Avatar Alpha-ness

n3rdXcore · 10-08-2008, 02:54 PM

Hey mods, is there a way to alpha out part of your avatar? Say, by filling the parts you want alpha'd out with a specific hex color? Since there are so many avatars surrounded by unnecessary white boxes, I think it would be pretty neat.

Spectre-7 · 10-08-2008, 02:59 PM

Not to speak for the mods or anything, but I believe trying to do that from the server side would be difficult (though not impossible), and would generally require reprocessing all of the images. The traditional way to accomplish what you're after is to convert your image to either a GIF, which uses a reserved color for alpha as you describe, or to PNG, which supports a full 8-bit alpha channel. My avatar is an example of the latter.

pheriannath · 10-08-2008, 04:09 PM

.png or .gif files should retain their alpha channels. If they don't, then that's a bug. ;-)

n3rdXcore · 10-08-2008, 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pheriannath

.png or .gif files should retain their alpha channels. If they don't, then that's a bug. ;-)

I think I should be using something that is not MSPaint then!

Spectre-7 · 10-08-2008, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by n3rdXcore

I think I should be using something that is not MSPaint then!

If you're looking for a free replacement, there are actually a few decent options out there.

http://www.gimp.org/
http://www.getpaint.net/

Darkmatter · 10-28-2010, 12:46 PM

Hmm I picked 8bit png with transparency and I still get white...

Spectre-7 · 10-28-2010, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darkmatter

Hmm I picked 8bit png with transparency and I still get white...

Send me the original image and I'll gladly process it for ya.

Darkmatter · 10-28-2010, 02:08 PM

Thanks but I want to know wtf is wrong. It shows up as transparent in PS... I guess I could use gif....

Spectre-7 · 10-28-2010, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darkmatter

Thanks but I want to know wtf is wrong. It shows up as transparent in PS... I guess I could use gif....

PNG should totally work, and it's not as if Photoshop offers you many options. Unfortunately, I just don't have much information to diagnose with. I might be able to figure it out if I had the psd, but otherwise... *shrug*

Darkmatter · 10-28-2010, 02:51 PM

Well gif didn't work either (as you can see) so I'll send you the original file I got off the internet. It was originally a png.

Thanks.

Spectre-7 · 10-28-2010, 03:18 PM

Original:

Edited:

Fixed. Wish I could tell you what was causing it, but I frankly have no clue. All I did was duplicate the layer (Ctrl-J), delete the original, and save a new file. Photoshop isn't always terribly straightforward about things. *shrug x 2*

Figured I might as well shrink it for you while I was at it.

MachEnergy · 10-28-2010, 04:06 PM

I can't believe I haven't looked at my avatar since Valentines Day, when I put that silly hat on Old Snake. Wow. What people must think of me!

Darkmatter · 10-28-2010, 07:32 PM

Thanks for your help!

Darkmatter · 10-29-2010, 05:42 PM

Thought I'd make a small change for the holiday.

Boo

Spectre-7 · 10-30-2010, 10:16 AM

You're very welcome, and nice hat, sir.

10-08-2008, 02:54 PM	#1
n3rdXcore It's a tarp! Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 441	Avatar Alpha-ness Hey mods, is there a way to alpha out part of your avatar? Say, by filling the parts you want alpha'd out with a specific hex color? Since there are so many avatars surrounded by unnecessary white boxes, I think it would be pretty neat.

10-08-2008, 02:59 PM	#2
Spectre-7 Atomic Danger! Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Elsewhere, CA Posts: 5,788 Blog Entries: 5	Not to speak for the mods or anything, but I believe trying to do that from the server side would be difficult (though not impossible), and would generally require reprocessing all of the images. The traditional way to accomplish what you're after is to convert your image to either a GIF, which uses a reserved color for alpha as you describe, or to PNG, which supports a full 8-bit alpha channel. My avatar is an example of the latter. __________________ "If it's bad, I'll hate it. If it's good, then I'll be envious and hate it even more. You don't want the opinion of another writer."

10-08-2008, 04:09 PM	#3
pheriannath Fair enough. Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 743 Blog Entries: 6	.png or .gif files should retain their alpha channels. If they don't, then that's a bug. ;-) __________________ Editor/Podcaster/Artist/Code Monkey: http://www.co-optimus.com/ Steam: pheriannath Gamertag: Pherbear PSN: pheriannath[/SIZE]

10-28-2010, 03:18 PM	#11
Spectre-7 Atomic Danger! Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Elsewhere, CA Posts: 5,788 Blog Entries: 5	Original: Edited: Fixed. Wish I could tell you what was causing it, but I frankly have no clue. All I did was duplicate the layer (Ctrl-J), delete the original, and save a new file. Photoshop isn't always terribly straightforward about things. shrug x 2 Figured I might as well shrink it for you while I was at it. __________________ "If it's bad, I'll hate it. If it's good, then I'll be envious and hate it even more. You don't want the opinion of another writer."

10-28-2010, 04:06 PM	#12
MachEnergy Coked-up Werewolf 4 Prez! Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 2,835	I can't believe I haven't looked at my avatar since Valentines Day, when I put that silly hat on Old Snake. Wow. What people must think of me! __________________ using System.Awesome.Me; http://backloggery.com/machenergy/sig.gif

10-30-2010, 10:16 AM	#15
Spectre-7 Atomic Danger! Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Elsewhere, CA Posts: 5,788 Blog Entries: 5	You're very welcome, and nice hat, sir. __________________ "If it's bad, I'll hate it. If it's good, then I'll be envious and hate it even more. You don't want the opinion of another writer."

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