.tga "problem"

[migf1]

Oh ok, it makes sense now.

PS. Levi, which was the command to remove the A-channel in older PSP versions?

[LeviFiction]

Not a command, and not removing the alpha channel, just setting the alpha to 100%. Just use the eraser tool but right-click instead of left-click.to unerase (set opacity to 100)

[migf1]

Nice! Just checked in X7

[Monteiro]

Interesting, so they loaded it into Photoshop and then after editing it, saved it as a 24-bit TGA file deleting the alpha channel. A channel that, between the fact that it's designed for 3D and having gotten a good look at, I think it is a specularity map like Scribzy suggested.

In The GIMP after opening the image I just have to go to the channels palette and turn off the alpha channel and it goes away. I can make edits and save it out. Pretty easy.

So, how do we deal with this in PSP? I don't think we can. At least not in the newer versions. And not without using scripts.

In older versions of PSP we used to be able to "Un-erase" transparency that already existed. It essentially turned the alpha channel completely opaque. But they decided to "improve" the eraser a few versions ago, now it respects previous transparency and the eraser tool will only "unerase" what it has already "erased" from the image. With a little time and effort I could make a simple script that would replace the alpha channel manually, but I don't think there is any setting built into PSP that will let us open the image without the alpha channel.

This situation prompts me to buy the Photoshop

[migf1]

This situation prompts me to buy the Photoshop

Not really! You can remove the alpha channel with Gimp, which is free. However, in your 1st picture, removing the Alpha channel turned it blue (I have no idea, why):
https://gyazo.com/a61edf4ecc96f49989a51527f7ad1ff6

Same when using Image->Flatten image instead (which is actually the same thing).

Fortunately, the Levels dialog of Gimp provides an option for the Alpha channel. On the output slider, drag the leftmost handle all the way to the right (value 255):
https://imgur.com/UXH5eY7

You just made the alpha channel opaque You can then File -> Export As..., make sure you specify a .tga extension, and in the final dialog that pops up, uncheck the RLE compression box.

[Scribzy]

Strangely It loads correctly in psp 9 but not in psp 2020

[LeviFiction]

I don't know when or why the change happened, but it's essentially the exact same thing with TIFF files. Tiffs that contain an alpha channel are loaded into PSP8 and 9 as background layers and the transparency is put into the Alpha channel, you can then use the alpha channel to create a mask to show it like it was meant to. But later versions of PSP assume you want this alpha channel, that it's there for a reason, and apply it directly to the layer. This can result in ruining the image if you save a selection to the alpha channel and then save the image as a TIFF. When you reopen PSP has used that selection as the layer transparency.

[migf1]

To be completely honest, I've lost hope that Corel will ever make it easier, or even possible, for us to do some (semi) advanced stuff with PSP. The alpha channel manipulation for example is so fundamental, why can't we have full control over it? And why we don't even have a channels palette after so many decades? I'm so annoyed that I have to switch to other image editors, when I need to do some intermediate/advanced stuff that are considered pretty much the norm these days, even in free alternatives. Btw, if anyone works a lot with Curves, have a look at SmartCurve (it works with PSP). An ancient plugin, which frankly puts PSP's built in Curves to shame (though it is equally slow, or slower). Something like this, improved & optimized over time, should already be built in to PSP long long long time ago!

[Monteiro]

To be completely honest, I've lost hope that Corel will ever make it easier, or even possible, for us to do some (semi) advanced stuff with PSP. The alpha channel manipulation for example is so fundamental, why can't we have full control over it? And why we don't even have a channels palette after so many decades? I'm so annoyed that I have to switch to other image editors, when I need to do some intermediate/advanced stuff that are considered pretty much the norm these days, even in free alternatives. Btw, if anyone works a lot with Curves, have a look at SmartCurve (it works with PSP). An ancient plugin, which frankly puts PSP's built in Curves to shame (though it is equally slow, or slower). Something like this, improved & optimized over time, should already be built in to PSP long long long time ago!

Agree