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.
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.