Applying Alpha Channel TUTORIAL

This will be taking the sprite sheet you made from the first tutorial and learning how to apply an alpha channel to it. Now what you need to know about alpha channels is it is a fourth color channel. You already know about RBG but theres one more so it's like this RBGA. In alpha channels white is opaque and black is fully transparent. In between like a grey would be a half and half like if you wanted to make a ball that was colored but see through.

STEP 1: Open graphicsgale. Click file and open. And open your saved spritesheet.png image.

 {Helpful Hint} - Your most recent projects are saved under the FILE contents for faster acquiring. Click on FILE and look at the very bottom of it's contents your spritesheet...whatever you named it...should be down there.

STEP 2: When you open it up it will be it's normal size 100%, click on the MAGNIFICATION button and set it to 500% just so you can see it better.

STEP 3: Click on IMAGE at the top.

STEP 4: Click on MAKE ALPHA CHANNEL and it will bring this up. Just click OK.

STEP 5: Click on IMAGE at the top again...Then click on INVERT ALPHA CHANNEL. This will make your whole image white but don't worry it's meant to be.

STEP 6: Click on the FLOOD FILL button.

STEP 7: Click on VIEW at the top beside of IMAGE and click on PALETTE. This will open your color palette. Now make sure you color is on black if it's not just click on the black square at the very top left.

STEP 8: Click somewhere on the image where there wouldn't be an object like the apple and it should look like this.

STEP 9: Click on IMAGE at the top and click INVERT ALPHA CHANNEL once again. Now go to FILE and SAVE AS. This will pull up the save properties. Near the bottom right there will be a WITH ALPHA CHANNEL option, check the checkbox and then save. And SHAZAM your spritesheet has alpha channel and is ready for a game as it is. :)