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Alpha Channel [Solved]

Posted: Wed Aug 21, 2013 5:44 pm
by MidnightSpirit
Hello Gametoast! Today I come to you seeking answers to a problem.

The fproblem deals with skinning.
So I just downloaded ANDEWEDGET's The Clone Wars Trooper model from here forums/viewtopic.php?f=64&t=18603

When I tried to view the model and its skin in Star wars Battlefront Viewer only the blank model came up.
Hidden/Spoiler:
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So I checked the TGA file, which was named correctly, and it has an alpha channel (as stated in the readme of the file) So it looks like this.
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ImageUploaded with ImageShack.com
When I remove the Alpha layer or channel the checkered area turns to white leaving the visor.
I am asking how I can get the skin to work so that I can eventually edit it myself.

By the way the program I use for TGA files is Gimp 2.6

Re: Alpha Channel

Posted: Wed Aug 21, 2013 8:15 pm
by AceMastermind
The texture doesn't display in SWBF Viewer because the msh file references ande_inf_tcw_clone.psd instead of ande_inf_tcw_clone.tga, you can easily fix this with a hex editor.

As for the alpha channel question, have a look at this tutorial:
http://www.gametoast.com/forums/viewtop ... 27&t=21268

Re: Alpha Channel

Posted: Thu Aug 22, 2013 1:54 pm
by MidnightSpirit
Thank you very much for the Walkthrough but I am still having troubles with the hex editor. I've never used one before and it sounds like you know what you're doing so I was wondering how I can use the editor to get the msh file to reference the tga instead of the psd.
I appreciate you time thank you.

Re: Alpha Channel

Posted: Thu Aug 22, 2013 6:22 pm
by AQT
Using a hex editor is like using a text editor, except you don't need to use the backspace key. You click on the box containing the character you want to change (in this case, the "p" in "psd"), and it will be highlighted. Then you type the character you want to replace it with ("t"). The box immediately to its right will automatically be highlighted ("s"). Repeat this process until you've completely replaced "psd" with "tga".

Re: Alpha Channel

Posted: Wed Aug 28, 2013 9:36 pm
by MidnightSpirit
I am sorry to be a bother, but I am afraid that my hex editor showed nothing like what you are describing.
So I downloaded a hex editor like I said but when I run it there are no boxes or anything, there are different numbers and such depending on which file I open.
Whether it be the tga, msh, or anoy other file in the folder the hex editor I have comes up with something similar to this.
Hidden/Spoiler:
ImageUploaded with ImageShack.com
I am a very visual person haha so if you wouldn't mind posting some pictures of what's what I appreciate it. Thank you for your time.

Re: Alpha Channel

Posted: Wed Aug 28, 2013 9:45 pm
by Maveritchell
Image
And in cases where it's not immediately obvious, use ctrl-F to search for the extension. Place your cursor and type to overwrite (hex-editors will usually set you in overwrite mode by default).

Re: Alpha Channel

Posted: Fri Aug 30, 2013 3:45 pm
by MidnightSpirit
Well that made me feel dumb, it was right in front of me the entire time. Thank you I now understand what I am doing.