Question about images in WindowsBlinds skins

from WinCustomize Forums
I noticed that various skins have a few images in "tga" format. Is this necessary format for certain images or something?

I got some info on Photoshop Pro about the the format, and it was the only program that could open and read the image...but I'm only dabbling in skinning right now, and Photoshop consumes too much of my resources to use on the simple stuff I'm trying to do right now, so is there any smaller (free/shareware) programs that can edit tga imahes? ...or do I even need to use tga format at all?
903 views 5 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
The .tga image format allows for an alpha channel (funny, when I first typed that it came out "aloha channel", could be a good addition to cable TV ). It makes for smoother edges and better blending of images that are on top of other images. As far as I know, not all the skin elements will recognize the tga format. I believe the frame and some other parts still have to be BMPs with 'magic pink' for transparency.
Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top
You can use .bmp for any part of the skin..png can be used and SS will change them to .tga for you.The start menu still has to be .bmp.Most of the smaller elements can have alpha blending.
Ashes of the Singularity II
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top
ok, so then none of the images are required to be tga? If not then I can go back and change images after I'm ready to make a real skin
Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Yes but images turned back into .tga later wont look right because they wont have a transparency channel in the original image.This would give you a lot of jagged edges.
Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top
You can still make entire skins just using .bmp with magic pink for transparecy.Its just more difficult to get it to look right.