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Using alpha channels in Multiboards...

10-31-2003, 07:49 PM#1
Cacodemon
May I use 32-bit Targas with alpha channel in Multiboards? It seems not to work...

This is example of my lifebar multiboard (not finished yet!).. I need to replace black areas with transparency!
10-31-2003, 07:59 PM#2
Starcraftfreak
If you have tested it and it doesn't work, you have to accept it doesn't work. But you are right, it would have been cool.
10-31-2003, 09:25 PM#3
Cacodemon
Can multiboards support transparent images? May be images have to be converted into BLP format to support transparensy? I know default multiboard background is half-transparent...


P.S. Real multiboard is shown on screeshot...
10-31-2003, 10:07 PM#4
Magos
What's your "resolution" of those health bars? One icon for "full" and one icon for "empty" per location?
In the healthbar I did I made 9 different states for each icon, resulting in a smoother movement. Used tons of icons in total though :/.
10-31-2003, 10:44 PM#5
Cacodemon
My multiboard has 10 icons and 5 states per icon... So resolution is equal to 2%. No need more resolution because you can hardly see the difference on screen :)

And this multiboard isn't completed one :) Have you seen my 'Photoshoped' multiboard in another thread? I'm going to create multiboard like that but the only problem is transparent TGA-files!

P.S. Anyone know help me with my problem?
11-01-2003, 12:16 PM#6
Magos
I approximated your amount of icons in the bar to 10. Since you have a gradient colour scheme (red -> green) you need one unique icon per location. 5 states gives 5 * 10 = 50 icons. You beat my 27 icons :ggani:.

Anyway, haven't tried transparent icons yet. My icons are 32bit, so I guess it should work. As for the big frame in the background, can't you find that gfx and alpha it out? Should be possible, isn't it half-transparent already?
11-01-2003, 01:10 PM#7
35263526
That ought to be possible, I alphaed out a multiboard frame once.
11-01-2003, 03:03 PM#8
KaTTaNa
Is there an echo in here 35263526?

Nice multiboard Cacodemon, I suggest you let the last icon on the multiboard have a label and make it wider, so you can see what stats the different bars show.
I don't see why you shouldn't be able to use alpha channels on a multiboard, are you sure you did it right?
11-01-2003, 03:09 PM#9
Cacodemon
Magos: Thanks. The worst thing was cutting full-sized Photoshop picture into these 52 segments :)

I think using BLP is the only way... I've tried many alpha variations so I guess Targa doesn't allow to use alpha channels with multiboard.

35263526: Please say how can I do the same?
11-01-2003, 03:19 PM#10
Cacodemon
2 Kattana:
Thank you! Yes, you have noticed right what multiboard should be corrected. But this one isn't completed so final multiboard will contain additional information about bars. When I finish multiboard, I'll send you more screenshots...

I dont'k know reason of this trouble...Have you ever tried to create multiboard with transparent TGAs, not BLPs? May be even 32-bit TGA doesn't allow to use alpha channels in multiboard...
11-02-2003, 12:20 AM#11
jardragon901
Why use tgas? Shouldn't blps work? tgas take up too much space.
11-02-2003, 04:10 AM#12
dataangel
What files do I need to edit to alpha out the multiboard frame? How about the min/max button too?
11-02-2003, 10:25 AM#13
Magos
Quote:
Originally posted by jardragon901
Why use tgas? Shouldn't blps work? tgas take up too much space.

I use blp's. blp's are basically jpg's so they take up (much) less space. Dunno how transparency work with them.
11-02-2003, 08:06 PM#14
Starcraftfreak
@Magos:
BLPs are JPEGs with an Alpha channel. When you convert a TGA with an alpha channel to BLP (you need either IE2 or W3V), the BLP has the alpha channel.
11-02-2003, 09:14 PM#15
Cacodemon
Please post url here!