Help with alpha textures

[marvinstea]

I've been successful using TXD workshop to replace some of the textures in the GTA:SA game.

 

I've been using it to directly edit the gta3.img file, importing textures to replace the ones I want.

 

But I can't figure out how to import a texture that has an alpha layer.

 

For instance, I'm interested in making a new graffiti tag. Here's what I've been doing.

 

1. Open gta3.img with TXD workshop.

2. Type "tags_lavagos.txd" into the search box. - the middle window shows two textures. The one I want to change is this one.

 

Name: "grove"

Alpha: "grovea"

Size: 128x128, CompressedDXT3

 

3. Normally I would just use the Import function to import the texture I want, it would replace the selected texture, I'd save, and then I'd be done. But when I try importing a .tga file with an alpha layer, it replaces the "grove" texture, but the original alpha texture ("grovea"?) is still in there. So I get my texture with the original texture's alpha.

 

So, how do I replace the alpha texture that the game is using?

Edited February 9, 2008 by marvinstea

[Supra4]

hmm ... I've had some alpha troubles as well, but a different kind. You might want to try this. It worked in my case, but I'm not sure it'll work in yours.

 

1 ) BACK UP the txd file. I'm not 100% sure this procedure will solve your problem, so it may be handy to have a backup

2 ) DELETE the texture you want to replace

3 ) duplicate another texture that doesn't use an alpha and rename it to the one you just deleted

4 ) import the new texture onto the duplicated one. At his point you'll have your correct texture, abeit without an Alpha probably. If it does have an alpha, go to step 8. If it doesn't just go to step 5

 

5 ) click the 'properties' button

6 ) in the properties window, check the 'Alpha is used' box and make sure your alpha has the same name but with an 'a' added to it

7 ) click the ok button and save your txd

 

8 ) follow regular installation procedure to get your txd in the .img

9 ) try it in-game. Revert to your backup if it doesn't work and keep looking for a solution.

 

Hope this helps, but don't shoot me if it doesn't.

[marvinstea]

Hey, thanks for the tips.

 

I'm a little confused still about step #6.

 

Lets say I get my texture "grove" imported.

 

Then I go to the properties and check "alpha is used" an give it the name "grovea"

 

Then, do I need to import a separate texture called "grovea" that is the alpha layer? Or will the game just know to look for an alpha layer in the "grove" texture?

 

 

[Supra4]

no need to add an extra alpha texture. It seems to make the alpha layer automatically when you check the box.

[marvinstea]

I got it working. Thanks for the help.

[derty]

If you use PNG, you can just create a single image by erasing, and therefore making

transparent, that which would be masked by a standalone alpha image when replacing textures. ;

 

You'd use TGA for new ones.