Losing alpha when converting from .tga to .ace

I have been working with Don Crano quite a bit on this, but I just can't seem to get it to work. I just don't understand what is happening here. I have a 32-bit, uncompressed TGA with alpha channel, but MakeAce and MakeAceWin both output a 24-bit ACE that lacks any sort of alpha channel. I've tried using both PSP5 and PSP8.1 Eval for doing my re-skin. All I want to do is change the color of the nose and handrails of the cab. I haven't touched the alpha channel at all. Here is what I have done:1. Used TGATools2 to convert the ACE into a TGA.
2. Used PSP5 or PSP8.1 Eval to re-color the nose and handrails and then saved (as uncompressed 32-bit TGA).
3. Used MakeAce or MakeAceWin (I've tried both) to convert the TGA back into an ACE.Every single time the alpha channel is lost. One funny thing I noticed was that the alpha channel from a TGA saved in PSP8.1 shows up funny (aka not correctly) in TGATools2. If I use TGATools2 to convert the TGA to an ACE, I get no alpha channel (not even trans), but if I use PSP5 for the TGA and convert with TGATools2, I get an ACE that is 24-bit + trans. BTW, I am running WinXP Home on an AMD XP2100+ with 512MB DDR and an ATI Radeon 9800 Pro.I don't have internet at home, and I can't send/receive (through email) zip files at work (new policy after the last virus attacks), so if someone has a large in-box and wouldn't mind taking a look at a couple of TGAs (4MB each), please let me know. Thanks.Shawn

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RE: Losing alpha when converting from .tga to .ace, yellowdog, Mar-11-04, 06:12 PM, (1) RE: Losing alpha when converting from .tga to .ace, shawnbecher, Mar-12-04, 09:09 AM, (2) RE: Losing alpha when converting from .tga to .ace, shawnbecher, Mar-13-04, 08:21 PM, (3) RE: Losing alpha when converting from .tga to .ace, yellowdog, Mar-13-04, 08:56 PM, (4) RE: Losing alpha when converting from .tga to .ace, shawnbecher, Mar-15-04, 09:10 AM, (6) RE: Losing alpha when converting from .tga to .ace, dcrano, Mar-14-04, 00:38 AM, (5) RE: Losing alpha when converting from .tga to .ace, yellowdog, Mar-16-04, 08:53 AM, (7) RE: Losing alpha when converting from .tga to .ace, shawnbecher, Mar-16-04, 09:06 AM, (8)

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Ya got a PM.

Clayton

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You've got mail Thanks.Shawn

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I ran some tests last night. I did a basic 512x512 box with a square alpha channel in the middle. I did this with both PSP5 and PSP8.1. TGATool2 could see the alpha channels in both, but the one from the PSP8.1 image did not look correct. Both MakeAce and MakeAceWin created ACE files that lacked alpha channels. However, using TGATool2 created the proper ACE with alpha channel with the PSP5 image, but not with the PSP8.1 image (at that point I decided that PSP8.1 was flawed and wouldn't fit the bill for this).Now how is that possible? I thought that TGATool2 used MakeAce to make the ACE files. If I can't get it to work manually, what is TGATool2 doing differently that is allowing it to work?? If I knew what it was doing differently, I'd be able to get my cabview to work....This is so frustrating. I've read the tech docs and a couple of tutorials (and followed them to the letter with the same result every time). If anyone has any ideas, I'm all ears. Thanks.Shawn

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Have you got the updated MakeAce and MakeAceWin files from the MS update? Check the appropriate boxes in MakeAceWin and select the updated MakeAce in TGATool2 (see pic below). Other than that, I have no idea. I use PhotoShop. How did the .ace file I sent you turn out?

Clayton

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http://www.train-sim.com/dcforum/User_files/4053bb9907b760b2.jpg

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I'm almost positive I have the updated versions of both MakeAce and MakeAceWin. I have downloaded the 1.2 update and the tools update. Could someone supply with a date/time stamp for the EXEs and a version number if possible? Thanks.Shawn

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Shawn,Based on the files you sent, it appears the problem is with your eval copy of PSP8. I have sent them back to you in ACE format and they looked ok here. What I had to do was load them in to PSP7, then just did a save, same TGAs just loaded and saved back. Seems to have corrected what ever the bug is in PSP8 as far as saving the alpha channel. Used MakeWinAce, and all was fine.See if you can get your hands on a copy of PSP7!Don

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Shawn, check this thread for a possible solution:
http://www.train-sim.com/dcforum/DCForumID8/5555.html

Clayton

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Thanks Clayton. I had seen something about that, but in my case it doesn't matter as I was using the eval version of PSP 8.1. I can't really justify buying a new paint program right now as PSP 5 does everything else I need it to.Shawn

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