Need a Transparent Background for a TGA File

Hello, all.

I need to save a picture for my school project so that it has a totally transparent background. The required file format is a TGA file.

I am totally new to Photoshop Elements, and I am trying to follow along with some of the tutorials I've found, but so far the versions are so different that I cannot find the options I need to choose. I am using Adobe Photoshop Elements 6.0 version.

Can anyone tell me how to save this file in a TGA format with a transparent background?

"JessiRight77" wrote in message

Hello, all.

I need to save a picture for my school project so that it has a totally transparent background. The required file format is a TGA file.

I am totally new to Photoshop Elements, and I am trying to follow along with some of the tutorials I've found, but so far the versions are so different that I cannot find the options I need to choose. I am using Adobe Photoshop Elements 6.0 version.

Can anyone tell me how to save this file in a TGA format with a transparent background?

If your image only consists of one layer, the background, you need to unlock it so as you can delete what you want to be transparent ( in Photoshop anyway)
You may be able to do this by alt+clicking on the background layer name in the layers pallete. It should go from Background to Layer 0. If it doesn't work, just rename the the layer however you do so in Elements. Then it should just be a matter of going to File>Save and scroll down to Targa in the file type box.

TWK

Thank you for your reply!

I think I am experiencing a different problem, however. I do only have one layer, but it is not locked. I have even created a duplicate layer, deleted the original one, and renamed the duplicate.

Still.... when I save-as a TGA file, it loses the transparency and reverts back to a white background.

The instructions I am trying to follow for my class were done in Corel PSP, but I was told that PhotoShop could also handle TGA transparencies in a similar manner: They said to create a mask from the image, and then save the mask to an "alpha" channel.

Any other suggestions? (grin)

Thanks so much!

Jessi

"JessiRight77" wrote in message

Thank you for your reply!

I think I am experiencing a different problem, however. I do only have one layer, but it is not locked. I have even created a duplicate layer, deleted the original one, and renamed the duplicate.
Still.... when I save-as a TGA file, it loses the transparency and reverts back to a white background.

The instructions I am trying to follow for my class were done in Corel PSP, but I was told that PhotoShop could also handle TGA transparencies in a similar manner: They said to create a mask from the image, and then save the mask to an "alpha" channel.
Any other suggestions? (grin)

Thanks so much!

Jessi,
It may be possible in Photoshop, but I didn't know that masks were one of Element's strong points.
I have just tried to create a transparent targa in CS3 and am seeing similar problems to you.
Opened a new doc and unlocked it.
Drew out a circular marquee and filled it with colour.
Ctrl+clicking on the layer icon "loads the selection" (the marching ants) Applying a layer mask takes out the background.
In the channels palette I copied the mask channel to an alpha channel. Saved as a 32bit Targa file (3x8 bit colour channels +1x8 bit alpha channel) Looks good until you reopen it and the background remains.

PNG's are a lot easier ;)

TWK

"JessiRight77" wrote in message

Hello, all.

I need to save a picture for my school project so that it has a totally transparent background. The required file format is a TGA file.

I am totally new to Photoshop Elements, and I am trying to follow along with some of the tutorials I've found, but so far the versions are so different that I cannot find the options I need to choose. I am using Adobe Photoshop Elements 6.0 version.

Can anyone tell me how to save this file in a TGA format with a transparent background?

From this forum http://www.mediacollege.com/forum/showthread.php?t=895 comes this information:

"A PhotoShop (.psd) file can handle and work with layers that are transparent. Targa (.tga) files can also be saved with a alpha channel and will be transparent IF the program opening the targa uses alpha channels. IE does not. Targa files when saved have a "bad" habit. If the file is saved and there is only one layer (and it's transparent) or it has a layer under it not active, Targa files default and put a white background under it. Bitmap (.bmp) files are similar but only a few programs will use the alpha channel when it opens. Jpegs (.jpg) files do not save with alpha channels."

I do not use nor work with targa files (who does?), so I have not tested this. The usual caveats apply...

Scott

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"Scott Glasgow" <paladinat.nospamfuse.net> wrote in message

"JessiRight77" wrote in message

Hello, all.

I need to save a picture for my school project so that it has a totally transparent background. The required file format is a TGA file.

I am totally new to Photoshop Elements, and I am trying to follow along with some of the tutorials I've found, but so far the versions are so different that I cannot find the options I need to choose. I am using Adobe Photoshop Elements 6.0 version.

Can anyone tell me how to save this file in a TGA format with a transparent background?

From this forum http://www.mediacollege.com/forum/showthread.php?t=895 comes this information:

"A PhotoShop (.psd) file can handle and work with layers that are transparent. Targa (.tga) files can also be saved with a alpha channel and will be transparent IF the program opening the targa uses alpha channels. IE does not. Targa files when saved have a "bad" habit. If the file is saved and there is only one layer (and it's transparent) or it has a layer under it not active, Targa files default and put a white background under it. Bitmap (.bmp) files are similar but only a few programs will use the alpha channel when it opens. Jpegs (.jpg) files do not save with alpha channels."

I do not use nor work with targa files (who does?), so I have not tested this. The usual caveats apply...

Thanks Scott,
That explains why I couldn't do it, only one layer.
Like you said "who uses them"?

Regards
TWK