Black on skins

[Shazbot]

When ever I try to make a new skin for a unit, there is a little black box around the shield.

Does anyone know what to do.

[Virgil]

yeah thats an alpha channel problem. You need to save the new skin as a .dds file.

[Goscinio]

and to make new alpha channels:

To do this just open the texture. Then select black around the shield with the 'rectangular marquee tool' or the 'pologinal lasso tool'. Then go to the channels tab ( if you don't see it, you can make it active by pressing 'window' on the top and then 'channels' ). Then you just paint the selected black, and if you then save it correctly, you wouldn't see it in game )

[Krusoth_the_Plague]

As stated, a mangled alpha channel in your skin is the cause of the black box of evil doom.

Here is how I save skins and 'bundle' them with their original alpha channels for final use (I couldn't quickly find a .dds plugin for Corel Draw, so I followed someone's recommendation to use a program known as DXTBmp to convert the skins into a different file type. Incidentally, it also allows for nice and easy alpha channel preservation).

This will allow for clean and original alpha channels:

1. Download and install DXTBmp at http://www.mnwright.btinternet.co.uk...ad/dxtbmpx.EXE

2. Open the .tga.dds skin file you wish to edit using DXTBmp.

NOTICE: On the top right part of the program, you will see a viewing box titled 'Alpha Channel' containing a black-and-white picture. Unless you alter the model the skin is assigned to, this alpha channel will always remain effective as you will simply be altering the existing 2d skin image.

3. Click the arrow-to-folder button under the Alpha Channel box (fourth from the left). Save the alpha as a .bmp.

4. Edit the skin in your preferred program to your heart's delight. Do not worry about changing the alpha channel. Screw it over and make it feel pain. Save.

5. Open the finished skin in DXTBmp. Click the arrow-from-folder button under the Alpha Channel box (first on left). Choose the previously saved alpha channel .bmp.

6. Save the file and give your new skin a whirl!

I hope this helps with your problem.

[Shazbot]

Alright guys, thanx for the replies, it works now.