Alpha Channels

[AmbiantAir]

I'm currently repainting a plane with my own custom livery. I want the lower fuselage to be metallic and shiny, but can't seem to get it to work at all. The bottom of my plane is currently painted a grey, and when I apply an alpha channel (with a charcoalish grey), in game nothing happens.

In DXT is sees the alpha channel so I know it there.

Also when I save in TGA form in Photoshop I have to save in 24bit to save the alpha channel (though in DXT it looks a bit messed up). In bmp I can save in 32bit and the alpha channel is there, but the effect is still the same in game.

Photoshop says TGA's can't be saved with alpha channels (and in the Save As... dialog the Alpha Channel check box is shaded out so I can't choose it, but all the tutorials I come across say to save it in TGA with Alpha. That would be great if Photoshop let me.

I'm I doin' something wrong? Any help would be appreciated...

[Hagar]

Does the original have reflective textures? If not you're wasting your time. Sorry.

PS. "Save Extended Image" in the appropriate FS texture format from DXTBmp. Make sure you have the latest version. http://www.mnwright.btinternet.co.uk/index.htm

[AmbiantAir]

Well somehow I mamanged to do it.

I don't know how....but I did. Will take some toying with.

This time instead of DXT I used imagetool. Converted straight from the PSD so I don't know if that had anything to do with it or not.

Going to test it on another model to see...

[Hagar]

Glad you fixed it. Use whichever utility suits you best. Not sure why you're using TGA format. DXTBmp works best with 24 bit BMPs. I've been told that some versions of Photoshop don't save in this format which I find hard to believe.

[Daz]

does 32 bit dxt with alpha channels work? im trying to repaint the a300 in lufthansa livery by the way and i loose the alpha channel.. should i be saving as 24 bit bmp?