How do i set which color is transparent in a sprite sheet?

[Kazzie]

Every time i edit a sprite sheet to my liking, the transparent color changes to black or something on it's own, which is really annoying. How do i change it back?

[isuckatthinkingupusernames]

If your just moving the files to the resource folders or editing them while in the folders: don't do that. Instead, load the files through the resource manager in the program itself, and a window should show up where you can select which color acts as the transparent color. This got me the first time I used the program too. ;)

[Kazzie]

Originally posted by isuckatthinkingupusernames:

If your just moving the files to the resource folders or editing them while in the folders: don't do that. Instead, load the files through the resource manager in the program itself, and a window should show up where you can select which color acts as the transparent color. This got me the first time I used the program too. ;)

Do you mind telling me specifically how to do that?

[isuckatthinkingupusernames]

In RPGM2003 under the tools tab (or in the bar underneath) you should find the resource manager. When in the resouce manager, you should select the type of resource you would like to import, then select the "import" button. After that, select the resource file (which shouldn't be in any the games resource folders) then you select which color you would like to be transparent. The file should then be coppied to the game's resource folders and the color selected made the image's transparent color (but only in the game/editor).

[Kazzie]

Okay, thanks.

[BlueCorvid]

It uses the first indexed color as the default transparency if you don't set one by importing. (If you do import, that's the color that's automatically selected.)

How you'd go about setting that would depend on what program you're using to do the edits. I use GraphicsGale to do pixel art, and with that it's as simple as using the first color on the palette (at the top left) for the transparent parts.

[CherryDT]

You can edit the file in-place, but you have to make sure the graphic program you use sets the transparent color correctly (it's the one with index 0, i.e. the first color in the plaette, as BlueCorvid said). You can also just re-import the file after saving. It is possible to "import" the file from the resource folder itself. It's then just overwritten by itself but with the correct transparency set.

IrfanView can also be configured to let you select the transparent color when saving.