Transparency
We support Compound transparency, up to 4 planes. We start to experience z-sorting issues past that. With how Clo files are constructed this equates to 2 sheets of fabric.
We support Images with and without explicit alpha maps.
Supported Formats
- .png
- .tiff
- .tga (32-bit)
and / or
- Using the opacity slider of the material
Make sure that if you plan on using transparency with an image without an explicit Alpha map that you change the Opacity of the material to something other than 100%.
Here is example of an image with an explicit alpha map as seen in Photoshop.
As you can see the Image has 4 channels: R G B and A.
R – Red
G – Green
B – Blue
A – Alpha
(you can find this section to the right of the layers tab in a default PS configuration)
Note photoshop does not allow you to save out a .png with an Explicit Alpha channel
Here is an example of a texture without an explicit alpha map but with Transparency as seen in Photoshop in the example below we see a texture with a lot of transparency which is why it appears like a blank image.
Note images that have Transparency without an explicit normal may appear like opaque textures when viewed using Windows photos or Windows preview. Below is the same texture just viewed using Windows Photo.
Some textures without an explicit alpha map but with Transparency may appear Opaque in Photoshop.
The best way to check is by applying a “Stroke” Layer effect to the layer.
This can be done by right clicking on the layer, Select Blending properties
Enable Stroke
Here are the settings I use to help troubleshoot textures.
Here is an example of an image that appears to be Opaque but is actually Transparent.
Here what a truly opaque texture looks like when you apply the stroke effect.
An easy way to fix a texture with unwanted transparency would be to apply a color layer behind the image layer as shown below.
Under your Layers tab click the “create new fill or adjustment layer” button.
Select “Solid color”
A window will appear select a temporary color, click OK.
Move the color fill layer under the texture layer by clicking and dragging it.
You can now edit the color of the fill layer and see its effect on the transparent texture. After you have adjusted the color to taste we are now ready to save as a .png. For the smallest file size we recommend selecting “Smallest file size (Slowest saving)” the PNG Format Options dialog box appears
