Alpha channel on "viewport" vs. "Render view"

rybeck

This could be hardware issue (my Vid card is Nvidia 7950 GT OC), but trying to clear new issue I am facing.

I was doing a mini practice on "alpha channel," and everything was going good until I loaded all in Max... Displaying alpha on viewport looks Not alright..
(1) targa file (I got custom transparency BG.. don't get suprise over it~)


(2) Max views ("Perspective Viewport" vs. "Render view")



In order to double check possible missing link, I visited each pref sections (Preferences, viewport configuration, and tried both OpenGL / Direct X option) but nothing seems related with this issue.
Well, at least I can see the alpha channel is working via Render view, but it will be better if I can examine on viewport.

Thanks a lot folks,

Just having 4th fresh cup of coffee of the day...

Guriamo

did you check if you had the material turned on in the mat editor and not just the color map?

NeoShroomish

What happens if you turn on the dx view in the material?

Mark Dygert

Like Guriamo said you need to turn on the mask submaterial the same way you turn on the defuse.

Eric Chadwick

Rules I've learned to check...
<ul type="square">[*]Same bitmap has to be in Diffuse and Opacity.
[*]Opacity bitmap has to set Mono Channel Output = Alpha.
[*]Show Map In Viewport has to be on at the material level.
[*]Viewport Config > Rendering Method > Transparency = Best.
[*]Can't see transparency if using Shade Selected instead of Smooth & Highlights.
[/list]

rybeck

@ Guriamo and Viq,

Found out what I was doing wrong, i think.
I had two bitmaps applied on the matrial for the plane;
One for RGB (on Diffuse slot), and the other for Alpha (on Opacity slot).
Once I applied both, I think I turned on 'Show map in Viewport' button on "Opacity layer" which turned 'Show map in viewport' button "OFF" on Root ('Standard Material' whihc was top level layer)


@ NeoShroomish,

Both OpenGL and DirectX generated same result on this issue on me...


@ EricChadwick,

Great list to keep~ Thank you!




Wished I can show pics, but imageshack is down for maintainance...

Thanks guys...

Rick Stirling

[ QUOTE ]
Rules I've learned to check...
<ul type="square">[*]Same bitmap has to be in Diffuse and Opacity.
[*]Opacity bitmap has to set Mono Channel Output = Alpha.
[*]Show Map In Viewport has to be on at the material level.
[*]Viewport Config > Rendering Method > Transparency = Best.
[*]Can't see transparency if using Shade Selected instead of Smooth & Highlights.
[/list]

[/ QUOTE ]


Hmm...perfect for a script, eh?

Eric Chadwick

Go for it!

Ghostscape

Finally it should be noted that Max cuts off 1 pixels worth of the alpha channel in the viewport with tga files and makes it pure black, which is very frustrating when you're trying to figure out why your tiling alphas aren't tiling

Eric Chadwick

Not just TGA, all the formats I've tried... PSD, DDS, etc.

Sage

Ghostscape and Eric, does Max cut off the one pixel at render times as well or just the viewport display?

Alex

Eric Chadwick

Just in the viewport.