Problem with Transparency, alpha channel

[gza036]

Hi, trying to implement CCC’s kfir model into 80’s campaign… small bug with the transparent hud. Need some guidance.

Here is the DDS in photoshop, looks like the hud is painted pure magenta. I believe this is what BMS uses for transparency.

When loaded into mission commander 3d viewer, the hud is transparent, looking good…

however, when loaded in BMS, it’s no longer transparent… (looks the same in-game, pink hud)

I don’t get why it works in Mission commander 3d viewer, but not in game……
???

[ccc1tw]

Incorrect Bmp > dds conversion format?

[parislord]

Check to make sure your pure magenta is 255/0/255 RGB?

[PumpyHead]

@ccc1tw:

Incorrect Bmp > dds conversion format?

Should be .dds 5

[gza036]

yes, confirmed it is pure magenta 255/0/255 RGB

ccc, I tried:
saving both no alpha channel, and 1 bit alpha channel
No MIP maps

https://pmc.editing.wiki/images/skinoverview_ddst.jpg

Same result. Transparent in MC 3d viewer, and pink in game

Next,
I selected the magenta with magic wand and deleted it, then saved with 1 bit alpha channel, no mip maps
(as described in the bottom of this tutorial https://pmc.editing.wiki/doku.php?id=falcon4:textures:skinoverview)

The result, the texture is now opaque in MC 3d viewer and in-game….

[gza036]

wtf…. According to the tutorial, when viewed in the photoshop Nvidia 2d preview, the clear parts should be black… because the black background should be showing through. But it is white…
Which settings are wrong? It’s all exactly as in the tutorial…

I tried with “Enable Alpha Testing” checked and unchecked

[ccc1tw]

try this

http://www.mediafire.com/file/5f01amjr8mhh68n/Kfir_17-0426.zip

http://www.mediafire.com/file/g3fcmvch5r40tdf/2017_ALL%3DLOD.zip

[Arty]

Alpha channel :
http://www.graphic-design-employment.com/images/how-to-cut-out-hair-in-photoshop-tutorial-09c.jpg

It’s in the channels tab and not in layers tab.
Black area is transparent and white area is painted. The paint shown in the white area comes from the layers.
So in the layers what is painted and is on the black area of the alpha channel will not be shown.

I believe this answers your question.

Στάλθηκε από το MI 5 μου χρησιμοποιώντας Tapatalk

[gza036]

@Arty:

Alpha channel :
http://www.graphic-design-employment.com/images/how-to-cut-out-hair-in-photoshop-tutorial-09c.jpg

It’s in the channels tab and not in layers tab.
Black area is transparent and white area is painted. The paint shown in the white area comes from the layers.
So in the layers what is painted and is on the black area of the alpha channel will not be shown.

I believe this answers your question.

Στάλθηκε από το MI 5 μου χρησιμοποιώντας Tapatalk

No, sorry, still just as confused. So you’re saying I should select the alpha in the channels tab…. It’s currently painted white… and paint it black? okay done. (the red tint)
Nope still looks exactly the same in game. The hud is opaque.

[ccc1tw]

how about trying my zip in first link?

[Arty]

the area that is transparent should be that purple color so in 3d the gfx engine wherever there is that purple color is not displaying anything.

Simple as that.

[gza036]

@Arty:

the area that is transparent should be that purple color so in 3d the gfx engine wherever there is that purple color is not displaying anything.

Simple as that.

Interesting, now Arty is telling me it needs to remain pure magenta.

CCC is giving me a file that has the magenta deleted.

The tutorial says to delete the magenta.

If I leave it magenta, it shows magenta in-game. (but shows transparent in Mission Commander 3d Viewer!)

If I delete the magenta and make it “clear”, it shows opaque white in game. (also opaque in Mission Commander 3d Viewer)

So neither is working for me. ¯_(ツ)_/¯

[gza036]

@ccc1tw:

how about trying my zip in first link?

Thanks for the files, but the textures in this .DDS are in a much different order than the ones in my current texture files, actually it’s even split into 2 files and yours is only one.
We’ve already got the current model installed and working, is this a different version with a different texture setup…?

[Arty]

I was talking about the alpha channel in general first.
Those cockpit color procedure is totally new to me. Never used it. Sounds more like a punishment than a procedure to do something. I hope I’ll never have to deal with it.
Maybe for the transparency it has to do and with the ptype of the polygons that consist the HUD glass. So maybe this is the reason it doesn’t work.
From my poor knowledge on those things to have transparency besides the texture the area in the 3d model must be setup in a specific way.
So find what ptype that area must be first. Then verify via Lodeditor if the area has the correct ptype. Then check the texture.

If u followed a valid tutorial and the result is not the expected then either the tutorial has some error or you did something wrong in the steps.
Or the prerequisites for the 3d model to work as u want it are wrong.

Στάλθηκε από το MI 5 μου χρησιμοποιώντας Tapatalk

[ccc1tw]

@gza036:

Thanks for the files, but the textures in this .DDS are in a much different order than the ones in my current texture files, actually it’s even split into 2 files and yours is only one.
We’ve already got the current model installed and working, is this a different version with a different texture setup…?

The zip is the latest update.

[gza036]

haha oh jeez I don’t know if we even want to mess with what we’ve got working… Plus we already installed a missile and some clones after it in the class table. Does this version have any major differences/improvements?
I’m not really sure which “version” we have now. We pulled it out of an install that Nurse donated to us. But I can say one texture set contains 2 files.

@Arty:

If u followed a valid tutorial and the result is not the expected then either the tutorial has some error or you did something wrong in the steps.
Or the prerequisites for the 3d model to work as u want it are wrong.

indeed, thanks for the help arty and ccc

[gza036]

uggh I solved it. I’m so stupid with photoshop I swear…

Just the most basic understanding of masks was needed to make it work

_edit: I’ll just quickly describe the solution

magic wand, delete the magenta
go to channels, create new channel Alpha 1
back to the layer, highlight the area that needs to be transparent, go back to Alpha 1 color it Black,
reverse the selection, color the rest white
deselect, save ARBG 1 bit no mip maps
done_

[Arty]

Since u got result is all that counts. Also knowledge and experience is gained at the same time.
Have fun.

Στάλθηκε από το MI 5 μου χρησιμοποιώντας Tapatalk

[ccc1tw]

@gza036:

Does this version have any major differences/improvements?

use one single skin.
canopy glass ptype 25
upgraded afterburner.
upgraded nav and wingtip lites.
add boarding ladder.

[gza036]

Ah cool and I’ve learned that replacing a lod is one of easiest things yet, very simple
Thanks.