Alpha channel: Difference between revisions

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The '''alpha channel''' is the fourth channel of an image, where the first three channels are red, green, and blue. Generally, a [[TGA]] file can be saved with just the [[RGB]] channels (24bit), or with all four channels (32bit). In Source, it is used to define either [[opacity]] or self-illumination.
The '''alpha channel''' is an additional color channel that doesn't define color at all. In image editing generally it is used to give images transparency, but 3D graphics engines put it to all sorts of other uses as well.
 
Not all image formats support alpha channels. TGA and PNG are two popular ones that do.


== See also ==
== See also ==
* [[Alpha]]
* [[Alpha]]


[[Category:Glossary]]
[[Category:Glossary]]
[[Category:Material System]]
[[Category:Material System]]

Revision as of 17:00, 16 March 2009

The alpha channel is an additional color channel that doesn't define color at all. In image editing generally it is used to give images transparency, but 3D graphics engines put it to all sorts of other uses as well.

Not all image formats support alpha channels. TGA and PNG are two popular ones that do.

See also