make my own or edit something, it is a great program for that as well.

I simply found that it wouldn't load those PNG files with a least a particular(?) type of transparency to show the transparency as empty space, either white or black (either would be fine by me), and was hoping there is a setting or something I can change to make them load right.

At some point, when I have the money aside to afford it, I may get a newer version, if only for the (I hope) full support of Japanese and Korean text (the only real nuisance I've come across, occasional lack of support for those characters).