Tagra without background

TheDvDMan · wrote on 11 Mar 2011, 10:45

I want to change the “features” in some starspheres I retextured out of existing ones. I tried to put in the original picture and set the occupacity so that you can’t see the borders, but it just doesn’t work. I tried to delete the background with Photoshop and convert it to Tagra(TGA) format, but it always puts a white background where there are empty pixels. Does anybody know how can I make a Tagra picture without the background?
(DDS Doesn’t convert the picture because the resolution is too high - Error: [name of the file] size = not a power of 2 when I use DDS Converter 2)

The pictures are:

Gisteron · wrote on 11 Mar 2011, 14:29

save it with 32 Bit/pixel. the 8 more than with 24 are needed for the alpha channel - the transparency of the image.

TheDvDMan · wrote on 11 Mar 2011, 15:18

I did what you said, but it didn’t change the resaults.(See in screenshot)

Gisteron · wrote on 11 Mar 2011, 15:20

well, you have of course to delete the black (or in this case - white) areas first. and not overdraw them with a different color but delete - make them transparent.

oh, and save as tga. dds doesn’t support transparency.

TheDvDMan · wrote on 11 Mar 2011, 15:43

I’ve deleted the background as you said, but I’m not sure if its good… I’ve just made a layer out of a cut, deleted the background and saved as Tagra 32bit.
If you want I’ve attached the PSDs so you can check it out.

Gisteron · wrote on 11 Mar 2011, 15:54

should work. give it a try and report back

TheDvDMan · wrote on 11 Mar 2011, 16:04

Actually, those are the pictures I used in 1st place, so theres no use to try becasue the resaults will be the same.
Maby you try to convert and send it back to me? Just explain if you added/changed something.

Gisteron · wrote on 11 Mar 2011, 16:24

there you go. just saved as targa, 32 bit.
at least they have transparency channel. for cmp’s used as stations or spaceships this transparency would be visible.
if the result is the same, try to look at how the nebula images from vanilla starspheres are designed^^ - that’s always working in the end xD

TheDvDMan · wrote on 11 Mar 2011, 16:34

Thanks for the help Gisteron!

EDIT: I tested it and it works! From now on I’ll notice the transparency channal. Thanks again!

Gisteron · wrote on 11 Mar 2011, 18:05

glad i could help

Xarian_Prime · wrote on 23 Mar 2011, 16:50

slightly hijacking this thread for a related Question 8-)

I take it .txm/.tga textures are the same? in regards to transparency?
currently in the process of adding new textures to the .txm’s is why i ask
and noticed the odd .dds in there and have seen .txm/.tga textures replaced with .dds ones previously… I ask 'cuz i like to know what the general consensus is in this field… better to leave as .tga?

Gisteron · wrote on 23 Mar 2011, 19:23

depends on the purpose. generally, a *.txm from the vanilla game is not a texture but a UTF archive, just like a *.mat would be, too. the ending is just for the programer to have things easier (as he does different structures depending on the purpose). if you e.g. have txm’s containing effect textures, it sometimes makes sense to make those to be dds, as you can replace black pixels with transparent ones within the ALE’s anl. in most cases however, tga’s are used, as they have alpha channel support which is very important especially with effects. to make black pixels is in most cases not enough (you wouldn’t e.g. get semi-transparent areas).

Huor · wrote on 23 Mar 2011, 23:01

just want to mention that dds supports transparency - you just have to select the proper compression mode and algorithm. The big advantage of dds. you get a smaller picture size as dds compressed picture than the tgas would be…

You can even use dds in txm files - even with transparency. I didnt experienced any problems so far in using dds with transparency. Nearly the same for me as i would use tgas.

FriendlyFire · wrote on 23 Mar 2011, 23:33

As far as I know, the sole reason not to use DDS would be because your texture isn’t square, and even then I’d say you should try and fix that instead of using TGAs

Xarian_Prime · wrote on 24 Mar 2011, 03:12

Thanks for the info I thought that would be the case, as .dds works everywhere else in FL… just wasn’t 100% sure

Alucard · wrote on 4 Apr 2011, 22:52

Kinda having the same trouble, but mine won’t save as tga only dds, anyone wanna see if the can fix?

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n240/Alucard1_01/screenddstotgahelp.png

As a effect, it shows up as a white box in game. (the whole thing)

Alucard · wrote on 5 Apr 2011, 11:20

No one? Ok, I got it to save as tga, but only shows up as a white box ingame. Hmmmmm….

cheeseontoast · wrote on 5 Apr 2011, 12:03

how many bits did you save it as?

Alucard · wrote on 5 Apr 2011, 23:34

32 bit. Here’s the targa if you like to see if you can get it to work in a txm file:

PolarBear · wrote on 6 Apr 2011, 15:59

Wait, what did you manage to do here? To create a dds file without a “background”?
Oh, and one more thing: What is so special in txms? Aren’t they just like mats?