I have a cpt image that has a single object with transparency applied as a gradient from 100 to 0 via the interactive transparency tool. I would like to export this as a transparent png for web use. However, photopaint x4 doesn't seem to allow me to do this - I get a message that object(s) will be merged, and then no option to maintain the transparency.
My workaround is to save it as a psd from photopaint, open in photoshop, and then use photoshop's export for the web. But there must be a direct way to do it in x4, right?
From my experience, merging with background is not necessary, but either way, the quality of the export is poor. If I feather the edges of a square, create mask from layer, then export to transparent png, it works, but there's an ugly white haze in the feathered area which makes this unusable in Photopaint. The result is the same flattened or left as layer before export.
You mean Gifs or Tiffs? I suspect Tif, since GIF's are only 1 bit transp. :-)
Alfred's test file won't work, since it's already tainted from the first export.
Tiff's are OK. I was worried this problem might be for all exports of this nature, but this isn't the case.
Try the attached "fresh" CPT test file above:
export direct from PP to both tiff and PNG. Ignore "objects with be merged with background" dialogs.
A. Don't mask anything. pick "none" for transp. in PNG export dialog, since it's already floating over nothing.
Note: if you;
flatten and use mask with export to PNG
don't flatten and use mask with export to PNG
same result as sentence A above. So, whether the object is masked or not - merged or not - over CPT without a background, same poor result.
import the tiff and PNG into Draw, you'll see Tiff's are good.
KuttyJoe said: ...it has the same haze which is typical of all Photopaint transparent gifs.
...it has the same haze which is typical of all Photopaint transparent gifs.
here's the diff with the fresh test file. Generated fresh inside PP, exported to both formats and imported into Draw.
There is something else going on here, my original test file which is sitting here on my desktop works perfect, I can load it in PP a hundred times, place a black background behind and it looks good. Now the uploaded test file looks like your examples after I download the file from my server, there is something going on between the original file and the uploaded version, however the only thing I did to it was upload it to the server.
Well I don't know, have to play with it some more!
Hi Alfred,
Oh come on now, you're going crazy! PNG's don't change by themselves by uploading to a server! :-p
Pleeeeeze d-load the CPT in my post at Fri, Jul 18 2008 15:33.
1. Load the CPT. It's pure, we can agree.
2. Export as Tiff with transparency. keep CPT open. Note: when viewing a transparent tiff in a quick viewer (like my old ver of ACDSEE, or Irfanview) it may not show the transparency. You'll only see a solid block of color. but the alpha channel is in the file.
3. Export from PP as a transp. PNG anyway you like.
4. import your best PNG and the tiff into Draw, place over a black and you'll see. Same thing when brought into other progs. blech.
Alfred said: There is something else going on here, my original test file which is sitting here on my desktop works perfect, I can load it in PP a hundred times, place a black background behind and it looks good. Now the uploaded test file looks like your examples after I download the file from my server, there is something going on between the original file and the uploaded version, however the only thing I did to it was upload it to the server. Well I don't know, have to play with it some more!
OK, so I'm a little loco :) But why is the original, I made yesterday, still working perfect while the uploaded version of the original does not? Tell me? Tell me now? :)
Harrrrrrrrrrr, loco Alfredo.
OK, email your "good PNG" to me then for inspection, or attach here to forum. It might not look right in the forum depending on browser, you know what I mean.
Jeff
Alfred said: OK, so I'm a little loco :) But why is the original, I made yesterday, still working perfect while the uploaded version of the original does not? Tell me? Tell me now? :) Harrrrrrrrrrr, loco Alfredo.
I will send you the file later on this week, I'm quite busy for the next few days, not much time for play!
I've looked into this before: the problem is that PPaint does merge the image before applying the mask...
PP treats transparencies very poorly: once a pixel has a level of transparency applied to it, then you can only make it more transparent. The transparency is not a non-destructive lens {which it should be IMHO}. If you want "proper" PNG's with proper alpha channel masks within PP, then you have to maintain the original object at 100% opacity (or at least have it look this way at time of export) and use the mask as a proper alpha channel. (I would duplicate the object, hide the original, get the transparency you want, then create a mask from the object, show the origional and then export.) (PShop I presume works with transparencies as a separate "lens" or whatever the equivalent is - therefore no problems.)
Since the object's transparency is "locked", PP flattens the image, then applies the transparency to the flattened image. So you get a whiteness - the transparency is almost applied twice. On import of a PNG, PP applies the transparency to the object so you now loose the origional object's pixel data - save it out as a PNG and you have the same problem, except no "origional" that you can have at 100% opaque to generate the correct output.
Draw works differently: each transparency is editable (and removable) once applied - when exporting, it takes all the transparencys and makes an alpha mask from them. Then ignores all opacity data and exports a flat image with the correct alpha mask. So you get a "proper" PNG file without any hassle.
{I don't "Know" this as fact: I am deducing this from what's happening.}
Gadget said: I've looked into this before: the problem is that PPaint does merge the image before applying the mask...
Yep, it's a bug...
Gadget said: PP treats transparencies very poorly: once a pixel has a level of transparency applied to it, then you can only make it more transparent. The transparency is not a non-destructive lens {which it should be IMHO}.
PP treats transparencies very poorly: once a pixel has a level of transparency applied to it, then you can only make it more transparent. The transparency is not a non-destructive lens {which it should be IMHO}.
I like that it's permanently applied for most of my work... :-D You could use a clip mask for non-destructive purposes.
Gadget said: (PShop I presume works with transparencies as a separate "lens" or whatever the equivalent is - therefore no problems.)
(PShop I presume works with transparencies as a separate "lens" or whatever the equivalent is - therefore no problems.)
Not sure about that...
bottom line.. a tiff comes out of PP correctly.
I tried a clip mask... still bad result. I tried saving an alpha channel. bad yet again.
New idea: I saved a PSD from PP with a semi-transp. object.
opened back into PP, looks as expected. Saved as PNG, no good.
Same original PSD opened in PS. made a PNG, it is good from PS.
Gadget said:PP treats transparencies very poorly: once a pixel has a level of transparency applied to it, then you can only make it more transparent. The transparency is not a non-destructive lens {which it should be IMHO}
Gadget said:PP flattens the image, then applies the transparency to the flattened image. So you get a whiteness - the transparency is almost applied twice.