importing icon - what is alpha channel ?

[Yamuraiha]

What is alpha channels ?
I read about importing icon and they say :
"You can use either TGA or BLP format.
After the editor compresses your map file, they are almost the same file size for both formats. Please note:

• If using TGA format, DO NOT save alpha channels.
• If converting to BLP format, DO save alpha channels."

And my files are TGA anyway. Tks for help
Ignoring those instructions will result in bogus icons that do not work.lt in bogus icons that do not work.

 

[Marvic June B. Corpuz]

What is alpha channels ?
I read about importing icon and they say :
"You can use either TGA or BLP format.
After the editor compresses your map file, they are almost the same file size for both formats. Please note:

• If using TGA format, DO NOT save alpha channels.
• If converting to BLP format, DO save alpha channels."

And my files are TGA anyway. Tks for help

Ignoring those instructions will result in bogus icons that do not work.lt in bogus icons that do not work.

Lol.. The answer of your question is all over the net... Try to use google...
Regarding the use of TGA and BLP files... BLP files are the format use by WC3 as icons for heros, abilties, etc. TGA is best used for loading screen.. ["Hives" Correct me if I'm wrong...] Just follow the steps in creating icons so you won't have problem later if you use your icons...

 

[Yamuraiha]

oh tks ~~ I was thinking it's somethink connected to WE. And I read those information on World Editor Tutorials, which mean you were wrong. hee hee

 

[Marvic June B. Corpuz]

Hahaha....

 

[PurgeandFire]

Alpha channels determine the visibility/transparency of certain areas. If that part of the texture is "alpha'd out", it will show as transparent in the game. Take for example, this skin:
http://www.hiveworkshop.com/forums/skins-552/demonhunteresjela-61090/
Notice the shape of the weapon. That was achieved by alpha'ing out those parts of the texture.

Now, all BLP's and all TGA's should have a proper alpha channel. If it is missing, then it probably won't load properly (e.g. the model will be invisible). If you use something like BLP Lab:
http://www.hiveworkshop.com/forums/tools-560/blp-lab-v0-5-0-a-137599/
Or button manager:
http://www.hiveworkshop.com/forums/tools-560/button-manager-v1-8-2-a-116280/
Then you don't have to worry as much, because it will automatically create the alpha channel if necessary. In the end, you don't have to worry about it too much (especially for icons).