Saving Bitmaps out of Photoshop!
Thursday, September 26, 2002 by Lo Pan | Discussion: WinCustomize Talk
When I create a button in photoshop, there's always a little bit of transparent background around the edges, especially when what I'm making isn't rectangular. However, when saved as a bitmap, what used to be transparent in photoshop is made white by default. Is there a way I can avoid this? I want my unused canvas to remain transparent so only the button shows up when I import it into skin studio.
Thanks in advance for any assistance.
Thanks in advance for any assistance.
Koasati
Reply #3 Thursday, September 26, 2002 8:31 AM
Reply #3 Thursday, September 26, 2002 8:31 AM
Beware of the jaggies! If your edges are anti-aliased, you'll have various shades of pink. You might try the color of the background the buttons will be setting on, instead of the magic pink.
Lo Pan
Reply #4 Thursday, September 26, 2002 8:49 AM
Reply #4 Thursday, September 26, 2002 8:49 AM
The problem is that often the button will be placed against a background that has gradients, which makes it difficult/impossible to fake the transparency. (unless i'm thinking of it the wrong way 
)
I'll keep it in mind though and try to do it when I can. thanks for the tip.
)I'll keep it in mind though and try to do it when I can. thanks for the tip.
bakerstreet
Reply #5 Thursday, September 26, 2002 8:59 AM
Reply #5 Thursday, September 26, 2002 8:59 AM
A difficulty I think you may be having is that when the image is shifted to Indexed Color from RGB, the color info will drift a bit. SO, if you specified 255,0,255 in PSD or JPG format, when you convert to Indexed color it will be different enough to fark up the transparency. (I had a lot of trouble with this in PS5)
I most always have to go back and re-touch the areas of transparency with the PENCIL tool to make certain it is all the specified transparency color. (The brush tool tends to fuzz-up surrounding pixels)
Also, To add a bit to Koasati's post, the safest way to deal with cutting/pasting is to turn the anti-aliasing off in Photoshop altogether when you make your selections. You end up with jagged lines, but I think it is much easier to tone-down jaggies if you have planned for them to begin with.
I most always have to go back and re-touch the areas of transparency with the PENCIL tool to make certain it is all the specified transparency color. (The brush tool tends to fuzz-up surrounding pixels)
Also, To add a bit to Koasati's post, the safest way to deal with cutting/pasting is to turn the anti-aliasing off in Photoshop altogether when you make your selections. You end up with jagged lines, but I think it is much easier to tone-down jaggies if you have planned for them to begin with.
Lo Pan
Reply #6 Thursday, September 26, 2002 10:24 AM
Reply #6 Thursday, September 26, 2002 10:24 AM
I know exactly what you guys are talkin about now. I'm gettin looooots of jagged edges with some magenta specks stuck on the edges sometimes. 
I guess I'll do what you suggested and take my images back into Photoshop 7 and try to clean it up with the pencil.
I guess I'll do what you suggested and take my images back into Photoshop 7 and try to clean it up with the pencil.
c242
Reply #7 Thursday, September 26, 2002 1:24 PM
Reply #7 Thursday, September 26, 2002 1:24 PM
Hm, I don't know much about WB skinning, but isn't it possible to use targa-files for the buttons ? Just an idea...
werewolf
Reply #8 Thursday, September 26, 2002 1:28 PM
Reply #8 Thursday, September 26, 2002 1:28 PM
Another idea is to create 2 layers
Layer 1 has the titlebar with the gradients
Layer 2 has the buttons
Then merge the layers and select the button area, copy and then paste as a new image. Then you have the button area with the gradients incorporated.
Layer 1 has the titlebar with the gradients
Layer 2 has the buttons
Then merge the layers and select the button area, copy and then paste as a new image. Then you have the button area with the gradients incorporated.
Koasati
Reply #10 Thursday, September 26, 2002 8:45 PM
Reply #10 Thursday, September 26, 2002 8:45 PM
That's pretty much what I meant werewolf.......but you said it a lot better. 
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Reply #1 Thursday, September 26, 2002 3:43 AM