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How to create 'Alpha Channels' in photoshop
by Random Monkey
Ok... Creating an alpha channel for a picture is really easy. However, if you dont know what to click to do it, it is one of the most baffling things ever. So here is my really simple way of doing it :). Alpha channels are used in carmageddon 2 for creating the see-through bits such as the windows. Heres how its done...
1) Open the image that you want to apply the transparency to....
 
2) you should now have the picture in the centre of your screen ... (maximise) ... Now you need to apply the alpha layer. Now look to your right and you should have a box like the one below.
Make sure that you have Channels selected ... then you may click the button indicated by the red arrow at the bottom of the pic above...
3) This will cover the whole of your picture with black ... dont worry ... all is not lost. This has created an alpha layer. To get back to the main picture you can click on the RGB picture (indicated below the channels tab on the above picture). And to return to the alpha layer click the alpha picture in the same box.
4) Having a black area to work on. You may now use shades ranging from black to white depending on the transparency you wish to achieve. Black is fully transparent and may be used on things such as bits on images which you do not wish to be seen. Greys are best used for windows. Using different shades of greys gives a different effect on the object you are working. White is opaque. White can be used on an area of a tif which you want to be left seen. It is also used in the menu images.
5) When you have finished doing the transparent sections ... you will want to save the image. Carmageddon uses tifs ... so we shall need to save as a tif for the image to work.
When you have clicked 'Save As...' a new window will open. In here type the name of what you want to save as ... and then below it click down to save as a tif.
That is it! it's now ready to be used in game and *should* work hehe :). If you have any problems, comments or think that I have missed something out which may be of help... then email me and I will be glad to help.
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