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Resolved Question

Image Troubles (unity and photoshop/pc)

Dec 15, 2011 2:33AM PST

Hey,

I've been running into some image troubles on my pc. I'm not sure what's causing it, or if it's even a problem. Well, it's a problem, but it's certainly a confusing one. Not sure if it's pc related, or simply Photoshop related.

If I create a png with transparent background. A simple one, say a circle. When I view the image in my image viewing software it's a square instead of a circle. If I save as jpg I get the circle..but I need the transparent background.. The png thumbnail looks like a circle with transparency on the desktop, but only looks different when viewed in image viewing software.

Fcheck it looks like a square
windows picture viewer it looks like a square.

when I load it into paint it's a circle (without transparency of course..)

When I load the png into Unity (3d game engine) it looks like a square, and not what I painted..However when I view the image in unity in a spot where it shows what the image looks like it looks like a circle, but when I apply it to a particle it looks like a square! lol..

is this a pc problem, or software related? I'm leaning towards software at the moment...

if it is software do you think the problem is originating in Photoshop?

haha I'm having a hard time pinpointing this, so it's difficult to fix.

Discussion is locked

OmegaDev101 has chosen the best answer to their question. View answer

Best Answer

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I think you nailed it.
Dec 15, 2011 2:39AM PST

"looks different when viewed in image viewing software."

The viewing software is the issue here. Some will view it one way or another. What matters is the FINAL use. Where's that?

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unity
Dec 15, 2011 2:43AM PST

The final destination is in unity, but it also isn't viewing right there, lol. It's doing the same things as the image viewing software...so I'm thinking maybe there's some information I need to find on properly importing pngs into the game engine?

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hmm
Dec 15, 2011 2:52AM PST

Another thing strange about it is it's happening in more than one image viewing software..I've never had troubles like this before today, lol..

the fact that it looks the same in unity as the image viewing software makes me think that it's software related, and maybe something Photoshop is doing when saving, but I really don't have a clue..

It's really messin with me, ha.

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Sorry
Dec 15, 2011 2:55AM PST

But I can't guess which to the zillion photoshop settings it can be. Also we have the windows issue of graphics handling. But if I were to look at this, I'd look at last month's images to see if they are mis-displayed now.

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It's the Transparency background
Dec 15, 2011 3:19AM PST

I'm sure its the transparency background as I've had the same problems myself in the past.

I wish I could say how I solved it, but in every case that was by trial and error or I gave up.

Transparency is always a mystery to me, but as Bob says, if you have done this successfully before look back at those and see what you are doing different. From what I remember, setting the background color correctly was crucial and the color of the background where you are going to insert this image has to be solid, eg white is preferable, and no gradient. I tried to add an image with a transparent background to a mottled "bodybackground" web page a while ago, and it failed miserably.

Not much help. Sorry.

Mark

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Ahh, the unity game thing.
Dec 15, 2011 2:53AM PST
http://unity3d.com/

I see they have forums there. I think that's the next step at http://unity3d.com/support/community

For this I'd stop worrying about how it looks in other things. But I guess we could discuss that all png images today are square. If you want to. There are vector based images but those would not be png's.
Bob
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no no, lol
Dec 15, 2011 3:09AM PST

That's not what I mean by square, lol. I painted a circle in photoshop...but when I view my image in other software..two image viewing, and unity included my painted circle is now a square for some reason, lol...

I was trying to make smoke right? I took a brush and drew smoke, but the saved png when viewed in image viewing software no longer looked like smoke but just square blotches, lol.

they look right in desktops thumbnails though...

I've asked the same question on photoshop forum, I'll try untiy too except sense the issue starts before untiy, I don't think they'll be able to help...unless the problem with image viewing software is the same reason why unity isn't viewing it right...that could be?

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looked into other images
Dec 15, 2011 3:13AM PST

My other images are viewing alright...I'm gonna see if it's not a brush problem or something...I might get better help on Photoshop forums..Thanks for your time Happy

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I wonder if MEDIAINFO would spot it.
Dec 15, 2011 3:20AM PST

But as there are so many PS settings I can't guess which one. But I think you have narrowed it down and back to PS. Sorry I can't guess which setting.

My bet is you'll have to upload 2 images to that forum for them to inspect if they don't guess what the setting was.
Bob

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Answer
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Dec 15, 2011 2:36AM PST

sorry I guess it's quick time picture viewer not windows*

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extra info
Dec 15, 2011 2:41AM PST

For a little extra information I added a picture of myself to the image I'm working with in Photoshop. I don't seem to have any defects happening with my picture, just the circle that I painted using the paint tool looks like a square when I open it in image viewing software..the two mentioned..

when I open them in photoshop again, or paint they look fine..

ahh frustrating, because I don't know if it's photoshop..my image viewing software, pc...Unity..or both image viewing, and unity software..