Hi all,

A while back some people reported problems with inverted translucency with Targa files. I had some reports that this was resolved with 5.0.

Is anyone still having trouble with loading Targa file? If so, could you send me a sample (richard@amabilis.com)?

Thanks,

Richard
PS if you are having trouble with TGA files you may have better success with PNG files (which also include translucency information) or by splitting your TGA into a separate non-translucent and translucent BMP and loading them separately.

Richard,
This is merely speculation, but there was some issue with TGATOOL2 and TGA files for a while.  And it was about the same time I began experiencing problems with my TGA files, that I installed TGATOOL2.  I cannot say whether this had some impact on the 3dCP issues I was having with inverted TGA files.  Also, is there any chance there may have been some incompatible DLL or other shared files?  Like I said, it was about the time I installed TGATOOL2 and downloaded the DLL files that he has available with it.

Since the last 2-3 updates of 3dCanvas there have been absolutely no problems with TGA files.

Mike

Thanks Mike.

I haven't had any reports of problems with TGA files lately, but I do want to cross that issue off of my "list". Just so I know, what program do you create your TGA files with?

Richard

Mike,

I also had problems with inverted .tga transparencies long before I ever even heard of TGATool, so I don't think that was it. Sorry Richard, I've been modelling buildings and other scenery lately, and haven't needed to use transparency, so I haven't tried it with the newer versions.  Oh, and I use Paint Shop Pro 7.

I was using PSP 6.  Updated to PSP 7 about 3 months ago, so not sure which one at the time.

Mike

One thing about PSP.  You can save as "compressed" TGA.  I don't know if that could affect things.  Especially if you save compressed, then find out and save uncompressed.  Also, there is a background option when you open a new file.  You can select colors or transparent for background.  Any possibility there?

Mike

Gee... I don't know anything about PSP. I use Corel PhotoPaint.

Hopefully some more people will give their input and if there is a problem we can track down the cause.

Richard

I have just upgraded from 4.24 to 5.0.5 and tried to work on the model I had started in 4.24. It converted the model, but ignored all the .tga texture files. It only used the .bmp texture files.

I tried loading the .tga files in the material editor and says they are all corrupt.

I went to PSP, and noted that I had ben producing compressed .tga files in the past. I re-saved one of the texture files as uncompressed, and started 3DC again, converting the model again, but it still would not load the .tga file.

Help?

OK, just tried loading a .png file version of my texture and got the same 'Failed to Load - File amy be corrupt' message :-(

Do you have all of your files installed on one drive? If not, can you tell me where 3D Canvas is installed and where your TGA file is?

Are you still having problems with the conversion to Unicode? These two problems could be related since they both require that DOS programs be called from 3D Canvas.

Richard

Can you load them with TGATOOL2?  At least you can find out if the files are OK.  Occasioanally I try toload a TGA file and it shows static in TGATOOL2 so I go back and resave it from a BMP and it works.  Also, if it does load, save as a TGA from TGATOOL2 or save as ACE, then re-load ACE and save as TGA.  Worth a shot...

Mike

I just uninstalled 3DC v5.0.5 and reinstalled v4.24 and I am back in business again.

Pity really, having looked at all those new buttons, and had a wander around the new menus, I can't wait to try it out, but without .tga files, I won't be able to do much.

(Windows 98 (4.10.1998)
 Athlon 1.4MHz
 256Mb Ram
 GeForce 2 MX)

Oh, and 4.24 is happy with the compressed .tga files from PSP7, except sometimes the transparency layer is inverted.

I did try TGATOOL2 and it does not like the compressed .tga files from PSP7, so I got it to grab the .ace and then save it to .tga, but 3DCanvas would still not load the file.

3D Canvas is installed on the C: drive and I do all my modelling on the D: drive

The problem with failing to convert to Unicode was a bit hit and miss, sometimes it would and sometimes it wouldn't. Now it seems to be getting it right.

Can you try loading TGA files from your C drive and see if it helps?

I've tested this and am not having an problems even when I have my documents on the D drive. But I am using XP. What version of Windows are you running? That could be the difference.

Richard

I still have the problem with inverted translucency maps in 3DC 5.0.6; I make a *.bmp file from the mask and load it into 3DC. Only small tga files load their translucency map correctly.

I now seem to be getting an odd problem with texturing - when I select faces, the texturing flicks to an odd view of the transparency map applied in cylindrical wrap all over the object. Then it flicks back.

I will try and send you a screenshot of this strange effect Richard, as sometimes it happens slightly more permanently when using the scene navigator.

I am using 5.0.5

JonG

Thanks. I have seen that with TGA files multiple layers of translucency can look odd and flicker when moving. But other than that I haven't seen any problems on my end.

Richard