Transparent color

[gubment_cheez]

would it be possible to have a transparent color that worked as any other normal color in PDN? (was anti-aliased, had a "transparency" value, etc)

[spike 121]

?

just change the alpha value? in the color thing? press more?

maybe? i really dont know... :?

[gubment_cheez]

no, that simply adjusts the transparency of whatever color you're painting with. I'm talking about a "color" that has no color, just alpha.

in this example, I'll be using white.

in PDN's default state, when you make a line, it has an anti-aliasing to it (you can see through the edges pixels on the edge of the line).

when you go into colors -> more >>, you can adjust the transparency of the color, so when you draw the line, the entire line is see-through, not just the edges (for example, if you have a black background, and a transparency level of 128, you get a grey, rgb(127,127,127) line). you can adjust the transparency so the line is completely transparent, and very little to none of the white is added. however, this doesn't provide what I'm asking for.... I guess, a more better way of saying it would be calling it an eraser color, like the way the current eraser works. however the eraser isn't good for making smooth curves, which is what the color would be for

[pyrochild]

toggle Normal Blending ( :NormalBlending: ) to Overwrite ( :OverwriteBlending: )

[gubment_cheez]

that simply blocks out the underlying color, leaving a jagged line/curve, which is what the anti-aliasing is supposed to prevent (a thinner jagged line is left when the anti-aliasing is turned off)

[BoltBait]

Use the eraser tool. That's exactly what it does.

You could use the feather plugin if the edges are too harsh.

[pyrochild]

You can also draw your lines that you want to erase on a new image in black and white, then use the Alpha Mask Import plugin to use that as the alpha channel on your image.

[gubment_cheez]

gruh.. since people only seem to read the last post, here's everything summed up

a color that was solely transparent (a null RGB component, or whatever is used to signify no color data) that is usable in the line tool, since I have two left hands, and hardly ever use the pencil, paintrbrush, or eraser, unless I'm trying to modify a very large, or very small amount of image. and I never use the eraser, or the paint brush to make a curve, since I simply can't. it turns into something a 5 year old would draw, which is not nice, let me tell you. I'll take a look at those two plugins suggested, and post results, probably in a different thread in the appropriate forum

[Rick Brewster]

I don't understand what you are asking for. Do you have a screenshot or example .PNG that shows what results you are trying to get?

Adjusting the alpha of the color has different meanings depending on if you are using Normal vs. Overwrite blending mode.

Because of the way color+alpha works, any color with an alpha value of 0 is mathematically equivalent to any other color value with an alpha values of zero. At least for rendering purposes anyway. (Think about it like this: if a "color" is fully transparent, then it is equivalent to all other fully transparent colors.)

[gubment_cheez]

ok, let me set out an example. take a red line, and lay it over a black background. if it's antialiased, the red at the edges of the line will ramp down to black, to make a smooth transition. if you make the red color transparent, then you get less red, and more black, if you make the red completely transparent, you get no red, and all black.

if you replace red with transparent, you get what I'm talking about

[david.atwell]

I think that something with Alpha=0 on Overwrite mode is what you want. It works exactly like the eraser tool, but you can use it with lines and curves.

[Ash]

I think that something with Alpha=0 on Overwrite mode is what you want. It works exactly like the eraser tool, but you can use it with lines and curves.

Using that setting and line tools have no AA. I think thta's what gubment_cheez doesn't want?

[Rick Brewster]

No, they do have AA but the blending mode (overwrite) just makes it look like they don't.

[Ash]

No, they do have AA but the blending mode (overwrite) just makes it look like they don't.

I notice that.

But if users can't see it (due to overwrite) 99% of them will just think it's not AAed

I think what gubment_cheez want would be possible if eraser tool have an option that act like line tool.

Linetool with AA

[gubment_cheez]

Yes, ash's post is what I'd like. The current antialias/transparency implementation follows these rules

1. 
   [*:19agg5jk]If color is used, antialiasing is enabled, blending is normal:
   Line will be antialiased into the background
   [*:19agg5jk]If full transparency is used, antialiasing is enabled, blending is normal:
   No line is visible.
   -Transparent color will have transparency antialiased into the background.
   [*:19agg5jk]If color is used, antialiasing is enabled, blending is overwrite:
   Line will be antialiased into transparent (overwrites whatever is in the current layer).
   [*:19agg5jk]Full transparency, antialiasing is enabled, blending is overwrite:
   Completely transparent line that is +2|+4 pixels larger than the current line weight.
   -Transparent color will have antialiasing that overwrites the current layer (antialiasing into the layer below). [!!] looking at the feature requests for this indicates it will not be possible at this time (would require layer replumbing).
   [*:19agg5jk]If color is used, antialiasing is disabled, blending is normal:
   line will not be antialiased.
   [*:19agg5jk]Full transparency, antialiasing is disabled, blending is normal:
   Same as B (no visible line).
   -Line is completely transparent, with the same weight as the setting.
   [*:19agg5jk]If color is used, antialiasing is disabled, blending is overwrite:
   Line will not be antialiased.
   [*:19agg5jk]Full transparency, antialiasing disabled, blending is overwrite:
   Line is completely transparent, with the same weight as the setting (expected results)

note: full transparency and transparent color are, in theory, the same things. while antialiasing is a subset of FT/TC

it's 6:13 in the morning, I think I'm beginning to confuse myself, so I think I'll post this and try to sleep. if anything is muddy or unclear

[david.atwell]

Alpha mask is probably what you want as a workaround, then. I'd like to second the feature request. :-)

[Ash]

Alpha mask is probably what you want as a workaround, then. I'd like to second the feature request. :-)

This is the only way around it for now, unless you do what I do sometimes.....Use eraser nice and slow.