Why can't I import my .cwk images?

animata tomata · Post by **animata tomata** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 3:34 am

it works . thank you nolan.

animata tomata · Post by **animata tomata** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 3:43 am

uh, sorta

animata tomata · Post by **animata tomata** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 3:45 am

the only see-through part is the middle of the leg, which is dark blue. The white background i want transparent isn't. what did i do wrong?

(p.s. im sorry if i'm asking alot of questions, but buying this program cost me two or three week's pay and i want to make sure i know how to use it.

Nolan Scott · Post by **Nolan Scott** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 4:44 am

Well, it seems to be that Appleworks is not able to save the alpha-channel.
Sorry about that.

If you like to do more “photo-cut-out-style” animation,
then it might be worthwhile thinking about using at least “Photoshop-Elements”.

If I find another solution I will let you know.

Cheers
Nolan

heyvern · Post by **heyvern** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 4:44 am

You got me.

From what you have been describing... it isn't Moho... it is what you are using to make the PNG files.

If the leg is transparent and the back ground isn't... the alpha is... reversed. Maybe Appleworks is doing that for some reason.

I think the problem is the PNG files. You get those working correctly Moho will display them correctly.

Can you post them here? We could check to see what the heck Appleworks is doing to your PNG export.

You may want to try out The Gimp. This is a free, open source image editing application nearly as powerful as Photoshop (some would say "as powerful" but it doesn't do CMYK).

It handles masking and alpha channels for creating PNGs with transparency and runs on every platform imaginable.

-vern

heyvern · Post by **heyvern** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 4:47 am

Link for the gimp:

http://www.gimp.org/macintosh/

-vern

animata tomata · Post by **animata tomata** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 5:30 am

cool. thanks alot guys for your support. i would have no idea how to display my inverted leg, but only part of the leg is see-through. there is one streak running down the middle, but the sides are solid as stone. maybe it is appleworks. I ripped from a powerPC mac and put it on my intel-based mac, so maybe thats the problem.
thanks again for your support!

animata tomata · Post by **animata tomata** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 3:32 am

ok check this out. this is wierd.

Nolan Scott · Post by **Nolan Scott** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 4:30 am

Have you drawn your image entirely in Appleworks ?
Or did you import that image from somewhere else ?

If you draw that image entirely in Appleworks but Appleworks cant export
with alpha-channel I presume you have do use another software.

You can still draw your image in Appleworks but you have to export this image
either into “The Gimp”, “Photoshop” or Photoshop Elements” to get rid
of the white background.

Why your image gets transparent in certain spots I really don’t know.
You might have to post the image that someone can have a look at it.

Cheers
Nolan

heyvern · Post by **heyvern** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 6:03 am

I am really sorry but this has gone off into "Non-Moho" territory.

------------------------------------

Your problem is not being caused by Moho. Moho doesn't "convert" images. It merely reads the file format and displays the image.

Images are not stored inside Moho... they are "linked" to the Moho file with a path just like an image displayed in a web page...

I think we have determined that Appleworks doesn't handle PNG export...

A few things you could do...

1. You need to find another PNG creation tool.
2. You need to post the PNG here for us to see.

Here is a bit of knowledge...

No program can "magically" create Invisible Backgrounds™

Transparent backgrounds do not just spontaneously exist. They have to be intentionally created either by the application used to create the artwork (a shape drawn on a layer with a transparent background)... or they must be created by YOU the person who needs them (paint a mask or create an alpha channel around a shape on an existing image).

An image with a "white" background... doesn't mean diddly squat. That white background could be a picture of the grand canyon... or a dog in the park.

The white is still just pixels that need to be removed using an alpha mask in the PNG file. The PNG needs to be: 24 bit with an 8 bit alpha... a 32 bit PNG.

You could use a paint program to select the white pixels and create a mask... using say a magic wand tool. You would still have a fringe of white pixels and probably be back asking how to remove white fringes. That is whole other topic.

---------------

I would wager those areas are NOT random. Most likely those areas are totally black... or likely the darkest areas of the image.

Most likely Appleworks is creating the alpha for that PNG based on the black pixels of the image since it doesn't have an alpha to save with the image... that is why those areas are transparent.

You tell Appleworks you want a 32 bit PNG... but it has no alpha channel info... most programs do... nothing... Appleworks may be trying to "make one up".

[EDIT] I just realized we don't know if this IS a 24 bit PNG or an 8 bit PNG. We need to see the actual image to know what is up.

-Vern