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Avenir · Jun 3, 2001, 11:29 PM

Hey all, does anyone know how to import finder icons with a partial transparency into a photoshop/imageready document? when i do the usual File>Get Info and copy the icon, then paste it into a photoshop file, it destroys the nice shadow that the icon had and makes it a solid black blop. I'm sorry if this isn't very clear, I can revise it if need be, but does anyone know what I'm talking about or know a way to change it? Thanks...

Demonhood · Jun 4, 2001, 12:46 AM

I've always used clip2icns for my icon needs. You can import an existing icon and export new ones too (i believe it even comes with a template, although i made my own).

Avenir · Jun 4, 2001, 04:47 AM

Thanks for the link. Unfortunately, however, it doesn't work for what I need it to. I guess whenever I extract the look from an icon, and then paste it into photoshop, it still doesn't take the transparency with it and stuff. Have to try somethin' else... thanks again though, I appreciate the help...

Demonhood · Jun 4, 2001, 05:10 AM

it's always worked for me in OS 9. it just grabs the icon and the alpha mask. so it's only getting the icon and the alpha mask is completely black?

Avenir · Jun 4, 2001, 05:22 AM

Here's a shot of what it does when I open an icon file, click extract, and then try to paste into ImageReady...

dunno what's up with that...

xspriter · 02:56 PM

...

Demonhood · Jun 5, 2001, 03:58 AM

Avenir , that's exactly what it should look like. That dark circle and shadow on the right is the image's alpha channel. If you use it as a mask, you'll see that the smiley is visible, as is a nice little shadow below it. Do you want to use this icon for something that isn't an icon? If so, you can put that select (using the magic wand) the mask, save it to a channel if need be, and then invert the selection and delete it from the actual icon image.

i'll animate it for ya if ya still need assistance.

Avenir · Jun 6, 2001, 06:33 AM

Originally posted by Demonhood:
i'll animate it for ya if ya still need assistance.

So... helpless... must.... get... assistance

sorry, I thought I knew enough about photoshop/imageready, but I guess not. And hey, if there's anyway to do what you're suggesting to do in ImageReady instead of Photoshop, that'd be super cool because I do so much work in there.

Hey, thanks, if you got the time, I'd love the animate thing

Avenir · Jul 22, 2001, 05:19 AM

bump...

yes, i'm still lost...

Demonhood · Jul 22, 2001, 04:10 PM

1 - command select this layer
2 - drag that selection (the selection, not the layer), to this layer
3 - line it up (you could always cut #1 out (the square portion of it), position it above #2, and do it that way
4 - copy
5 - paste into whatever

Avenir · Jul 22, 2001, 04:41 PM

Originally posted by Demonhood:
1 - command select this layer
2 - drag that selection (the selection, not the layer), to this layer
3 - line it up (you could always cut #1 out (the square portion of it), position it above #2, and do it that way
4 - copy
5 - paste into whatever

It works! sort of. It still doesn't retain the partial transparence of the otiginal icon, but it makes it a lot easier to get rid of that solid black shadow anyway. I dunno what I was doing wrong, but this works a lot better. Thanks demonhood

Demonhood · Jul 22, 2001, 04:59 PM

if things aren't in their own layers, it gets a little bit more complicated.

copy the square version of the shadow mask. go to your channels palette. paste. now invert your new channel. now delete the superfluous area around the box. this should now be a clean mask.

command select this channel and do the same stuff i listed above. it should look like this:

with apologies to anyone using NS 4.x

Avenir · Jul 22, 2001, 05:35 PM

Originally posted by Demonhood:
if things aren't in their own layers, it gets a little bit more complicated.

copy the square version of the shadow mask. go to your channels palette. paste. now invert your new channel. now delete the superfluous area around the box. this should now be a clean mask.

command select this channel and do the same stuff i listed above. it should look like this:

with apologies to anyone using NS 4.x

My first major problem was that I was using ImageReady, no channels in there. I still couldn't get it to quite work, though, I'm just a retard with masks and stuff in photoshop, I never caught on to them. Don't stress over replying to this, I'll either figure it out eventually, or just go with the straight icons. At least that part I have down now. Thanks again...

Synotic · Jul 22, 2001, 08:47 PM

Well.... I want to throw one more thing in here. I dunno if it was already mentioned. Just go to http://www.mscape.com and download Iconographer. Install the actions included with it. I believe you can just drag the actions onto Photoshop, quit then start it up again. Then open up an icon in Icongrapher. Go into the menu and select "Export to external editor". When your icon is opened in Photoshop it will have black around it.. but don't worry. Just go into the actions tab and press "When starting" Tada! You have something with an alpha layer and everything. Now you can edit the image and everything in Photoshop. Once you have everything looking good, duplicate the layer, select layer transparency, press "D" then "X" then Command-delete. it will fill the selection with black. There is your alpha mask. Make a layer with all white on the bottom and merge down. Paste the mask into Iconographer. Delete the mask layer. Now, press "When finishing" in the actions tab and you made a icon with transparency and whatnot. Oh and isn't partial transparency, translucency?

Avenir · Jul 22, 2001, 10:46 PM

Originally posted by Synotic:
Well.... I want to throw one more thing in here. I dunno if it was already mentioned. Just go to http://www.mscape.com and download Iconographer. Install the actions included with it. I believe you can just drag the actions onto Photoshop, quit then start it up again. Then open up an icon in Icongrapher. Go into the menu and select "Export to external editor". When your icon is opened in Photoshop it will have black around it.. but don't worry. Just go into the actions tab and press "When starting" Tada! You have something with an alpha layer and everything. Now you can edit the image and everything in Photoshop. Once you have everything looking good, duplicate the layer, select layer transparency, press "D" then "X" then Command-delete. it will fill the selection with black. There is your alpha mask. Make a layer with all white on the bottom and merge down. Paste the mask into Iconographer. Delete the mask layer. Now, press "When finishing" in the actions tab and you made a icon with transparency and whatnot. Oh and isn't partial transparency, translucency?

IT WORKS! FLAWLESSLY!!! I just import the icon file, export to photoshop, run the script, copy the layer, and paste it into image ready where i'm working on my file, and BOOM, translucency... i owe you...

Synotic · Jul 23, 2001, 05:22 AM

Originally posted by Avenir:
IT WORKS! FLAWLESSLY!!! I just import the icon file, export to photoshop, run the script, copy the layer, and paste it into image ready where i'm working on my file, and BOOM, translucency... i owe you...

Wow, thanks

Glad to help.