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.
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: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.
Yeah you can tell it automatically sets the background to white when exporting or saving to PNG because the original and preview have the white background in the dialog box (instead of the checkered invisible background.)
If you fool around with the settings and make white the invisible color it seems to only change the pure white pixels to transparent but the image's pixels are still alpha blended with the white background.
I imagine the PNG format is "old-school" where back in the day you had to make your icons or toolbar images with a magenta background and program the settings to make magenta the invisible color. That is to say their color mode is RGB with a specific color used as the transparent color.
Corel doesn't do it right, but a other programs like Paint.NET make the PNG work perfect. It handles all the ugly settings in the background.
That is one big shortcoming with Corel is that they don't have an ARBG color mode, which is surprising considering Microsoft has used it for the last 5 years since Windows XP (and GDI+) came out.
CountZero1942 said:Yeah you can tell it automatically sets the background to white when exporting or saving to PNG because the original and preview have the white background in the dialog box (instead of the checkered invisible background.)
It would be great if someone could write a plugin to allow us to export a "correct" alpha-channel PNG out of Photo-Paint since Corel completely ignores its users.
I've just clicked "Save As" from the Adobe Photoshop's File menu; after I saved as PSD from PHOTO-PAINT :(
Ahmad Ajlouny said:I've just clicked "Save As" from the Adobe Photoshop's File menu; after I saved as PSD from PHOTO-PAINT :(
Yep that works. ;)
I'd be totally kewl in dumbing down PP and pushing Draw as the output system. PP needs losta work and I'd rather that work went into things Draw can't do that to duplicate what it can. (I can hear the screeming about to start)
Essentially I use Draw as a scrapbook for asset management and only use PP for OLE image edits. I'd rather more tools in PP be programed to work at 48bit and plug-ins better supported and RAW more decent. Draw is a great image scrapbook. And since if I'm doing print work I output from there I can get easy accurate proofs before setting up jobs.
Yani
I think the problem is that we're dealing with 2 different sets of users. Print designers and Web designers. Obviously, for print work DRAW is great, but 80% of my work is all raster-based graphics since I design graphics for web sites, therefore I rely on Photo-Paint. There's just so many little quirks about it that have existed since I started on version 6 that never get fixed...just a little frustrated that Corel never addresses issues that designers have complained about for years now.