Need Some Alpha Layer help prz

thor797 · #1 03-31-2005, 09:10 PM

Ok so im trying to use this dds file attached. For my back ground, on my knowledge book. I have an alpha layer, but my probelm is when i go in game every thing on the alpha layer thats supossed to be transparent comes out white. Its driving me nuts. if any one could tell me what im doing wrong it would be awsome.

Ok my problem in general :

This is for Photo Shop CS

Q: How do i make the alpha layer work?
A: After making your alpha layer, Flip on over to your Layers tab, then From the top tool bar Select Layers > Flatten Image.

Ok now you have the locked layer its rdy to be saved! Now Toptool bar File> Save As... ; Now the File save screen appears, Select .dds ext, make sure your Save Options > Alpha Channel is Checked. Then hit save.

Now the DDS manager comes up, Select DXT3, you do not need to Generate Mip maps. Then hit save. And your done!

ger · #2 03-31-2005, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thor797

Ok so im trying to use this dds file attached. For my back ground, on my knowledge book. I have an alpha layer, but my probelm is when i go in game every thing on the alpha layer thats supossed to be transparent comes out white. Its driving me nuts. if any one could tell me what im doing wrong it would be awsome.

For starters, you forgot to attach the file

thor797 · #3 03-31-2005, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ger

For starters, you forgot to attach the file

Ya i noticed that my file was too big so i had to edit and make it smaller :P via zip

ger · #4 03-31-2005, 09:21 PM

PSD looks fine to me. What type of DDS are you saving it as? Does the DDS I've attached below give you the same problems?

thor797 · #5 03-31-2005, 09:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ger

PSD looks fine to me. What type of DDS are you saving it as? Does the DDS I've attached below give you the same problems?

Saving as DXT5, And your Is perfect, did you change some thing or just save it? and if ya just saved it can ya tell me what you did ? lol thanks

ger · #6 03-31-2005, 09:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thor797

Saving as DXT5, And your Is perfect, did you change some thing or just save it? and if ya just saved it can ya tell me what you did ? lol thanks

That was saved as an ARGB8, which is probably excessive for this application (file size is huge, but it looks gorgeous, doesn't it?

) I would recommend trying DXT3, just make sure you use a format that saves the alpha channel. (i.e. DXT1 bad, DXT1a good)

thor797 · #7 03-31-2005, 09:41 PM

i tried DXT3 also i had the same effect ill try again tho.

taco-man · #8 03-31-2005, 09:57 PM

also on the save as dialog box after switching the file type to dds make sure the alpha channels box is checked.

thor797 · #9 03-31-2005, 10:03 PM

/twitching

Omfg Now it's working rofl! and i swear i tried that setting befor! thanks alot guys

taco-man · #10 03-31-2005, 10:13 PM

what was it so that other people who have the same problem know what to do?

thor797 · #11 03-31-2005, 11:17 PM

posted the change as an edit Take a look taco, thanks for the help you guys.

ger · #12 03-31-2005, 11:21 PM

You don't need to (and shouldn't) save MIP maps. It doesn't affect the alpha channel and it isn't used by EQ2, it just makes the file larger. Visibility on the alpha channel also doesn't matter, I've saved from RGB visible, A visible, and both visible and it works fine any-which way (the ARGB8 I posted above was saved with only RGB visible, for instance.) Alpha channel checkbox, now that's important.

thor797 · #13 03-31-2005, 11:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ger

You don't need to (and shouldn't) save MIP maps. It doesn't affect the alpha channel and it isn't used by EQ2, it just makes the file larger. Visibility on the alpha channel also doesn't matter, I've saved from RGB visible, A visible, and both visible and it works fine any-which way (the ARGB8 I posted above was saved with only RGB visible, for instance.) Alpha channel checkbox, now that's important.

Then the only thing i did diffrently, was flatening then image and that worked. Btw i thought the mipmap's were supossed to be added to support difrent UI resolutions?

ger · #14 03-31-2005, 11:48 PM

Flattening is also important. MIP maps are supposed to help with image scaling, but EQ2 doesn't use them. It only polls the full-size image, so the MIP maps are just wasted space for our purposes.

Edit: Odd, the file you posted above looked like it had been flattened—a single, locked layer named "Background" usually signifies that. Did you do something else to it after you posted that made it work where the version you posted hadn't before?

thor797 · #15 04-01-2005, 12:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ger

Flattening is also important. MIP maps are supposed to help with image scaling, but EQ2 doesn't use them. It only polls the full-size image, so the MIP maps are just wasted space for our purposes.

Edit: Odd, the file you posted above looked like it had been flattened—a single, locked layer named "Background" usually signifies that. Did you do something else to it after you posted that made it work where the version you posted hadn't before?

The one i posted i flattened so it would shrink size wise is was 1meg file befor the flatten. I hadnt done that one the ones i was trying to save.