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Bug loading separate alpha texture

by Christian Rousselle · in Torque Game Builder · 07/25/2007 (3:00 am) · 6 replies

In gTexManager.cc, function loadBitmapInstance


bmp = (GBitmap*)ResourceManager->loadInstance(fileNameBuffer);

      // CAF: if a jpg, and RGB, look for file.alpha.jpg as alpha channel
      if ( (!sgForcePalettedTexture || !dglDoesSupportPalettedTexture()) && !dStricmp(extArray[i],".jpg") && bmp && bmp->getFormat()==GBitmap::RGB)
	  //if ( (!sgForcePalettedTexture || !dglDoesSupportPalettedTexture()) && bmp && bmp->getFormat()==GBitmap::RGB)
      {
         dStrcpy(fileNameBuffer + len, ".alpha.jpg");
         GBitmap * bmpAlpha = (GBitmap*)ResourceManager->loadInstance(fileNameBuffer);

I do not think that this works correctly. fileNameBuffer contains the extension already when files from datablocks.cs are loaded. This means that !dStricmp(extArray[i],".jpg") is always false in this case (i is always 0) . I fixed this by simply removing this statement. A better way would be to test the real file extension. Also then I have to name the alpha channel filename.jpg.alpha.jpg. I think that the person who originally developed the function expected the filenames to be passed without extension. Than this would work.
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Torque Owner Conor O Kane
#1
08/17/2007 (4:17 am)
This bug is still present in version 1.5.1 and there's no workaround for indie licence owners.

This is extremely serious for Photoshop users. Photoshop's .png save is lossy - it deletes all color information in transparent pixels and replaces them it white, which results in a white fringe around all transparent .png images.

The only way around this in the past has been to save a .jpg with the correct background color and an alpha.jpg image. Please restore this functionality ASAP. As an indie licence holder I have no access to the source code to implement the 'workaround' listed above. I am unable to import transparent art into my game correctly until this is fixed.

Torque Owner Conor O Kane
#2
08/19/2007 (4:29 am)
DEDEN in the GG IRC channel very kindly pointed me to a solution:

http://tdn.garagegames.com/wiki/Editing_Beginner/Tools/SuperPNG

This plugin lets photoshop export .pngs with an alpha transparency, thus preserving the correct transparent colors. Thanks very much DEDEN!

Torque Owner Conor O Kane
#3
08/19/2007 (5:26 am)
Double post

Torque Owner Christian Rousselle
Default Studio Name
#4
08/19/2007 (11:17 am)
The problem I was referring to had nothing to do with PNG but with JPG and alpha channel as JPG.

Torque Owner Conor O Kane
#5
08/19/2007 (8:58 pm)
Yes, the original problem still exists. The superpng plugin is just a workaround for indie license holders as you can use it to output a .png file with the same functionality as a .jpg and .alpha.jpg combined.

Torque Owner Christian Rousselle
Default Studio Name
#6
12/14/2007 (6:34 pm)
Still the same problem in 1.6.