Difference between revisions of "AlphaChannel"

From polycount
Jump to: navigation, search
m
m (→‎Tools)
 
(7 intermediate revisions by 3 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
−
__NOTOC__
+
An optional channel of image date in a texture file that can be used as a [[Transparency map]], [[Height map]], [[:Category:Specular map|specular map]], etc.
−
= Alpha Channel =
+
  
−
An optional channel in the texture file that usually defines the [[TransparencyMap|transparency]] of the texture’s [[Pixel|pixels]].  
+
The alpha channel is usually 8 bits per pixel (256 colors), though certain file formats support different [[Transparency#Alpha_Bit_Depths|bit depths]].
  
−
It can also be used for other things like a [[HeightMap|height map]] or grey-scale [[Category:SpecularMap|specular map]].  
+
See also [[ChannelPacking]], [[MultiTexture]].
  
−
The alpha is usually anywhere from 1bit up to 8bits, depending on the amount of detail you need. Generally, the lower the [[BitDepth|bit depth]] you use, the more [[Memory|memory]] you save, but the less image quality you get. See [[Transparency map]] for more information, and some visual examples can be found on the Glossary page [[Transparency#Alpha_Bit_Depths]].
+
== Tools ==
−
 
+
* [http://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/using/channel-basics.html Photoshop alpha channels]
−
Different image channels can be extracted by a [[Category:Shaders|shader]] to use them for particular effects, like alpha for physics info, red channel for glow and green channel for specular and blue channel for sound types, etc. In this way, a bitmap can store more information than just RGB color.
+
* [http://docs.gimp.org/en/gimp-channel-dialog.html Gimp alpha channels]
 +
* [http://polycount.com/discussion/148082 Channel Shuffle]
  
 
----
 
----
 
[[Category:Glossary]]
 
[[Category:Glossary]]

Latest revision as of 06:20, 3 November 2015

An optional channel of image date in a texture file that can be used as a Transparency map, Height map, specular map, etc.

The alpha channel is usually 8 bits per pixel (256 colors), though certain file formats support different bit depths.

See also ChannelPacking, MultiTexture.

Tools

Retrieved from "http://wiki.polycount.com/w/index.php?title=AlphaChannel&oldid=6943"
Personal tools
Namespaces

Variants
Actions
Navigation
Tools