Alpha/Transparency Channel Tutorial

[FlyGuy]

Heres a quick tutorial on how to create an Alpha Channel w/Corel PaintShop Pro, the "Alpha Channel" is used to control transparency.


Step1) open *PSP and open up a 2048x2048 image file (file can also be 1024x1024 or 512x512)

*PSP = Paint Shop Pro

[FlyGuy]

Step2) make a copy of the image (CTRL-C) and paste it in PSP as a new image (paste as new image)

Step3) using the "Magic Wand" tool select the canopy area only and then "invert" that selection (CTRL-Shift-I)

[FlyGuy]

Step4) Use the "Flood Fill" tool to make the selected area white (which should be everything BUT the canopy)

Step5) Invert selection again and use the "Flood Fill" tool to fill in the canopy area. You can make it black or white or any shade of gray in between. Keep in mind that "white" = 100% visible and "black"=100% tranpsarent so "grey"= 50% transparent

[FlyGuy]

Step6) At the top of the screen select "Layers" + "New Mask Layer" + "From Image" then click "OK"

[FlyGuy]

Step7) At the top of the screen select "Layers" + "Load/Save Mask" + "Save Mask to Alpha Channel", then make sure you choose the correct image under the "add to document" selection (in this case its "Blaine Austin.pspimage") and name your new Alpha Channel "Alpha Channel 1". If your asked if you want to replace the selected Alpha Channel choose "YES"

[FlyGuy]

Congratulations you've succesfully created an Alpha Channel in PSP

One nice thing about PaintShopPro vs PhotoShop is that when merging layers later on you can choose "Merge All (Flatten)" and it will NOT merge your Alpha Channel (PhotoShop WILL merge it).

Should you decide you want to delete the Alpha Channel select "Image" + "Delete Alpha Channel" (see pic)

[FlyGuy]

I moved this info from an older thread (was in the middle of another thread) perhaps this could be made sticky?