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Aw heck, let's put the apology first. Necro, I apologize for starting a few topics in this forum that did not belong(like the Taskmaker topic for example). Anyways, my question on transparency is, are there preset amounts of how transparent something is(like incriments of 10%), or can we choose exact transparency %? (ie, have something that is 72% opeaque (sp?), or 28% see-tru)?
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My guess (albeit an educated one) is that translucency is done with Alpha Masks. Hopefully Coldstone now recognizes .png files for game sprites, as that would greatly simplify the alpha masking process.
Of course, I could be completely wrong, there might be some convoluted system involving "transparency controls," but I kind of doubt it.
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According to the PoG progress log:
Quote
Translucency through alpha masks is now supported (it is as simple as using a PNG with an alpha channel instead of a PICT)
So you can vary the translucency just as much as you can vary the alpha channel of a PNG - that'd be an 8-bit channel, no? So each pixel would have 256 levels from clear to opaque, if I don't misunderstand. This is a cool thing.
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Originally posted by sanehatter: **My guess (albeit an educated one) is that translucency is done with Alpha Masks. Hopefully Coldstone now recognizes .png files for game sprites, as that would greatly simplify the alpha masking process.
**
Allow me, it does now recognize png graphics...and as always a sappy apology never does seem to dig people out of their karma pit (which of course you dug 4 yourself)
O- ho-ho-hoo
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Well, it might be helpful if someone could explain to me what an alpha mask is(and also how to make one).
And chill: the apology has nothing to do with my karma.
Originally posted by Mouse: Well, it might be helpful if someone could explain to me what an alpha mask is(and also how to make one).
Please allow me to direct you ever so humbly to (url="http://"http://www.AmbrosiaSW.com/webboard/Forum48/HTML/000518.html#Glenn05-31-200108:14PM")"Glenn's computer graphics primer"(/url)
As to how to make an alpha mask: it depends on how you're making your images. Many 3d applications are capable of rendering alpha masks along side the actual image render. Photoshop is the easiest way to combine the two into a single, alpha-masked image, and it's also probably the easiest way to create your own alpha masks from scratch.
Hope this helps!
It should be noted that alpha-masking incurs a significant speed hit, especially on older machines. Use sparingly.
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Ok, that makes sense(the info thru the link). What I really want to ask about now is what macintosh graphics programs can easily have alpha masks, and also if you can add alpha masks from inside coldstone, especially pixel by pixel. Also, can the same picture have different sections with different tranparency levels, or do you have to separate each section of the picture into smaller parts to alpha mask it in different transparency levels? (example of use of multi-levels of 'trans: a fireball that is completely solid in the centre, but as it gets closer to the pic's edge, it gets more and more transparent(or the centre is almost solid).).
Originally posted by Mouse: what macintosh graphics programs can easily have alpha masks...if you can add alpha masks from inside coldstone, especially pixel by pixel...can the same picture have different sections with different tranparency levels...
Seems like you missed the concept of alpha masks. Think of them as pictures separate from your normal image. For your fireball, you would draw black where you wanted the fireball to be completely invisible, white for opaque, and varying levels of grey for your transparency. Then, if you're not so lucky as to have Photoshop, you can use a program like GraphicConverter to combine the two images, save them as a PNG, and then import the PNG directly into CS. The PNG is one image file, containing both the picture of your fireball and the transparency for your fireball. You can't add alpha masks directly from CS, but why would you want to? GC will allow you to see exactly what your image will look like and change it pixel-by-pixel if you so desire.
I must have an older version of GraphicConverter, because my version doesn't have anything in it about transparency(tho the version my father has on his PPC is a lot newer then mine, I run a 68k at the moment and can't use that version). If someone knows where I could get the latest 68k compatable version of GC,... I've got Version 2.0.4, if that helps. Methinks it may be the newest 68k compatable version, tho.
Oh, I do have a version of PhotoDeluxe, which is very outdated and is designed for photos specifically, but it can edit other things and has somewhat transparent layers(can select each layer's overal transparency, as well as some erasers have a kind of transparency effect added)
Wow, I guess I'm not the one on top of things anymore. Thanks Glenn and Chill.
Originally posted by Mouse: ...I must have an older version of GraphicConverter, because my version doesn't have anything in it about transparency...
There is certainly a newer version that supports 68k. Check around on (url="http://"http://www.lemkesoft.com/")http://www.lemkesoft.com/(/url) . The options for alpha masking are located near the bottom of the effect menu. When the alpha channel is "shown" you can use a pencil or any graphic tool to manipulate it. The "Alpha/Mask Channel To Picture" function will overwrite your image with the alpha mask as a grayscale image. You probably don't want that. Just play around with it and you'll probably figure it out eventually. We're always here if you need more help or sample images.
Originally posted by Mouse: **Well, it might be helpful if someone could explain to me what an alpha mask is(and also how to make one). **
Glenn's explaination is perfectly good, but here's my little tutorial on how to make an alpha mask from scratch in Photoshop anyway. It should also apply to Photoshop LE and the much, much cheaper new (url="http://"http://www.adobe.com/products/photoshopel/main.html")Photoshop Elements(/url).
(url="http://"http://www.AmbrosiaSW.com/webboard/Forum48/HTML/000590.html")Jed's Little Shop of Photoshop Horrors(/url)
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Originally posted by Gravitation: ... www.lemkesoft.com ...
I think that may not be the right site, because I searched for a bit and didn't find anything in there about GraphicConverter, and also it looks to be a help/troubleshooting info site, not a software site.
Originally posted by Mouse: ...I think that may not be the right site, because I searched for a bit and didn't find anything in there about GraphicConverter...(/B)
Apoligies, the correct url is (url="http://"http://www.lemkesoft.de/")http://www.lemkesoft.de/(/url) .