Paintshop Pro Transparency.

[Traianus]

I can't seem to get the right transparency in paintshop pro. I rectangular select an item that has a transparent background, but when I paste it onto another image it pastes the background too. Thing is, it works perfectly for other images I worked on last week.
I'm fairly new to the program but I generally learn stuff quickly so if someone can take time to explain it I'd be greatful.
I'll upload an example of each. The 'Longswirl' works a treat but the 'Image1' leaves a big ugly pink box everywhere it goes(No jokes, please!). I can't see where the difference is.
Thanks.

 

[W.i.n.t.e.r]

1) Your pcx needs to be at 256 colours
2) When pasting from other pcx files change the colour palette of the destination pcx file to the highest setting of colours [16 million colours?] (This will bring allong all colour patterns correctly)
3) After the paste process remember to set the colour palette back to 256 colours (click only "Palette=Optimized" and Reduction "Method=Nearest Colour")
4) After having gone through the previous steps you need to open your palette and see to it that the very last palette position (255) is employed as your background colour in the entire pcx file (usualy magenta 255; 0; 255). Best use the "Color Replacer" tool for the background.
5) Positions 248-254 are the gradual shadow transparency levels, with 248 being the darkest pattern and 254 being the lightest (181; 0; 181), and standard background shadow marking the frames.

Hope this helps...

 

[Traianus]

Hi. Thanks for the info which has hepled me understand better how images work. However, my original problem remians. The background(pink) colour is still being pasted over everything else. It's supposed to be transparent but it's not.
I don't get it.
Any ideas?

 

[W.i.n.t.e.r]

Try deselecting the background from your copy selection before pasting to another pcx by using the magic wand while holding the ctrl key...

 

[Traianus]

Doesn't really help at all. There are still big chunks of background being pasted. It must be something simple but I can't see it.

 

[W.i.n.t.e.r]

Don't paste from one program to another, stay with PSP when pasting PSP-copied pictures! Otherwise the format may change (i.e. PSP --> MS Paint) Make sure you have two files of the same format (PCX to PCX), that you use the same program when editing both of them (PSP) and that the destination PCX is set to 16 million colours (and that after you added your resource, put it to 256 colours again). Afterwards you deal with the palette as described above to get the background colour to being set to palette position 255 (that is a must!).
---


Usage of the magic wand tool:

You can deselect more than one background colour by using the ctrl button. The background is always only one colour. The shadows will not translate as easily though, when pasting. Hence also try to deselect the shadows (increase the tolerance accordingly to deselect the entire shadow as one monochrome colour, as in Civ3 most differences between shadow shades are not visible in flicster/pcx)

Also look above to your upper left while the magic wand tool is selected: You will see the "Tolerance" level setting up- by increasing the tolerance (try as you go, usualy best somewhere between 20 and 70) you can capture more consecutive palette colours.

a) capture selection

b1) click on the magic wand tool
b2) deselect background with magic wand/ctrl (keep shift/ctrl pushed when adding/removing more colou selections colors

[Only for units: (ignore otherwise)
c1) adjust the capture tolerance of the magic wand tool
c2) deselect all background shadows with magic wand/ctrl (see above)]

d) now the only thing selected should be your unit/resource without any background
d1) paste selection into the other pcx

 

[Traianus]

Thanks for another speedy and thoughtful response. To be honest, I'm not really stuck because of this problem. All I do is paste my image into another, one I know has working transparency, and re-copy&paste from there. That works fine.
But it bugs me that i can't get it to work normally. I have tried everything you suggested. Still with the magic wand it's picking up chunks of pink no matter what the tolerance is set at. And, in any case, I feel that this is really only a way around my original problem, not a solution to it.
At worst, it slows me down a bit. It's no big deal. At best, well I've learned a couple of things from your responses. Thanks for that.

 

[Vuldacon]

Traianus, IF I understand what you want correctly...Use the Dropper Tool and select the magenta Background Color of the Storyboard. It will be in the Foreground Color Box (this is the Top Box usually found under the Palette on the Right Screen). Click the Arrows Between the Foreground and BackGround Boxes and the Magenta Color will be in the Background Color Box. Now anything you Copy that has the Magenta Background will Not Be pasted. Botton Line: PLace the Color that you do not want to Paste in the Background Color Box before Copy/Paste. Hope this is what you are wanting.

Edit: I downloaded your Image 1 and had no problem with copy/paste of ONLY the Images without the Magenta Background. Set Magenta as the Background Color as started above and should work fine.

 

[Traianus]

I haven't tried it yet but I think that might be it. 'feels' like the right answer. Thanks - both of you. It's helpful souls like yourselves that make these forums the best out there!

WeyHey! 100 posts!!

 

[Slyk]

Select the pink color as the background color...eye dropper/right click.
Paste using Ctrl+Shift+E and you will loose the pink.

 

[Traianus]

Yeah. Just did it like you said, Vuldacon. Worked like a dream. Happy is me!

W.i.n.t.e.r., Vuldacon and Slyk - Many thanks and I hope I can return the assistance another time.

 

[Vuldacon]

You are quite welcome...I am certain that you know the shortcut keys concerning PSP and if not they are listed on most commands. As for the Magenta Color placed in the Background Color Box...just remember to place ANY color that you do not want pasted in the Background Color Box and it will not be pasted. This includes when you use the Magic Wand for copy and paste as well.

 

[W.i.n.t.e.r]

Select the pink color as the background color...eye dropper/right click.
Paste using Ctrl+Shift+E and you will loose the pink.

Aaaah, yes- Ctrl-shift-e... so that was the problem... didn't think about the paste types...

 

[Vuldacon]

Not sure what type of copy paste method or Key command that Traianus was using..Ctrl+Shift+E is to paste a Floating Image that you can move around until happy with the position and then Left click to set it and Right click to finalize and remove the selection window. Comes in handy a great deal of times. Perhaps Ctrl+Shift+L...No Matter what Key command or method of copy/paste used...if the background color is placed in the background color Box, it will not be pasted.

 

[Traianus]

I was pasting transparent selection, Ctrl+Shift+E. That's my prefered way of pasting. The problem I had was that the materials palette wasn't shown in my set up and so I had no idea that I needed to set a backgraound colour for new images.