A noob's question about maps

Sky Hndx

I downloaded a model that came with TGA files for Diffuse, Normal and Specular maps. My question is which of the three would be used for transparency and where do you place it? From what little I do know, you can apply a transparency (black and white) map to the Opacity Strength in the surfaces tab, but which of the three create the same effect? The model is a plant and came in two versions, obj and fbx. I began wondering which of the three maps make the sharp corners of the leaves disappear and look like actual leaves. (..the preview pic that came with it shows the plant in all its leafy glory without the corners and a side pic of just the three maps so I wondered, ok, how do I make that happen with these.)

I have a basic understanding of each and how they work I just didn’t know one of them could also serve as a transparency map, or do they? Readme files that come with some models can be very brief and pretty much just say, “Here” and that’s about it.

frank0314

None of them. You will need to create your own transparency map. Specular is a black and white but it only shows highlights. If you try using it as a transmap it will make a lot of it transparent. Making one isn't hard. What are tga files. Never dealt with them before

prixat

Does the diffuse have the shape of the leaf on it?

If it does, you can take that into a paint program and create a mask from that.

SpottedKitty

The .tga file for Diffuse might have an alpha channel included, which will act as a built-in transparency mask in the same way as a .png can — no separate Opacity map needed. Do you have a paint program (Photoshop, PaintShopPro, GIMP, etc.) that can open the .tga and let you see if there is an alpha channel?

Chohole

You may find this helpful

http://voices.yahoo.com/using-transparency-photoshop-png-vs-tga-3493255.html

Sky Hndx

chohole said:

You may find this helpful

http://voices.yahoo.com/using-transparency-photoshop-png-vs-tga-3493255.html

Ooooooh, theeeere it is! I opened the diffuse.tga file in photoshop and found the alpha file which had the transparency map. The preview pic did say "alpha channel included" but that went high over my head. :red:

Thanks so much everyone! :-)

I used a similar model with tga maps for the leaves in the background of this render based on a 1962 novel "The Jewels of Aptor. Now that I know how to use it I'll feel more confident about moving it closer to the foreground.