Alpha Channel Bits Missing

Hi Chaps,
yesterday i was using TGA TOOL 2 to re-number some loco textures.

When the texture was renumbered in PSP it is then exported from TGA TOOL 2 as an ACE file to my desktop.

Why is it when any texture is saved on these particular loco's various items are missing from the included Alpha?

I am a novice to this so any help would be welcome.

Best wishes

Stef

P.S - the loco's in question are Class 15 & 17 from the UKTS CD & are purely for my own personal use.

Hi Stef,
I'm not an expert by any stretch of the imagination, but when you exported the file, did you select the "Ace (Alpha) - not DXT" option?

Cheers,
Ged

Hi Ged,
yes, this is the option used & also the same option that i have used many times before over the previous months on many varieties of rolling stock without the ACE being created with missing Alpha items!

It's a bit odd but i'm sure there's someone out there that can help.

Thanks...

Stef   

Hi Stef,
If you'd let us know which loco you're trying to change, I'll have a look myself!

Also, what software are you using as your graphics editor, please?

Cheers,
Ged

Hi Ged,
the loco's in question are all of the class 15 & 17 in the UKTS cd.

Any of them will do.

Just pick a file that contains an Alpha image of the windows, i used the ACE file Class17-2, as it's the one i was editing due to the loco number being within it.

You don't even need to edit the image in any way, just export it as ACE (Alpha) - Not DXT somewhere of your own choosing.

Double click on the Exported file & you will see that the windows are now missing from the original Alpha.

I use Paint Shop Pro as my editor.

Thanks...

Stef

Hi Stef,
I've just very roughly edited D8200 as D8208 and coupled them together in the sim and everything seems to be OK! I can't show a screenshot because a) I don't have permission and b) the 8 isn't in line with the rest of the number!! (by the way, I know there is a genuine D8208 in the folder, but I've given mine a different folder & filename.)

I use an old program called Micrografx Picture Publisher v10, which, I think, isn't available any more. I will try it with Paint Shop Pro - I'm not sure which version I've got!

Cheers,
Ged

Stef
When exporting your file from TGA Tools 2A, I assume that you click on "Export" - 4th Tab from Left - and then click on "Ace(Alpha)" - 3rd item down on the list. In this case everything should be OK.
However if you have exported using "Ace(No alpha)" - 2nd item down on the list, then the alpha channel will be lost, and you would need to start from the beginning.
I have done this several times during my FG DMU repaints - and very frustrating it was!

Hi Chaps,
what's happening here is i am doing everything as i normally would to export a file that contains an Alpha channel (that has worked countless times before)

The result is i still have an Alpha included in the exported ACE but some of the 'black' bits are no longer there!

Basically, if i copy/ paste the modified file into the loco folder & run the loco in the sim the windows on the modified file section are now clouded over.

?????????

Stef

Hi Stef,
I've now run with Corel Paint Shop Pro Photo XI and everything is still OK!

I did find that I had to shut down Paint Shop Pro before TGATool2A would pick up the amended image, but it may be something in my installation causing that.

Is your complete Alpha channel missing, or just odd bits?  If it's the latter, that's very strange, unless you also edited the Alpha channel, by mistake?

Sorry, but that's the extent of my knowledge of this subject!!

Cheers,
Ged

EDIT : Just looking closely at the Alpha channel, there are only windows on it, except for a small dot towards the top left corner, which is for the light in the middle of the disc.

Hi Ged,
not to worry....

It is a weird one alright!

Yes, only part of the Alpha is missing in the modified ACE!

Maybe someone else might know...

Thanks anyway.

Stef  

EDIT: Try a class 17 (file 17-2) where there is a black rectangle & a 'T' shaped 'cutout' used for collecting single line tablets!
The windows between these on the original Alpha dissappears on the modified file!

Hi Stef,
Tried the Class17-2.ace - all is OK - all 5 windows still shown as on the original.

Used D8500 - do you want me to try a different one?
Still using PSP.

Cheers,
Ged

Hi Ged,
not to worry Ged.

I guess it's just one of those things...

I should be happy now that i have a very good sized fleet of all the loco's i want in Blue/ Green.

My next project is to create Activities.

I met with some success tonight creating an activity of sorts running a class 31 with parcels between Acton Mainline & Ealing Broadway with some static consists in Acton Yard & some Traffic trains on the up/ down main lines!

It certainly is not an easy task but one i am determined to master.

Thanks for your help.

Stef