Question about sprays(making)

Vivi · 7-4-2008, 21:27

Sorry if this is the wrong forum to ask, but seems weird to put this in offtopic, and it relates to CSS?

Anyhow I've noticed that when I try to put my spray in CSS the spray becomes blurry. Now the original image I use is really clear but I try to spray this ingame on server it just becomes fuzzy/blurry/unclear.

I looked up a guide on cs-sprays and it seems that the tutorial told ppl to save the file with the format .tga. I tried to do this to my (originally jpg) file but it doesn't accept the format, saying it only accepts 24bitRGA and 32bitRGA. The only difference to my pic is that I'm trying to save it in PSP7 and the guide was saving in Photoshop, so I'm a bit lost.

So my question is - what can I do to make my spray clear (and like the original pic) and not blurry?

Is it really the file format? Since I've even tried to save it as .bmp and it's also blurry. Or should I change the size/resolution/colours on the file?

RogerGargantua · 7-4-2008, 21:34

If i were you i would change its resolution to something smaller.

If ur picture is 800x600....then Source attempts to make it smaller.

But source aint photoshop so quality gets lost.
Not sure what resolution to use best. But I noticed that small pictures of 250x200 as maximum resolution works perfectly.

A Mere Shadow · 7-4-2008, 21:49

I make my Sprays at 250x250

as for converting it try using what i use SprayR

Just enter your PSD file into it and it automaticly converts it into the correct format and even puts it into the correct folder, so all you need to do is select it ingame

Skael · 7-4-2008, 21:52

I use 256, which results in no converting (w00t!). And remember to change your background to black if you use alphachannels, or it'll look like shit! (I hate grey background!)

Westsid3r · 7-4-2008, 22:15

I had the same problem when I first chosed my sprays. People said it needs to be TGA. I tried lot of times to find/save tga files but it didnt work so i finally gave up. Some days later I just tried to upload the same jpeg spray I tried before and it worked...Strange..

Skael · 7-4-2008, 22:24

.tga =D Allways works for me.

Relich · 8-4-2008, 06:43

Optimal size for sprays is 256*256

Ramon - i3d · 8-4-2008, 08:23

Any engine works best if it's textures (wich is what a spray is essentially) is a power of of 2. (binary and all that mumbo jumbo) that's why you'll always see textures come in forms like: 64x64 128x128 256x256 512x512 and these days even 1024x1024 is occasionally used in game.

Any file can be converted to a TGA with a half decent image editing program. I'm sure there are even webapplications wich can change your jpg to tga.

Not sure how source works but on the old half life engine you needed atleast 1 pure blue pixel to get any type of transparancy so keep that in mind.

Skael · 8-4-2008, 08:40

.TGA is the only known format that can be compiled with alpha-layers that works with the source-engine. The source-engine uses alpha-layers to know if a picture is semi/transparent or not.

This is the best tutorial i know.

+ YouTube Video

Ramon - i3d · 8-4-2008, 08:49

As long as an image has an alpha channel it can be converted to a transparent image. PNG, TIFF and TARGA all support alpha channels. It just depends if it's converted correctly.

Vivi · 8-4-2008, 09:42

I think the problem on my end was that I turned all my video details to low to save my fps since my comp is ancient. I turned them up and spray seems to be fine.

On the other hand when I mentioned I couldn't save as .tga I mentioned that I used paint shop pro 7, but the version of .tga it saved css doesn't like it. It says it will only accept 24bitRGA and 32bitRGA. Not sure if this is something I can change within the program itself because under the saving options I can't find any way of saving it to a different type of .tga. I'm guessing you only need this format for transparent backgrounds also?

Red · 8-4-2008, 13:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skaelman

.TGA is the only known format that can be compiled with alpha-layers that works with the source-engine. The source-engine uses alpha-layers to know if a picture is semi/transparent or not.

This is the best tutorial i know.

+ YouTube Video

I used same tut but it dont show you right, I had to look up different one. He uses old photoshop and things arent like that in the one i have (CS2)

Skael · 8-4-2008, 15:41

I have CS3, and it works fine for me.

7-4-2008, 21:27	#1 (permalink)
Vivi To be a girl or Join Date: 8th March 2008 Location: London, UK Posts: 706	Question about sprays(making) Sorry if this is the wrong forum to ask, but seems weird to put this in offtopic, and it relates to CSS? Anyhow I've noticed that when I try to put my spray in CSS the spray becomes blurry. Now the original image I use is really clear but I try to spray this ingame on server it just becomes fuzzy/blurry/unclear. I looked up a guide on cs-sprays and it seems that the tutorial told ppl to save the file with the format .tga. I tried to do this to my (originally jpg) file but it doesn't accept the format, saying it only accepts 24bitRGA and 32bitRGA. The only difference to my pic is that I'm trying to save it in PSP7 and the guide was saving in Photoshop, so I'm a bit lost. So my question is - what can I do to make my spray clear (and like the original pic) and not blurry? Is it really the file format? Since I've even tried to save it as .bmp and it's also blurry. Or should I change the size/resolution/colours on the file?

7-4-2008, 21:49	#3 (permalink)
A Mere Shadow i3D.net Gameserver admin Xbox Live: 61^st Join Date: 15th November 2007 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 1,170	I make my Sprays at 250x250 as for converting it try using what i use SprayR Just enter your PSD file into it and it automaticly converts it into the correct format and even puts it into the correct folder, so all you need to do is select it ingame __________________ ->DON'T CLICK HERE!1!<-

7-4-2008, 21:52	#4 (permalink)
Skael SPARTAAAAA!!! Xbox Live: 52^nd Join Date: 23rd July 2007 Location: Way ahead! ;D Posts: 3,472	I use 256, which results in no converting (w00t!). And remember to change your background to black if you use alphachannels, or it'll look like shit! (I hate grey background!) __________________

7-4-2008, 22:15	#5 (permalink)
Westsid3r i3D.net Gameserver admin Join Date: 24th February 2008 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,023	I had the same problem when I first chosed my sprays. People said it needs to be TGA. I tried lot of times to find/save tga files but it didnt work so i finally gave up. Some days later I just tried to upload the same jpeg spray I tried before and it worked...Strange.. __________________ Because you know I got da fiyaaaaaah! They know what is what, but they dont know what is what, they just strut, wtf?

7-4-2008, 22:24	#6 (permalink)
Skael SPARTAAAAA!!! Xbox Live: 52^nd Join Date: 23rd July 2007 Location: Way ahead! ;D Posts: 3,472	.tga =D Allways works for me. __________________

7-4-2008, 21:34	#2 (permalink)
RogerGargantua GARGANTUA Join Date: 18th December 2007 Posts: 504	If i were you i would change its resolution to something smaller. If ur picture is 800x600....then Source attempts to make it smaller. But source aint photoshop so quality gets lost. Not sure what resolution to use best. But I noticed that small pictures of 250x200 as maximum resolution works perfectly.

8-4-2008, 06:43	#7 (permalink)
Relich Rεliςh Join Date: 18th March 2008 Location: Finland Xfire: Relich Posts: 323	Optimal size for sprays is 256256 __________________ And you will worship me as though I were a god!* http://www.xfire.com/profile/relich/

8-4-2008, 08:23	#8 (permalink)
Ramon - i3d Hank i3d medewerker Join Date: 10th January 2008 Location: Breda Posts: 1,612	Any engine works best if it's textures (wich is what a spray is essentially) is a power of of 2. (binary and all that mumbo jumbo) that's why you'll always see textures come in forms like: 64x64 128x128 256x256 512x512 and these days even 1024x1024 is occasionally used in game. Any file can be converted to a TGA with a half decent image editing program. I'm sure there are even webapplications wich can change your jpg to tga. Not sure how source works but on the old half life engine you needed atleast 1 pure blue pixel to get any type of transparancy so keep that in mind.

8-4-2008, 08:49	#10 (permalink)
Ramon - i3d Hank i3d medewerker Join Date: 10th January 2008 Location: Breda Posts: 1,612	As long as an image has an alpha channel it can be converted to a transparent image. PNG, TIFF and TARGA all support alpha channels. It just depends if it's converted correctly.

8-4-2008, 09:42	#11 (permalink)
Vivi To be a girl or Join Date: 8th March 2008 Location: London, UK Posts: 706	I think the problem on my end was that I turned all my video details to low to save my fps since my comp is ancient. I turned them up and spray seems to be fine. On the other hand when I mentioned I couldn't save as .tga I mentioned that I used paint shop pro 7, but the version of .tga it saved css doesn't like it. It says it will only accept 24bitRGA and 32bitRGA. Not sure if this is something I can change within the program itself because under the saving options I can't find any way of saving it to a different type of .tga. I'm guessing you only need this format for transparent backgrounds also?

8-4-2008, 15:41	#13 (permalink)
Skael SPARTAAAAA!!! Xbox Live: 52^nd Join Date: 23rd July 2007 Location: Way ahead! ;D Posts: 3,472	I have CS3, and it works fine for me. __________________

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