CompuServe Thread

Missing Alpha Channels.

3 messages in this thread
#83551From: Gregory MacNicolFeb 13, 1994 8:51 PM
L;Yost Group;Alpha Channels. Gary, I'm sending you 2 small TGA images of the same object, ALPHA.TGA and NOALPHA.TGA. Both were created with 3DS3. The difference is ALPHA.TGA had the alpha channel made from NOALPHA.TGA using QFX. Take a look at the images with QFX and view the alpha channel on both. You will see what I am talking about. The NOALPHA.TGA image is fully-white, ie. filled with an alpha of 256. The other image has the variations that are needed for video production and it appears like a monochrome image of the original. The bottom line is, how can I get alpha channels like ALPHA.TGA with 3DS without having to make them manually with QFX? Thanks, – Gregory
#83646From: Yost GroupFeb 14, 1994 10:38 AM
Greg, you are the only person out of 26,000 licensed users who's ever had a problem with the alpha channel. I'll take a look at the files (as long as you sent them to me via binary email), and I'll also send you the phone numbers of some folks who use QFX and 3DS together constantly.
#83756From: Mike KelleyFeb 14, 1994 6:10 PM
>The other image has the variations that are needed for video production and it >appears like a monochrome image of the original. PMJI, but Gregory, an alpha channel wouldn't normally have a monochrome image of the original — that's not what alpha is all about. You have a white level where the graphic would show, black where the other video channel will come through, and various shades of gray IF there are transparency and/or antialiasing levels applied. For most work (i.e. — not a glass or transparent object) the only gray shading you'll see is around the edges of your white object. While I admit you shouldn't be getting a white only alpha channel, it sounds more like you are looking for something very different than what 3DS (or any program) will produce. It also still sounds to me like you've got background turned on in your animation — did you send Gary your mesh file that produced those TGAs as well?