TGA File

How widely used is this type of file? I know I can port it to Windows, Linux, and the Mac via Allegro but are there any other game libraries that support TGA files?

Actually, its quiet common now, as the format is really good at defining itself, and can handle high quality uncompressed images. I know Doom 3, Unreal Tournament 2004, and World of Warcraft all export screenshots in this format. From what I can tell, its a free standard (image) file type, thats not extreamly difficult to work with. Oh, and with its support for alpha transparency, I think it could work pretty well for use as textures. Most Image manipulation programs also support it (besides MSpaint, but I don't think you will need to use that).

I would say its pretty common.

It's also very easy to write TGA loaders. The only real downfall is that it's uncompressed which causes huge filesizes if you have a lot of graphics.

I decided to give up TGA and go with PCX because I understand PCX better, however, I heard that both PCX and TGA are very similar. There is also no need for me to deal with anything
higher than 24-bit graphics.

>Most Image manipulation programs also support it (besides MSpaint, but I don't think you will need to use that).

i dunno about MS paint but most ignore the Alpha component or like PhotoShop screw it up entirely... though Aura does write TGA alphas properly

>The only real downfall is that it's uncompressed which causes huge filesizes if you have a lot of graphics.

the TGA spec specifically mentions RLE as a supported form compression... the spec also allows for custom image codes so... you can do whatever you want... just dont expect anything to be able to use it....

>here is also no need for me to deal with anything
higher than 24-bit graphics.

just cause TGA's support 32 bit doesnt mean you have to use it? the spec technically allows for anything really... but listing 8, 16, 24, and 32 specifically... so its safe to assume those will generally be supported on anything using TGA's, especially since it requires minimal coding effort to do so.

Never knew about the problem with the Alpha channel getting dropped or messed with, and what I ment by the MS Paint comment, is that it doesn't support Targa format at all. Oddly enough it seems many gamers (not developers) feel if Windows doesn't support it out of the box, its bad. :confused: even if you can find free software to open it up. The main Image editor I use myself is Gimp, but I also don't do any sort of profesional work either, just mess around with things. Ill check back and see what Gimps support is like for TGA.

>what I ment by the MS Paint comment, is that it doesn't support Targa format at all.

oh... well i supposed that is cause MS isn't probably allowed to advance MS paint much farther than it is now.

>Ill check back and see what Gimps support is like for TGA.

cool...