Gimp and the Alpha Channel

[McHub532]

To manipulate the photos/layers under the Alpha channel the only way I have figured out how to do it is to remove the transparency of the Alpha Channel.

Problem is.. it won't let me put the transparency level up the way it was after I'm done.

How do I put the Alpha channel back like it was so that 'older/aged' look is returned?

[mobucks]

what type of file?

[McHub532]

dds

[mobucks]

MAN its such a headache to figure out, id try looking up tutorials for exactly what you wanna do.

like google "gimp .dds modify texture preserve alpha layer"

I opened up a random .dds file and all it was was a texture and like 10 layers of mips with the same texture only 1/2, 1/4 size ect.


EDIT:
<B>
3. DXTBmp (http://www.mnwright.btinternet.co.uk/download/dxtbmpx.EXE) (click the title to download)
A. This program will allow us to convert the .DDS files into .TGA files which are usable by Corel Photo-Paint. It will also give us the ability to easily preserve alpha channels, which will be discussed later. Download and install it now
</B>
maybe use DXTBMP to convert dds to tga (send to editor option), then edit with whatever proggy u want, then "import after changes made" I know for a fact if its just a .tga the alpha layer is preserved when you send to editor, modify, then reload from editor. based on the above comment i ripped from TWCenter, the same may apply to .dds files.

[McHub532]

MAN its such a headache to figure out, id try looking up tutorials for exactly what you wanna do.

like google "gimp .dds modify texture preserve alpha layer"

I opened up a random .dds file and all it was was a texture and like 10 layers of mips with the same texture only 1/2, 1/4 size ect.

Yeah.. that's what I'm dealing with also. I go up to Layers and then set the transparency of the Alpha Channel to zero and that lets me see everything under it and modify it.

I'll Google for some tutorials again.. I'll figure it sooner or later. :)

[mobucks]

look at my edited post below... i have all confidence that this is the program you want to open your .dds files with, edit them using the programs built in "send to editor (u can specify an editor) make changes with the editor, then "reload from editor" should preserve the alpha layer. (WRONG INFO DOES NOT PRESERVE ALPHA, SEE NEXT POST)


Return to DXTBmp. Go under 'File,' 'Save as,' and select 'Targa with Alpha.' Save the file with whatever name you please in a folder


so open dxtbmp, open your dds file, EXPORT/SAVE ALPHA LAYER, save as targa with alpha, open that new file, send to editor, edit, reload after edit, save as .dds, and i think you want to save it as DXT5, IMPORT YOUR ORIGINAL EXPORTED ALPHA, SAVE AGAIN.

[mobucks]

Basically you export the skin's alpha channel before editing. Then you modify the skin, save it, open it with DXTbmp, import the original alpha channel, and resave it.

so when you open your .dds file in DXTBMP, in the upper right corner shows the alpha, with buttons below to export/import/save ect. save the alpha layer, so after you make changes in the editor, you can reload the alpha after reverting/saving the modified texture as .dds. , then save it again after importing the old alpha.


hope this helps!