Help with transparent images exportation

[andreleitao]

Hello, everyone.

I have searched for many solutions in other threads, but nothing solved my problem yet. Well, let me say what my problem is. When I export an .PNG image from Fireworks 8 to MMF2, there are many white pixels left. That is, the image is not completly transparent (where it should be) after exportation. This is the image I want to export:

bussola_bg.jpg

This is how it appears in MMF2 (note that are many pixels around the compass):

bussolaMMF2.jpg

If I use this same image with a pure code implementaton (E.g.: with Objective-C Cocoa, C# with XNA etc) the transparency works fine.

This is the editable of the original .PNG image (zipped, because the forum converts the images into JPG):

bussola_bg ZIP.zip

Please, can you help me? How could I proceed?


Thank you in advance

[Grim_Jester]

Unfortunately, my solution is to zoom in and take out any questionable pixels that the magic wand selection tool missed. I then cut out the image and paste it into another invisible layer. I shudder to think how much time I spent on my last game's graphics.

I am eager to hear some tips from more experienced people.

[happygreenfrog]

I usually use GIMP for my graphics, but I do have a solution that works in GIMP:

If you made the graphic in another program, you'll need to export it first, and then load it into GIMP.

Then, right-click on the layer and click "add layer mask".

Then, out of the options, select the "Grayscale copy of layer" option. If the graphic has a light-colored background, check the "invert" option.

Then, right-click on the layer again and make sure the "edit layer mask" and "view layer mask" options are checked.

Then, fill in any dark-gray areas that are on the object itself (you should be able to tell which parts are the object and which parts are the background).

Then, under the colors menu at the top of the screen, select the "brightness-contrast" option.

Then, change the settings by turning the contrast all the way up. This will result in an image with no semi-transparency.

Then, remove the small number of excess pixels that you have left (an easy way to do this is to switch to the pencil tool, select black as your color, hide the layer mask (keep the layer mask editing mode on, though), and erase the excess pixels that way).

Then, once the layer mask is complete, right-click on the current layer and click the "apply layer mask" option. Then, simply save your image and export it.

Note that this isn't always going to work perfectly, but it still usually works okay, especially since you can tweak the layer mask as much as you need to before applying it.

[andreleitao]

At first, thank your reply, guys.

Grim_Jester, I tried out this solution before, but its difficult for some images, do you agree? Sometimes, when we remove "white pixels" manually, the image quality becomes a bit worse.

happygreenfrog, do you execute this procedure for every frame of images present on the game? I suppose there is much hard and repetitous work, isn't it?

BTW, thank you for answering me.

I would love to see another sugestions.

[Popcorn]

I don't know any perfect solution, but by changing the contrast / brightness of the image, you can get rid of most of the surrounding white pixels, which will make it easier to get rid of the rest manually.

[andreleitao]

FINALLY I'VE FOUND A SOLUTION!

How could I be so blind? The solution was simple. Instead copy and paste the images, I must use the Import (Ctrl+O shortcut) option inside the editor of the Active Object. There you can find what color will be the transparent color and other options. Now the images from Fireworks works as they should work. Amazing!

Thank you for the replies.

[Grim_Jester]

I'm glad it's working for you, but I've had problems with that as well. Perhaps I should try Fireworks.