[bella basic] - How To: Save A Transparent Spray - Tutorial

An alternative route.
KEEP NOTE: I originally made this tutorial while in Boom Gaming, which explains the image.
Requirements:
-Photoshop
-Ability to save in a ".tga" Format (aka - targa) - Download: HERE
-Counter Strike: Source


Make sure you extract the "Targa/Targa.8BI" file into your Extensions folder in your photoshop files.
Example: "C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop CS5\Plug-ins\Extensions\Targa.8BI"


Steps:
1. Open up Photoshop
2. On the menu at the top, click on "File>New..." or (CTRL + N)
3. Make sure the width is 256 x 256 pixels, or smaller.
4. Also make sure the [Background Contents:] is set to "Transparent" then click "OK"

5. Create/Paste/Draw/Type whatever you want in the box, while still keeping a transparent background.
(Sometimes you have to cut out the pictures with one of the lasso tools, or erase the background.)

6. If you're done & have multiple layers, click "Layer" at the top in the menu, and choose "Merge Visible." (SHIFT + CTRL + E)
7. You should now only have 1 layer in your [Layers] table, on the bottom right.

8. Hold your "CTRL" key, and click on the the icon of your image in the layers table, on the bottom right, to select your image perfectly.

9. In your Layers table, on the bottom right, choose the tab that says "Channels."
10. Click the little icon near the bottom right of the Channels table to create a new Channel, which will appear as "Alpha 1" by default.

11. Get your paint brush, or paint bucket tool, and fill in the entire selection white.

12. Press "CTRL + D" to deselect your image.
13. In your Channels table, on the bottom right, choose the tab that says "Layers" again.

14. At the top menu, choose "Layer>New>Layer..." (SHIFT + CTRL + N)
15. Press "OK" on the box that comes up to create the new layer.
16. Make sure that the new layer, which should be completely blank, is moved to the bottom of the layers table.

17. In the toolbar on the left, at the bottom is a color pallet. Click the foreground color to open the Color Picker.
18. Change the R, G, and B values all to 127, which is pure grey.
19. Press "OK"

20. Color the entire bottom layer that grey color.

21. On the menu at the top, click "File>Save As..."
22. Save the file as a Targa file (.TGA...) - I named mine "MySpray.tga"
23. Click "Save"
24. Then Click "OK" on the box that pops up.

YOU'RE ALL FINISHED! YAY!
To make it your spray, browse for the .tga image you saved using Counter-Strike: Source, in the Options section by click on "Import Spray..."

The only thing left to do now is to test it out!

This tutorial was made entirely by me, [bella basic]!

Ya, but mine is broken down into specific steps. If you said merge all the layers to someone who's never used photoshop before, they wouldn't know what to do. Besides, the quality of the image turns out better this way.

this would make the edges gray instead of white also merging all layers is simple, and if they needed help they could always ask

solidify b fixes the problem of different colored edges.

additional info

tgas flaten the image onto a surface making the white halo and in your case grey halo around the object.

converting a tga to a vtf (valve texture file) also increases the quality.

this is how I used to make my sprays with an alpha channel.

i even made a video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TPOnHQg6VE

lastly using the fill bucket may be easier but lacks quality.

overall its a great tutorial sorry if mine is difficult.

But bella has boobs, so people will pay more attention to her. :whistling:

must follow boobs directions o.o

another advantage save selection has over the fill bucket is varying alpha

example



and you shouldn't need a plugin to save as a targa.

That grey color shows as transparent to the source engine.

Photoshop doesn't come with the targa extension by default, so you have to add it in order to save as targa.

Doesn't seem to happen to me.

The fill bucket is just an option, I prefer the brush. You can even leave the alpha as it is if done right, it will allow the layer to be whatever amount of transparent percent you have.

welcome to orange box. the grey will show up depending on the surface and lighting.

in ps

ingame

FUCKING EPIC

I did it your way, and my way - they both turned out exactly the same. I didn't have a grey halo around either of them.

i did this tut AGES ago,
and copy/paste here to show

used PS 60 and old vtf plugin
wrong gray color, i know now


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Create transparent Textures (vtf) or Sprays

you need:

Photoshop 6.0 or higher
vtf-plugin (alternate 360g)
tga-plugin (for 6.0 or lower)

VTF-Plugin:
http://www.zombienetwork.net/tools/vtfplugin103.zip

360g:
http://www.zombienetwork.net/tools/360g.zip

in Hammer:


in PS:
<missing ps_overview.jpg>

Step 1:
create 2 new layers
1 transparent layer, and one with dark-gray color
like this:






Step 2:
now select the transparent areas
by using magic wand tool



Step 3:
you have to inverse the selection:



Step 4:
switch to channels and save selection as a new channel
(your transparent alpha channel)



Step 5:
save your file as .psd

Step 6:
save your file as .vtf
use predefined >Compressed texture with alphachannel<


Alternate save as .tga, 32 bit with alpha channel
drag and drop to 360g/SprayR

Note:
vtf-plugin has much better quality than 360g

Anyone know what is secret to be your spry in front of all?