Converting named alpha channels to layers

I have an image file with RGB channels and around 20 other channels with names (not as alph1 ...2 etc). I want to automate the process of making smaller files from the big image by loading these channels as selection. Is there script available for this, or anybody can help me out.
Rajan

HOLY CRAP -
Indeed, I did not have that.
So I added a channel, and it automatically showed up as Alpha 1...... and my whole image turned red.
When I turned off the image channel, it went back to normal.
Am I possessed?

Similar Messages

Video Converter with Alpha Channel support

Looking for a video converter (.mov to .flv) that supports alpha channels

The APNG app is available for free in the app store, you can use it to download a video in APNG format on the iPad. You would need to make the video with an alpha channel on the desktop, but then just type of URL into the URL at the top of the app and it should download and play. There is already support in the app for changing the background color that appears behind the video.
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/apng/id447928057
If you are making a custom iOS app, then have a look at the AVAnimator library, it is what the APNG app was made with:
http://www.modejong.com/AVAnimator/

LR import with alpha channel

<Lightroom novice> Can I import a tif image with a alpha channel in it? It seems as though LR will accept the image and allow development but when I export it as tif or psd it goes out as RGB only - the alpha channel is gone. I don't really "need" to do anything with this channel in LR but I can't have it disappear either. Maybe a import/export setting issue - I hope so...

TLL... wrote:
"All file "edits" are kept in LR's catalog, which should be backed up along with the unmodified "original" files."
OK, got that too. We probably won't save this once the exported images are approved and backed up.
It sounds like you don't need LR's database tools for organizing, adding metadata, or the various Export modules. You could still use LR to expedite Development editing of the RGB image. One possible solution is to Export the LR edited RGB images full size to a separate folder with the same bit depth and colorspace as the original files. Then use a PS Script to Batch Merge the LR export image to a new layer in the original file, something similar to this one:
http://forums.adobe.com/thread/546727
This way you still have the original RGB image backed up as a layer, which can also be unselected in the merge script.
TLL... wrote:
"At a later date the Alpha Channel information can be applied "non-destructively" in PS using editing layers to "blend" the IR image data."
This is where I'm getting lost. Are you talking about stripping the 'original' alpha channel from the pre-LR image and inserting it into the LR processed RGB image via PS batch/script? That's my thinking as an one approach.
"These PS modified files can be re-opened in LR and will now show the applied Alpha channel editing layers. Make any further edits you desire in LR and use the most appropriate LR module to "tailor" the output for your specific usage."
No they won't, or do these steps involve only psd files w/alpha channels? The alpha channel (IR data) is still ignored by LR, I have no way to even just keep that information once inside LR nor can I "taylor" a way to save an image with 4 channels of color information inside LR.
I have no idea what you will be doing with the Alpha channel IR image data, but I was suggesting to convert the Alpha channel to a layer mask in PS with 'Blending.' This leaves the Alpha channel as a backup of the IR data. Here's a simulated example using a an IR layer mask I created using LR's B&W IR Develop preset:
You can use PS actions with the Batch processor and/or build scripts to do just about anything. In LR you can create Develop presets to apply adjustments across 1,000s of images with a couple of mouse clicks, but no Actions or scripting capability. Like I said, PS & LR are complimentary, but different. I'm not sure which processing methodology is best for your image "end-use" but I hope this gives you some more ideas.

Procedure for Integrating Alpha Channel when saving as .dds file

Hello,
I'll try to keep this brief but that may be tough...
One project I use Photoshop CS4 for is painting aircraft used with Microsoft Flight Simulator X (FSX). Here is some background for folks who aren't familiar with this.
Each aircraft is downloaded as a "Paint Kit". The kits look much like the "trees" that plastic aircraft model kit pieces come attached to (see picture below).
I paint and add layers onto the kit until the aircraft resembles the design I chose. The paint kit includes a background, base parts usually in white, and an assortment of layers adding physical wear, shading, lines and rivets you see on actual aircraft.
Additionally, the kit includes an RGB Alpha Channel and Specular Maps. In this application, the Alpha channel provides the reflectivity or gloss on the aircraft paint. The Specular maps provide a sheen much like the subtle reflections you see from a metal flake paint job when the sun hits it directly.
Once all painting and manipulation is complete, the kit is "cut" into specific sizes. Once the kit is cut, each section is saved as a DDS file using NVidia tools. The resulting DDS files are placed into folders within the main FSX program folder. The FSX program "assembles" the sections and processes the different layers and channels resulting in aircraft that are incredibly detailed and realistic.
My problem is I don't know how to properly integrate and preserve the Alpha channel during the "Flatten Image" and when saving the file as a dds file. As you can see in the "Layers" section in the picture, the Alpha channel is already made. I just don't know what to do with it to preserve it and ensure the reflectivity it provides is visible in the final product.
Any help is appreciated - what I need to know isn't what the alpha does, but how to properly integrate it into the final product. I've searched for this info for the last several days, but I've had no luck in finding specific information on how to do that. I believe it's one of those procedures that is so simple, everyone knows how to do it. I guess I'm the only idiot on the planet that doesn't know how... .
The paint kit can be downloaded at http://library.flight1.net/wp-content/plugins/download-monitor/download.php?id=1467 if you need it to answer my question or if you're just curious about it.
Thanks for your time and consideration.
Mark

I know nothing about Nvidia DDS file format or 3D. From you screen capture you have no Alpha Channel. You do have a normal layer named Alpha Channel with its visibility turn off. Why are you flatting ? When I use Save As and use the file type pull-down and select DDS format to save I get the Nvidia DDS save Dialog that I do not know how to use or understand the buttons options or pull-down menu items. The file instruction and its background make no does not seem to match up with the parts.
I think you have to read the documentation for the Nvidia DDS plug-in. and the normal map plug-in https://developer.nvidia.com/nvidia-texture-tools-adobe-photoshop

Need a script to make layers from alpha channels

Hello,
I author interior room scenes with Scene7 Image Authoring Tool. In my S7 image document, I have to make a lot of individual masks to define transparent regions that will, at a later point, render products, such as flooring, tiles, paint or carpet. The masks are all named descriptively, such as floor, counter, wall, etc. I then have to export the image as a Photoshop document. At this point my PS doc can have anywhere from 5-15 alpha channels.
I'd like to have a script that would do the following in PS:
1. Make a new layer for each alpha channel; for example: if there are 5 a.c., then I need 5 new layers.
2. Fill the layer with 65% gray.
3. I need each a.c. to get applied to each layer as a mask.
4. Take the name of the a.c. and apply it to the layer. example: if an a.c. is called Floor, then I need the layer to be called Floor, etc.
If anyone has an idea on how to do this, I would be grateful. Right now I have to do this manually so it would be very helpful to automate this process.

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What codec to convert .MXF and MP4 files into to use with alpha channels in Ae and Pr CS6?

When I import .mxf File, shot on a Canon C300, into after effects, the alpha channel options are greyed out, when I look in, interpret footage, main. This also is the case importing .MP4 files, shot on a Gopro hero 3. I used to use final cut and using compressor convert the files to pro res 4444 or 422. What's my new workflow for preparing files with alpha channels to use in After Effect and Premiere and do I use Media Encoder to do it?

When I import .mxf File, shot on a Canon C300, into after effects, the alpha channel options are greyed out, when I look in, interpret footage, main. This also is the case importing .MP4 files, shot on a Gopro hero 3.
Better question: Where do you expect that Alpha channel to come from and contain any useful info for transparency? You're making a fuss over a non-issue. Unless you apply keying or other methods of creating transparency, even if there were an Alpha channel it would be fully opaque and then what's the point?
Mylenium

Alpha channel data with layered format plugin

I have a layered format plugin and I am trying to write the alpha channel information separately. I have set up channelPortProcs and I am attempting to read the pixel data with readPixelsProc. The issue is that even though the readPixelsProc function doesn't return any errors the rectangle that is supposed to store the rectangle that was actually read is a 0x0 rectangle. I can't seem to find why this would be or what I might be doing wrong. Here's what I have so far:
// set up the pixel buffer
int32 bufferSize = imSize.h*imSize.v;
Ptr pixelData = sPSBuffer->New( &bufferSize, bufferSize );
if (pixelData == NULL)
     *gResult = memFullErr;
     return;
// Define the source and destination rectangles
ReadChannelDesc *alphaChannel = gFormatRecord->documentInfo->alphaChannels;
PIChannelPort port = alphaChannel->port;
PSScaling scale;
scale.sourceRect = scale.destinationRect = alphaChannel->bounds;
VRect destRect = scale.sourceRect;
// Set up the descriptor for reading pixel data
VRect wroteRect = {0};
PixelMemoryDesc dest = {0};
dest.rowBits = imSize.h*alphaChannel->depth;
dest.colBits = alphaChannel->depth;
dest.depth = alphaChannel->depth;
dest.data = pixelData;
// Put the pixel data into the buffer
*gResult = gFormatRecord->channelPortProcs->readPixelsProc(port,&scale, &destRect, &dest, &wroteRect);
if(*gResult != noErr)
     return;
The alpha channel gives me the proper name, but I just can't get the data associated with it. Thanks.

I am still trying to find a solution to this. The propChannelName is read only and the documentInfo structure is NULL when reading. Any suggestions?

Aperture, photoshop layers and Alpha channels - notes

In examining Aperture 2.0 to see if I could use it instead of Adobe bridge in my workflow (which makes intense use of Photoshop) I found that Aperture (and, apparently, OS X) cannot properly display a preview for a .psd file with either layers or an alpha channel. In some cases, the preview image is simply an error message, in others the alpha channel is displayed as black. These problems make Aperture a non-starter for me.
Searching this forum for information, solutions, and/or workarounds, I found some references, but nothing of high value. (Sorry, posters.) Started my own investigation, and discovered some things that might lead to a reasonable workaround. My notes are here:
http://homepage.mac.com/bbarlow641/webinfonotebook/
too long, I think, to put into a forum post. Sorry to link out to somewhere else, but if you're interested, it's worth a click. (Or the linked page may not have "high value" either. But it helped me to think through the problem.)
Ben

bbarlow641 wrote:
Saving the file as a layered TIFF file would preserve the layers - that might be a good idea since Aperture doesn't recognize psb files. But any "saving as" step - as a psb or as a TIFF - creates a second (large) file, so I don't think it's an ideal solution.
I don't know if that helps in your workflow, but the way I handle this is:
• import the raw file into Aperture
• open in external editor (i.e. PhotoShop; external editor format: tiff)
• edit in PhotoShop
• when saving I am asked if I want to save it as layered tiff (provided the preferences are set accordingly: File Handling / Ask before saving layered tiff files);
• here two things are to be considered:
_ the file extension used by PS is "tif", so it has to be changed to "tiff"
_ on my MacBook Pro the Save As-dialog opens showing the correct file location (i.e., the correct subfolder inside the Aperture library), on my Mac Pro the initial location is somewhere else (remembered from the last saving procedure); I have to work around this by first command-clicking in the image window's title bar to open the edited file's location in the Finder, so that I can then drag it onto the Save As-dialog. This is actually slightly annoying, but I did not find out the reason so far.
• Aperture automatically refreshes the saved file.
This way I end up with just this one extra file. The whole procedure would be a bit simpler using referenced files instead of storing them in the library.
My settings in PS do have the "Maximize Compatibility" option set (in the notebooked example, it's set to "ask", normally it's set to "always"). I'm using CS2. Maybe this setting works in CS3 to create the composite? I've heard several people here say that same thing, but it definitely doesn't do it for me...
For me this works, and as far as I remember also worked in CS2; do you see a difference in file size between files saved both ways? How does Preview.app display the file saved with "Maximize Compatibility"?
Since my first post, I've been trying to figure out how to add a PS action that would run an Applescript to tell GraphicConverter to open and close a file, creating a preview. But it seems that while an Applescript can trigger a Postscript action, the reverse (having a Postscript action trigger an Applescript) is not possible.
Might something like a hot folder with an automator scripts attached to it be a possible workaround?
Message was edited by: Bernhard Barkow

Layered Photoshop files with alpha channels

I wondered if anyone had a work around for the problem of layered PSD files with alpha channels not previewing properly in Aperture 3.1.1. I know it's been an issue in previous versions of Aperture but I thought Apple would have sorted this by now, or am I asking too much?

I tested a file last night as follows:
Sent file via 'Edit with Photoshop CS5' (as PSD 8-bit, sRGB color space) > changed background to normal layer > created circular selection around subject and inverted to remove most of image leaving transparent area (about 70% of image) > saved file > closed Photoshop > file updated in Aperture with black filling in the transparent area.
Resent the PSD back to Photoshop (which opened correctly with transparent area) > created two new layers and sent one to background > filled new background layer with White and left top new layer transparent > saved again and closed Photoshop > file updated in Aperture with white showing in transparent areas (no black).
AFAIK, this is how it is designed to work.
My only other suggestion would be for you to create a new empty library (press Option while launching Aperture > Create New..) and then import one RAW or JPEG file and test.
Note - you can reset Photoshop by holding down 'Command + Option + Shift' immediately after launching Photoshop and clicking 'Yes', then set the 'Maximize Compatibility...' to 'Always' again. Doing this prior to sending the file from new library would probably be best.
Apologies in advance if you have already tried this and for outlining procedures that you are already familiar with (just not sure what level Photoshop user you are).

Remove / Convert Alpha Channel using Automator?

I'd like to take a series of Grayscale + Alpha TIFs and make them just RGB[A] TIFs. Basically this involves copying the Alpha channel to the R, G, B channels and then resaving as RGB TIFs.
I am sure this could be done in Photoshop, but I'd really love to figure out how to do it in Automator. Or is this beyond the capabilities of Quartz?
Thanks,

In a possible seconding of such a function: Here is my wish: Ability to completely remove or mask an application-background, (either completely or largely render the application background as a transparent color. While keeping the application tool bars and the user's work visible.)
Searching on line brings these up-- http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/24789/crystal-clear and http://www.unsanity.com/haxies/wsx

How to display alpha channel of layer mask in layers palette ??

Help me out here folks....
Using CS5--in the past, when I added a layer mask to a layer, it would display in the palette as the alpha channel, which was very handy. Now, when I add a layer mask, it only appears as the mask icon; i.e., gray square with white circle in the middle. I have no clue what I did to change from the one to the other, but I would certainly like to get the alpha representation back!
TIA,
Toby

Could you please post a screenshot with the pertinent Panels visible?
Could you be mixing up Layer Masks and Vector Masks?

Alpha Channel editing?

Searching the forums and the internet at large, I don't see any way to view and directly edit the alpha channel of an image in Photoshop Elements 10? I'm currently using the trial version for evaluation but imagine that no features are disabled?
Specifically, I do game development for fun and frequently need to view and manipulate the alpha channel to achieve different things. Looks like I might (?) be able to do something with masks but I'm so used to having direct access to the alpha channel in my very old version of Photoshop 5 that I really consider direct alpha channel access critical to my workflow. Perhaps I'm wrong?
As an aside, related to my "not a power user" level of needs overall for Photoshop, upgrading to the full CS version is way beyond what I want to spend. Even Elements costs more and provides me with more features than I really need but would be willing to pay it if I could access the alpha channel.

ChypeFlux2 wrote:
Looks like I might (?) be able to do something with masks but I'm so used to having direct access to the alpha channel in my very old version of Photoshop 5 that I really consider direct alpha channel access critical to my workflow. Perhaps I'm wrong?
If you save your image as a PSD file, you can save various selections you make as named selections. You can then recall specific selections at a later date. The selection can be converted to a mask by:
Loading the selection.
Clicking the Mask button at the bottom of the Layers Panel.
The selection is automatically used as a mask, which is an alpha channel:
If you Alt-click on the Mask image, you can load it into the Editing window where you can manipulate it using PSE's tools:
Is that what you're looking for?
Ken

Minumum sufficient commands to create PSD containing transparent alpha channel

I was recently typesetting some leaflets in InDesign under time pressure. I had a JPG file with a white background and wanted to create a PSD from it in Photoshop CS5 with an alpha channel making the background transparent.
I managed this in the end by blundering around, but the help file is no help, and the obvious way of creating a layer mask doesn't work.
I'd like to know the minimum sufficient command sequence to do it.
Suppose we've got this in Photoshop, with the bit we want already selected:
Double clicking the background layer and then clicking ADD LAYER MASK looks good, but it doesn't create an alpha channel. It actually creates a channel named "Layer 0 mask" but if you save it in a PSD and then import into InDesign it is not transparent.
There doesn't seem to be a "convert layer mask to alpha channel" command. Nor a "make alpha channel from selection" command.
There is a button at the bottom of the CHANNELS tab that's named "create new channel" and if you click it when a selection is active it does create a new layer named "Alpha 1", but unfortunately it is not the wanted mask but rather just the path of the marching ants.

Yes, this does work. Don't know why it didn't for me yesterday.
There's no need to delete the background because in my example, after unlocking the padlock and adding layer mask, there's only one layer there. It does create, as I said above, an additional channel named "Layer 0 mask" which is what one would want as an alpha channel.
If I SAVE AS PSD, the box to include LAYERS is ticked and the box to include ALPHA CHANNEL is greyed out, but InDesign still treats it as transparent.
If I take the selection and SAVE SELECTION AS NEW CHANNEL, it creates a second channel looking exactly like the "Layer 0 mask" one above, but if I then SAVE AS PSD the box to include ALPHA CHANNEL is ticked. So the channel created by ADD LAYER MASK is of a different ilk than the one created by SAVE SELECTION AS NEW CHANNEL, although this is not apparent from the CHANNELS tab. Slightly confusing.

Photoshop CS6 using javaScript to truncate alpha channel name

Hello,
I'm a production artist and I work with PSD files that were created in Adobe Scene7 Image Authoring Tool. These PSDs contain a background layer along with 1-20 alpha channels. My script has to make a new blank layer for every alpha channel in the document. Then it fills the new layer with light gray. So far, my code accomplishes this. However, I'd like to apply the name of the alpha channel to the layer, but I need the name to be truncated. Every alpha channel starts with one or more characters followed by a backslash and then finishes with one or more characters. Here's an example:
An alpha channel might be named: Floor\floor
In this example I need my layer name to be just: floor. This means all character to the left of the backslash, including the backslash itself needs to be discarded. I was using the subSring() statement to do this. When I try to step through the code, line by line in ExtendScript, I immediately get an error that says Unterminated String Constant and Line 31 of my code is highlighted. I suspect it doesn't like the way I wrote the backslash character, although I surrounded it in double quotes to define it as a string.
Can anyone tell me why I'm getting this error?
Below is my code with lots of comments to walk you through the process. I wrote where the error occurs in red type.
I'm new to JavaScript so I'm not sure my while loop is accurate.
#target photoshop
// The #target photoshop makes the script run in PS.
// declare variable to contain the active document
var myDoc=app.activeDocument;
// declare variable to contain the number of alpha channels, excluding the RGB channels
var alphaChan = myDoc.channels.length - 3;
alert(alphaChan + " alpha channels exist");
// create loop to make new layers based on number of alpha channels, fill layer with gray and apply alpha channel name to new layer
for (a=0 ; a<alphaChan ; a+=1){
// make new blank layer
myDoc.artLayers.add();
// fill blank layer with gray
var color = new SolidColor();
color.rgb.red = 161;
color.rgb.green = 161;
color.rgb.blue= 161;
myDoc.selection.fill(color);
//variable stores alpha channel name
var alphaName = myDoc.channels[3+a];
// variable stores lenght of alpha channel name
var lz = alphaName.length;
// declare index variable to initialize position of 1st character of alpha channel name
var x= 0 ;
// truncate alpha channel name by removing all characters preceding the "\" symbol
while (alphaName.subString(x) != "\"){          (ExtendScript gives an error for this line and highlights the backslash and surrounding quotation marks)
    alphaName = alphaName.subString((x+1),z);
    x+=1;
    z-=1;
return alphaName;
// remove the backslash from alpha channel name
alphaName = alphaName.subString((x+1),z);
// apply truncated alpha channel name to corresponding layer
myDoc.artLayers[a].name = alphaName;

while (alphaName.subString(x) != "\"){
should be
while (alphaName.subString(x) != "\\"){

Getting alpha channel to export from AFX to Photoshop

I have an image in After Effects CS4 with some text on it and a transparent background. I need to export this as a png (retaining the background transparency). I've tried to do this in many ways (as single frame or as png sequence after reducing work area to my single frame, and as prematted or straight alpha (both with RGB 16million Plus) . . . but I keep getting a black matte in background. Tried exporting both as png and as photoshop file.
Can someone explain the correct way of doing this? (The alpha channel does transfer to photoshop, so if there's a simple way to use that to mask out the background (or mask in the part of the picture I need) I guess that would suffice. It was just mean I need to make my text brilliant green or something in AFX and then convert to black in photoshop.
Is this some kind of bug or am I just missing the simple way to do this?
Thanks for any help.

Thanks Mylenium.
Can you explainyour method in more detail.
I double clicked the later title to create a floatin layer.
Then I went into Channels and CTRL clicked no the alpha layer which makes a selection of the correct portions of the image.
Clicking delete (or inverting selection and then clicking delete) doesn't get rid of everything.
Can you spell out what else I have to click on first - do I go back to the regular image in layers and then hit delete or apply my selection as a mask?
I did manage to fumble through things once, but if you don't mind spelling out the right method, I'd like to learn the right way.
Thanks

Converting named alpha channels to layers

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