Custom Buttons : Impossible!

Okay, I've tried just about everything I can imagine, and it's just not working.

I'm starting with a button pulled right out of the .mpq. I've tried converting the resulting .blp into a .tga using both Yobgul's and the Warcraft III Image Extractor.

I've tried just leaving the .tga alone, except for renaming it (to both a new command button name, and replacing an existing one) and converting it to a .blp using the Image Extractor, adding it to my map and running it. The button never shows. I don't get the green box, I just get a black one.

I've tried editing the .tga with Photoshop. I've saved it as a 16, 24, or 36 bit .tga file, with the same filename as I intend to use for the .blp. I've converted the .tgas back into .blps using Image Extractor's "100%" and default "75%" conversion quality options. Same result : Black Boxes.

Of course, I also have matching Disabled buttons in the correct locations. But, of course, they also appear as black boxes.

What am I doing wrong? Is there a better tool to convert to .blp? What format should the .tgas be in? Please help!!

When you renamed to .blp did you change it in the WE so it views that blp?

Did you put it in the proper paths? Did you import it to the map?

Yes, yes, and yes.

It's funny...The world editor appears to be able to view the new buttons. The game itself, however, does not.

Check if your icons have an alpha channel

Yup, it's your aplha channels. Try doing without using any alpha channels; or aplha everything white so none of it is see-thru.

Alpha channels? Dont I need to add those to an icon in Photoshop? I don't even know how to use those, so I certainly didnt add them. As I stated in my original post (are people even reading that?) one such icon giving me this problem was taken out of the game, and directly converted with a different file name to a .blp again. I'm pretty sure this is not the solution to my problem. If I didn't add them, how did they get there?

But I could be wrong. How do I check for and then alter/remove them?

EDIT : On a hunch, I went back to Photoshop. The "Save Alpha Channels" button is totally grayed out when I attempt to resave. Doesn't this indicate that I am not using any alpha channels?

It could also be that you need a disabled version of the button. Check the paths in the MPQ to know where it should be. If you get a black box, typically it is because the hero is at too low level to choose it and therefor it uses the disabled button, however in this case, there are none.

No, definately have a disabled button in there. The disabled buttons are also totally black.

Anyone have any idea what this could be? Or if anyone knows more about this Alpha channel thing, how do I either remove it, or as Draco suggested "alpha everything white"?