Submitting a request for a transparent background faction icon

Abominus - Sanctuary
Abominus - Sanctuary Posts: 57 Arc User
edited October 2010 in The Fanatics Forum
Hello all. I submitted a request for a custom faction icon, but could not get the background transparent, and I received a reply today from the powers-that-be. I'm not sure of the other ways involved in making the background transparent using the BMP format, but because they suggested it, I'll take this as the "official" way to do it. It also has a bit more detail in how to submit them:

1)Submitter must be the guild leader.
2)Submitter must send in a screenshot of your guilds roster showing that the guild is a level 3 faction.
3)The image must be sent in as a 24 bit BMP format and must be 16*16 pixels with a RGB color mode.
4)If you would like it as a transparent back ground please make sure your Alpha Channel (Transparency Control Channel) is correct.
* add an Alpha-channel to your image (using Layer > Transparency > Add Alpha Channel)
* select the Eraser-tool Eraser Tool and erase what you'd like to get rid of or use the magic wand.

Hopefully this will help those of you who didn't know how to make the backgrounds transparent (like me, haha).
Post edited by Abominus - Sanctuary on

Comments

  • ElonaFiorna - Sanctuary
    ElonaFiorna - Sanctuary Posts: 181 Arc User
    edited January 2010
    Wow, thanks! I didn't realize the transparent background was going to be an issue. This will help tons when I submit our logo. b:thanks
    IceJazmin - Heavens Tear - "I am happy to agree to disagree :P"

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  • XanZerstorer - Dreamweaver
    XanZerstorer - Dreamweaver Posts: 505 Arc User
    edited January 2010
    Abominus - Sanctuary wrote: »
    Hello all. I submitted a request for a custom faction icon, but could not get the background transparent, and I received a reply today from the powers-that-be. I'm not sure of the other ways involved in making the background transparent using the BMP format, but because they suggested it, I'll take this as the "official" way to do it. It also has a bit more detail in how to submit them:

    1)Submitter must be the guild leader.
    2)Submitter must send in a screenshot of your guilds roster showing that the guild is a level 3 faction.
    3)The image must be sent in as a 24 bit BMP format and must be 16*16 pixels with a RGB color mode.
    4)If you would like it as a transparent back ground please make sure your Alpha Channel (Transparency Control Channel) is correct.
    * add an Alpha-channel to your image (using Layer > Transparency > Add Alpha Channel)
    * select the Eraser-tool Eraser Tool and erase what you'd like to get rid of or use the magic wand.

    Hopefully this will help those of you who didn't know how to make the backgrounds transparent (like me, haha).

    Aaaah thanks for the info. I'mma get crackin' on my faction's icon with transparent background. Weirdly enough, hadn't thought of the alpha channel to make it transparent *facepalm* (plays a lot with diff. channels...)
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  • Abominus - Sanctuary
    Abominus - Sanctuary Posts: 57 Arc User
    edited January 2010
    Yes, I saw someone somewhere talk about creating masks and things like that. Per the instructions this should be relatively easy to do. I'm glad this was able to help someone. b:pleased
  • Peritia - Lost City
    Peritia - Lost City Posts: 397 Arc User
    edited January 2010
    Thanks for the confirmation of the correct/acceptable way to submit a transparency-enabled logo.

    Much appreciated.

    b:thanks
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  • eatwithspoons
    eatwithspoons Posts: 54 Arc User
    edited January 2010
    This has been posted in the "calling all guilds" thread as well b:victory
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  • Tinypony - Dreamweaver
    Tinypony - Dreamweaver Posts: 45 Arc User
    edited January 2010

    RED: 255, GREEN: 0, BLUE: 255
    which resulted in the image appearing to have a 'magenta pink' background but when posted up as an icon this magenta would disappear leaving an icon with a unique outline. Can anyone confirm that this does/not work?

    PS. I would be entirely grateful if a certain utensil would leave my question-post in working order!
    b:chuckle
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  • Illyana - Dreamweaver
    Illyana - Dreamweaver Posts: 348 Arc User
    edited January 2010
    Tinypony - Dreamweaver wrote: »

    RED: 255, GREEN: 0, BLUE: 255
    which resulted in the image appearing to have a 'magenta pink' background but when posted up as an icon this magenta would disappear leaving an icon with a unique outline. Can anyone confirm that this does/not work?

    PS. I would be entirely grateful if a certain utensil would leave my question-post in working order!
    b:chuckle
    I've wondered about this; Thanks for the heads up!
    5.0 "Pure" 8jun Sage Clawrcher of Dreamweaver
  • Zenzell - Dreamweaver
    Zenzell - Dreamweaver Posts: 289 Arc User
    edited January 2010
    If I may be a noob and ask...

    Is there any program you can do this alpha channel thing with other than photoshop? I dont mess with alpha channels etc and if I understand correctly it wont show up as transparent untill it's actually put in game; I tried transparency with my icon and failed horribly, and I tried to follow various tutorials etc.

    Can some one link me to a reliable program/tutorial to do this in before I resubmit my icon so I dont have to wait another week to watch it fail?

    I have gimp if that counts for anything, but I dont use it much other than with the eraser tool and for picture cleanup
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  • Jekk - Sanctuary
    Jekk - Sanctuary Posts: 71 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    Yes please do tell what program to use for this so called alpha channel. I need to go into graphic design...I hate not knowing what I'm doing with computers.
  • Fin - Dreamweaver
    Fin - Dreamweaver Posts: 18 Arc User
    edited March 2010
    i don't get it. making the alpha channel isn't the problem it's saving it! Everytime i try to save the picture as 24bit bmp i lose the alpha channel! i used Gimp and PS CS2
    does 24bit bmp support the alpha channel?
    Is the right format 32 bit? 24bit rgb + 8 bit alpha? that would make me able to save the alpha channel... b:surrender
  • Santacruz - Heavens Tear
    Santacruz - Heavens Tear Posts: 1,776 Arc User
    edited March 2010
    ive had no luck either =\

    heres as far as i got

    http://pwi-forum.perfectworld.com/showthread.php?t=654602
  • Thelas_Carr - Sanctuary
    Thelas_Carr - Sanctuary Posts: 448 Arc User
    edited March 2010
    Tinypony - Dreamweaver wrote: »

    RED: 255, GREEN: 0, BLUE: 255
    which resulted in the image appearing to have a 'magenta pink' background but when posted up as an icon this magenta would disappear leaving an icon with a unique outline. Can anyone confirm that this does/not work?

    PS. I would be entirely grateful if a certain utensil would leave my question-post in working order!
    b:chuckle
    Just to confirm this... Neon Pink does NOT work to make the background transparent (see the Siege icon below).

    Not_Hot_Pink.jpg

    Based on the first post by Abominus, you need a 32-bit BMP that has 24-bits allocated for Red, Green, and Blue channels, and another 8-bits allocated for an Alpha channel which is the transparency mask (see the logo below which has not gone live on a server yet; still pending a ticket action).

    BMP32_Channels.jpg
  • Boojangles - Lost City
    Boojangles - Lost City Posts: 153 Arc User
    edited March 2010
    yea i think it has to be 32 bit. im also curious why the alpha chan is turned off every time i open the picture even tho i save it on. Hopefully this isnt a problem. Last question if any gm can tell me when we will be able to re submit our faction icons :).


    i have some of my designs here let me know what u guys think

    http://s587.photobucket.com/albums/ss317/RedHawkPure/logo%20stuff/?action=view&current=test2.jpg
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  • HoVulpes - Sanctuary
    HoVulpes - Sanctuary Posts: 61 Arc User
    edited April 2010
    AAA i donno -.-

    it doesnt let me save as an BMP format WITH transparency. :<
    using Gimp2.

    Made Alpha channel and all. made .ico file of it (it is transparent as an icon). everyhting BUT bmp works :< could anyone plz tell how to do it step by step? :\

    GIMP says: u cant save as bmp with alpha channel
  • _Mango - Archosaur
    _Mango - Archosaur Posts: 67 Arc User
    edited October 2010
    If you guys have issues please use this tutorial to get transparent backgrounds.

    http://www.axialis.com/tutorials/tutorial-misc001.html
  • Almuro - Harshlands
    Almuro - Harshlands Posts: 5 Arc User
    edited October 2010
    I just made a post explaining how to make a transparent faction tag, you can read it here:

    HOWTO: Make a transparent faction icon
  • grimreaperhc
    grimreaperhc Posts: 0 Arc User
    edited October 2010
    Thank you Mango and Almuro, but please don't necro threads.
    Closed.
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