Transparency Qs

[Zetsubou]

Though this isn't the first time I've created a background. It is somewhat the first to have multiple layers.
I've attempted numerous ways of creating "that" transparent spot on the foreground. However, it never comes out the way I want it.

The pink area is the spot I would like transparent:
For those that haven't played Ougon Musou before, there is suppose to be some sort of balcony out there.


As that transparency isn't going to be reflected on the RGB background results:

Spoiler (click to show)

Red:


Green:


Blue:

How would I do so to get that transparency finalized? Is there a step I'm missing?
I just hope I don't have to go through and magic wand those RGB images.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

[Rajaa Retired]

Did you turn off debugbg? Is the palette applied correctly?

[Ricepigeon]

Since you said you're using the RGB method, you'd have to apply the tranparency on every layer of the BG. The only issue with this is that in order to do that, you need to make sure each layer isn't utilizing all 256 colors before applying the transparency color, otherwise you're going to have color loss.

[Pal]

Paint it black.

When doing RGB, pure black ends up as the transparent color.

[Ricepigeon]

Paint it black.

When doing RGB, pure black ends up as the transparent color.

This can work, but only if he adds a 4th background layer with pure black, and sets all the RGB layers to alpha rather than using one with no transparency and the rest with it. Otherwise, he's going to get MUGEN's default stage background in places where he doesn't want and that's gonna make things look like an acid trip (if you ever saw what happens to MUGEN's default background when playing around on it and all BG layers are invisible, you'll know what I mean).

If he does go for 4 layers, he's going to have to make sure the layer for the balcony is between the pure black layer and the lowest of the 3 RGB layers. Even then, the balcony might show up in places where he never intended it to if he does the deltas a certain way. Honestly, he can either replace all pure black colors with something like 1,1,1 and use pure black EXCLUSIVELY for the transparent areas or use just the jigsaw method instead.

[Markpachi]

Using Photoshop, you can add the transparent color manually.
For example, add the original image (the one with the magenta color) on top of the R colored sprite. Remember to align the two properly. Using the Magic Wand tool, select the magenta color from the original image. Turn off the original image then color the R colored sprite with the magenta color. Then index it, repeat with the G and B colored sprites.

If you didn't understand what I said, PM me and if you want, i'll help you out with the stage.
Have fun!

[Cyanide]

Yeah, that's not really accurate. Mugen relies on palette location for transparency. When you "set" the transparency as you say, all you're really doing is turning it black. It doesn't set it to position 0 in the palette. This is actually easiest to manage in GIMP. Open a paletted image, edit the colour map and drag the colour you want transparent to the top left. This way it doesn't matter so much what colour you use as long as it is used nowhere else in the image.

[Zetsubou]

Thanks for the responses everyone. I tried the suggestions you all made, had some difficulties here and there but did manage to get those RGB images transparent.

Wish I would've known about Gimp sooner as that would have made some tasks easier.

I also found a rather long but unique way of localizing transparency in RGB "without the smudges" using Cybaster's Stage Tool, Fighter Factory and Paint Shop Pro. Had some free time and was kinda bored, found this method by accident.

I'll probably write a tutorial on it tomorrow morning, if I remember.

Thanks again, everyone.


Edit) Today actually, sometime in the morning.