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Regarding the Alpha Channel Removal...
Posted: Fri Apr 05, 2013 11:10 pm
by alexjack
Just made a first attempt at modding some sprites.I downloaded the XNView program and followed the instructions in posts I found here and I believe I am doing what was recommended but I cannot get rid of the Alpha Channel and hence that black box around the modded sprites. I'd appreciate any help.
Re: Regarding the Alpha Channel Removal...
Posted: Sat Apr 06, 2013 5:13 am
by Davinci
I cannot get rid of the Alpha Channel and hence that black box around the modded sprites. I'd appreciate any help.
The
Alpha-Channel is required, that is what
eliminates the black-box that you are seeing.
Open up one of the default units that you are editing, the file that has the
white -image on the
black background is the
Alpha-Channel .
Not, that I'm trying to discourage you, but if you plan on editing the units by hand, you are in for a very, very, very, long exhausting choir!
Nobody does it like that, other than
Zeke if memory serves
me correctly!
davinci
Re: Regarding the Alpha Channel Removal...
Posted: Sat Apr 06, 2013 8:48 am
by Davinci
alexjack - OK, I'm probably not telling you anything that you don't already know, but here goes.....
If you are
adding a different color to the horses, you would only
edit the
example1 file, while leaving the
example2 alone.
The reason behind that is that you are not adding anything
new to the file, so everything in the
Alpha-Channel is already
in-place .
I would guess that the
Program that you are using is not saving the
Alpha-Channel .
You will need one of the following programs to get this to work.....Photoshop or Gimp or Gimp2, but there might be other programs that will work, I'm just not sure about them.
I think that
Reb use a program called
paint.net or something similar, but
he can probably advise you on that.
Example1 :
The attachment example1_2013-04-06.jpg is no longer available
Example2 :
The attachment example2_2013-04-06.jpg is no longer available
davinci
Re: Regarding the Alpha Channel Removal...
Posted: Sat Apr 06, 2013 11:51 am
by alexjack
Davinci. Thanks for taking the the time to go through all of that. It's a great help.
Regards
Re: Regarding the Alpha Channel Removal...
Posted: Sun Apr 07, 2013 5:43 am
by RebBugler
Paint.net (.pdn) works seamlessly for altering sprites. When you open a .dds file in .pdn the alpha layer is a non factor because when you save it back after adding layers or whatever, and flatten (unite layers), the alpha layer is retained in it's original state.
Only problem with opening, editing, and then saving back .dds files, they lose some quality...so, save your file in layers, or flattened, in .pdn for future editing so you just lose quality once in your editing procedures.
Re: Regarding the Alpha Channel Removal...
Posted: Sun Apr 07, 2013 6:57 pm
by alexjack
After downloading two programs, one to change dds files to Bitmaps and the other to change them back,the XnView program and a dds Plugin for Photoshop followed by a couple of days of frustration all I needed was Paint.net.As you said RebBugler with Paint the alpha layer is a non factor.I decided to start at the bottom so as a sort of trial I merely desaturated the Union cavalry and Generals to lose that shiney orangey look to their horses. Of course the blue uniforms go darker as well but I don't mind that. I now have nice brown Union cavalry horses. Many thanks to Davinci and RebBugler for their interest and assistance.
Re: Regarding the Alpha Channel Removal...
Posted: Sun Apr 07, 2013 9:30 pm
by Davinci
Paint.net (.pdn) works seamlessly for altering sprites. When you open a .dds file in .pdn the alpha layer is a non factor because when you save it back after adding layers or whatever, and flatten (unite layers), the alpha layer is retained in it's original state.
Thanks,
Reb – I knew that you could explain it better than I could, considering that you have been using that program for a while. Also, I think that it was your original mod that inspired this.
Of course the blue uniforms go darker as well but I don't mind that. I now have nice brown Union cavalry horses.
When changing the
saturation on the existing units, always start off by editing the
standing units
only . Also by
writing down the
values that you used to
de-saturate .
This way, once you start a game,
this will be the first stance that you see, so you can tell if it works or not.
If, it works, you can continue to edit the other units using the same values, if
not this has saved you quite a bit of time.
davinci
Re: Regarding the Alpha Channel Removal...
Posted: Sun Apr 07, 2013 10:53 pm
by alexjack
Good tip. Thanks.