PNG's, TGA's, and migraines

help

January 13, 2006 12:24 PM from

I read the tutorial on TGA's and PNG's in WB5.

Here is the problem..
Trying to use TGA's in window frame..Frame has rounded corners...instead of being transparent past the corner...I am getting a white corner. Yes, I saved the file 'without' a background, like I would do with a PNG.
Which brings me to trying to use PNG's in my start menu...same thing, only black corners.
My understanding is that I should not need MP for either. So what am I doing wrong?

And what I'm confused on....

The tutorial on TGA and PNG says that 'Photoshop no longer supports TGA'. Yet, I have Photoshop CS (NOT CS2) and have the option to save in TGA format up to the required 32 pixels.

Am I saving them in the wrong format? (I have heard people say that they have no problems with PS CS and others recomend letting WB change the format from PNG)

When I am saving....besides the 32 pixel option...is there something else I should be doing?

And..why can I save something in PNG and get a transparent background for anything but WB5? (And TGA's)

I have worked out my problem of 'matching' up the edges and stuff..but this is making me crazy.

Finally...(sorry)...when assembling my skin I notice..for example....Window Frame/ Top Bar...Top Bar Mask?..and Top Bar Per Pixel...Do I use 1, 2 or all 3? What is the Mask for? I think I understand the per pixel...that is for the TGA 32 pixel format files that I would use if I were making a WB5 skin only?

Thanks for any help in advance.

windowblinds

8,532 views 25 replies

Reply #1 January 13, 2006 1:28 PM from

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I don't know much about Photoshop, so can't say what settings may be affecting this. But I have no trouble with Paint Shop pro........ I save as PNG, import into SkS, make sure transparency, AND translucency is enabled, and it's all good.

Reply #2 January 13, 2006 1:49 PM from

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transparency, AND translucency is enabled,

Okay. This is either gonna be a really stupid question or not applicable.

I don't want the 'image' to be transclucent or transparent...jus the corners or area's that would be if I were using BMP's and MP. Do I need to 'enable the transparency, AND translucency' to do this?

Groupy 2 - Organize multiple applications into grouped tabs on your Windows desktop

Reply #3 January 13, 2006 2:08 PM from

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Yep....

Reply #4 January 13, 2006 2:11 PM from

WinCustomize Forums Top

The tranlucency setting doesn't magically cause your image to be 'see through'. It simply enables whatever transluceny you have in the image. Which in this case would be the corners.

Reply #5 January 13, 2006 2:34 PM from

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don't want the 'image' to be transclucent or transparent...jus the corners or area's that would be if I were using BMP's and MP. Do I need to 'enable the transparency, AND translucency' to do this?

Yea Mate!!!

Reply #6 January 13, 2006 2:44 PM from

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I feel almost as stupid as when I returned those M&M's cause some of them had W's on them. Paperbag

Okay, I went in to enable them and it won't let me. Now, when I was trying to use BMP's I had enabled them just to see what they would do (stupid stupid stupid) and SStudio allowed me to, but it won't when I am using TGA's. ???

I'll be up on the roof in my undies with my guitar.

Reply #7 January 13, 2006 3:23 PM from

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If your using the .png or tga images in the Start Panel, change the START PANEL EFFECTS setting to Per pixel alpha. Save and apply.

Whenever you use a transparent or translucent image the top left corner pixel needs to be transparent or magic pink depending on if it is a tga or bmp.

Only the start panel has the start panel effects setting .

all other images in the skin just need the transparancy and translucency settings. Magic pink = transparency checked. .png or tga = transparency and translucency checked.

Reply #8 January 13, 2006 3:40 PM from

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transparent or translucent image the top left corner pixel needs to be transparent

huh?

I am using TGA's for the frame. In this image, I have circled the corner. The white part on the outside corner is the part I want to be transparent. If I understand this, were this image in BMP format I would have to use MP over the white. It is in TGA with no background saved, so I don't know where the white is coming from..and SDSK will not let me enable the tansparent, translucent effects. I have the full/newest version...and like I said, it worked in the stat menu (accidentally, granted) but won't work here.

Reply #9 January 13, 2006 4:09 PM from

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Ignore what I said about the top left corner for now. Just keep it in mind for later down the road. That isn't true for all your images. Just some in the skin.

Try converting your images to .png in photoshop instead of using tga images. Working with png images you shouldn't have any problems.
In Skinstudio settings TOOLS/PREFERENCES/IMAGE EDITORS/ make sure Convert TGA images to PNG before using image editors is checked. Let SKS do the work for you.

Reply #10 January 13, 2006 4:17 PM from

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n Skinstudio settings TOOLS/PREFERENCES/IMAGE EDITORS/ make sure Convert TGA images to PNG before using image editors is checked. Let SKS do the work for you.

Honest to God, I am not trying to be a smart azz or pain in the butt. I did what you said already...and instead of little white corners..I get little black corners.

Can I go back to bed now and wait til Friday the 13th is over? All I need now is a stump magically appearing in my front yard with a Troll in it.

Wait..what's that...what the...

You can't do that on the lawn!

Reply #11 January 13, 2006 4:19 PM from

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Do you have transparency and translucency checked for you images?

or Zip me the skin.. craig at cdoman dot com

Reply #12 January 13, 2006 4:21 PM from

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Do you have transparency and translucency checked for you images?

It won't let me check them. That's the problem. I don't have a skin to zip because of all this. LOL. Let me try again with the PNG's and if it still won't work, I will zip it to you. Thanks, NT.

Reply #13 January 13, 2006 4:22 PM from

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Dumb question... Are your checkboxes working right? Can you see when they are checked and when they are not? I have had that happen to me before.

Reply #14 January 13, 2006 5:11 PM from

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I have had that happen, depending on what skin I am using. Right now I am using Schismwb that was made by someone with more experience than me and when I checked...the check boxes work when I try them on the START MENU...but not on the WINDOW FRAME, so I know it can't be the Schismwb skin by what's-his-name, and I would doubt it's SDSStudio's fault. It must be something I am doin

I'm sending you a zip with the wb in it. All that is skinned is the window frame borders and nothing else. This way, you don't have to worry about crashing your PC. lol.

Reply #15 January 13, 2006 5:20 PM from

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My bad, the window frames don't work the same way with the checkboxes. I think I know what you are doing wrong. I'll wait for the mail, it will be easier.

Reply #16 January 13, 2006 5:24 PM from

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Yup, problem solved. Check your mail in a few minutes.

You can explain it to everyone if you do another addendum to your anti-tutorials. Very good by the way.

Reply #17 January 13, 2006 5:38 PM from

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Thanks. Looking forward to the email.

Reply #18 January 13, 2006 5:40 PM from

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I feel almost as stupid as when I returned those M&M's cause some of them had W's on them

LOOOL, thanks for the laugh you silly man you.

Reply #19 January 13, 2006 5:59 PM from

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If you think that's funny, you should have been there when I returned the Whoopi Cushion. It wouldn't go 'Whoopie', it just kept making this obscene noise.

Reply #20 January 13, 2006 6:10 PM from

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i read this and saw no mention of the apha chanel as this was most likely the first problem. I'm sure Night train smaked his forhead when he looked at the images, lol!

Reply #21 January 13, 2006 7:25 PM from

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Po' -

Do let us in on the fix - many of us novices need help with this very issue.

Thanks,
Daiwa

Reply #22 January 13, 2006 7:31 PM from

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Adam Najmanowicz's tutorial is the key to Po's problem. It is a very important tutorial. check it out. Po wasn't familiar with the 2 sets of window frames you need to do.

Tutorial.. http://adam.wincustomize.com/Articles.aspx?SID=59&AID=88858

Reply #23 January 14, 2006 6:01 AM from

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Do let us in on the fix - many of us novices need help with this very issue

I plan to. I'm still going over it and will update when I have a better grasp of it, I want to be able to post pics of how I have been screwing it up and what it 'should' look like.

Reply #24 January 14, 2006 11:58 AM from

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Here is my update, such as it is. Hope it helps. Link

Reply #25 January 15, 2006 7:57 AM from

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Po wasn't familiar with the 2 sets of window frames you need to do.

I started to suspect as much, about the time you ask for a look at the skin.....

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