Question about recolor / alpha shine

[Skilluh]

One question for people that have dealt with gear recolors, since i'm doing some right now and i can't test them myself at the moment, so it would be very helpful if someone who has done it just takes a look at these screenshots and tells me if this is how it's supposed to be.

So, i've done the saving as i've seen from one of the threads found here (in order to prevent alpha shine from happening).

Alpha channels selected


nvidia panel set as shown in the tutorial thread


Alpha scale set to 0 in image options


Now, after that file is saved as a dds file, after reopening the recolored dds, it doesn't let me save it again with alpha channels turned on. My question is, is that normal or did i make any mistakes while saving it first time?


I don't care much that it can't be resaved with channels on, just want to make sure that it won't turn up in game with alpha shine once sent to the server.

EDIT: And i think i just made this in a wrong thread lol. please move it into the correct one if needed.

[U_Kira_M]

actually it's the same thing happening to me but idk why. i never had problems in game tho so if u don't have to deal again with the alphas u can leave it as it is (box unchecked)

[[GM]Precious]

If you re-open the saved DDS file, it will only let you save "As a copy".

I encountered this before and my suggestion is you save the original file, mine is *.psd (i use photoshop -- i guess you do too)

To answer your question:

*Is that normal or did i make any mistakes while saving it first time?
- This is normal as per my experience

My suggestion is, each time you feel like editing the file again, open the *.psd file instead of the *.dds file.

[Stureplan]

Originally Posted by castor4878

- but so I will provide a short sum-up only:

- do not use DXT1 with 1-bit alpha (Sonov seldom uses that format and it's dedicated for very specific textures)
- use DXT5 for smooth shine (gear), or DXT3 if less accurate shine is acceptable (weapon)

also:
- the mini-maps don't impact the shine (expect if you do specific efforts to corrupt some of the maps)
- don't use/save the "existing maps" (expect if you want different design at different sizes) but use "generate maps" (photoshop and/or the plug-in do have a smooth sampler to generate cascaded half-size images).

solution: reload the texture from a AGE file and stop to destroy the alpha channel with the DXT1 format, shine will works fine automatically and w/o any effort.

.. Use the search button or perhaps even google.
:c