Published on October 16, 2007 By Daiwa In Skinning
I've been using PSP8 for some time now and generally have no particular problems with it, except one. PNG alpha-channel transparency seems to be lost whenever I open a file previously saved with alpha-channel trans. This image of the PNG Optimizer will help explain my problem:


When I save an image using the above settings, it appears to save with proper alpha-channel trans as when I then import it in SKS5, the converted .tga displays proper trans in the skin. However, if I re-open the .png file, often the trans is lost & the image displays white where the trans should be as in the left panel above. If I then just close it or save it, the .png alpha-channel trans is lost - if I re-import it, the converted .tga has no trans. This is not consistent but happens more often than not; only occasionally will a .png with alpha-trans open in PSP8 with transparency properly displayed as in the panel on the right above.

I have the option selected to "Load and save transparency from / to alpha channel" in PNG File Format Preferences.

Any ideas why the trans isn't sticking?
Comments (Page 2)
2 Pages1 2 
on Oct 17, 2007
Daiwa, It sounds like SKS isn't converting the image and it is staying a .tga when you go to edit from SKS.

You should have an option somewhere in PSP to "PROMOTE TO LAYER" for a .bmp. This will take care of the alpha channels. You'll still need some transparency in the image or SKS will read it as a bmp and convert it accordingly. A simple save as a .png should work fine as long as at least a pixel has transparency, then SKS will detect a png and convert it to tga.

When merging layers use the "Merge visible" option to maintain the alpha channels.

This is using PSP7 but I dont think there was much difference between 7 and 8.




on Oct 17, 2007
Don't know if this is of any help, but when I work on a new graphics, I start with a transparent base layer, then add from there. I then save the image as .pspimage, and I can export it to the png optimizer, keeping the transparency and also keeping the original pspimage file (with all the layers) untouched. If I need to work on the .pspimage file, I just duplicate the window and work on that.
on Oct 17, 2007
Thanks for all the suggestions, guys/gals.

I'm a simple sort who usually starts with an image & then tries to make portions of it transparent - sounds like that's bassackwards. I'll see if working from transparent .pspimage files works better.
on Oct 20, 2007
I started with a new image in .pspimage format with a trans background & created a new taskbar using native trans in a portion of the image. I saved it as a .png using the optimizer, selecting alpha channel trans & existing transparency. I then let SKS5 import the image & convert it to a .tga. After saving the skin, getting rid of the skin cache files & rebuilding the skin list, then applying the skin, WBConfig previews the Taskbar correctly but the actual Taskbar has no trans:



I double-checked the code settings: Trans=1, PerPixel=1, AlphaMode=0.

It appears that PSP8 saves the .png as a merged image & still strips the trans somehow, despite WBConfig's Preview, as when I open the .png, it looks different than the source .pspimage:



I feel a little like Alice, as in Wonderland.

Any additional ideas?
on Oct 20, 2007
Doh.

Fixed the last problem - little matter of missing the Taskbar "Background Effect" setting.

Still not sure why the .png shows on a white background rather than a trans background, but at least it imports correctly.
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