Need help with skirt alterations

[Avatar2b]

First off Merry Christmas everybody!
and for those on vacation seeing this in Jan. Have a Happy New Year!

Now business. I've been trying to shorten the skirt piece that overlaps the PC's legs. I've noticed the Alpha channel seems to dictate what the skirt looks like at the bottom (frayed, smooth, shaped, etc) and how much skirt is shown in game. I've been trying to make a loin cloth style piece with flaps in the back and front but the hips clear except for a belt-like object. I've seen this done on at least on of Shark's skins
I've edited the Alpha layer but now I'm getting an invisible section on my character's hips on the left and right sides. Can someone help explain why this happened? In all other aspects I achieved what I wanted. It's a strip of belt-like material all around her waist and in the area where the skirt layer overlaps, and cannot be changed, I got the loin cloth-type flaps that look like clothing. How can I get my character's skin back where it's now invisible? There was no flesh colors on the skirt palette so I don't understand what happened.
Please Help!

[Avatar2b]

It's been a few months and few are even playing anymore but I still hope old members return or new, talented people will join and someone can help with this problem I've had since last year.
Thanks

[I_Raps]

Put your tga in a zip and post it and I'll have a look.

You can use www.rapidshare.com if you need to.

[Avatar2b]

I've got the .psd file version will that be good or should I convert?
Thanks I_Raps

[I_Raps]

Originally Posted by Avatar2b

I've got the .psd file version will that be good or should I convert?
Thanks I_Raps

.psd is fine.

[Avatar2b]

Thanks for the help you can give. I followed your advice and using rapidshare have the .psd version of my troubled skin. Here's the link...

http://rapidshare.com/files/99121029/My_Indian_babe__skirt_alter_.psd

It might be a simple mis-editing the wrong layer but I was sure I was careful about that. You'll see, behind her arms, her hips are missing from both sides. If you need the tga after all I have saved it as such and it can be made available too. Anyway thanks again.

[I_Raps]

Here you go. I simply added your Aux channel to the one from bbird's original nude skin. When he said he had eliminated as much of the "skirt" as he possibly could, he meant it. You've seen for yourself what happens if you try to clip off a little more - there's no leg underneath (and that includes all those little spots - you need those or your character will have "holes").

http://rapidshare.com/files/99127054...ter_1.psd.html

I don't know why the filesize is so much smaller. If it were me, I'd take the Aux channel from this one and replace the Aux channel in your original and save that. I'm always suspicious of data loss with these compressed formats.

I also took the "liberty" of re-extending the front piece to its original extent - take it from an objective observer, it looks better. The other way is too abrupt. The front should be triangular like the back.

You also want to do some blending where the legs join the hips (the newly visible area). Otherwise, it looks pretty darn good.

[Avatar2b]

Hey thanks there. I didn't realize the leg/hips section was un-drawn. I guess looking at the palette version gave me distorted perspective, since all the leg seemed to be there I thought it would be! I'll make the necessary adjustments.

[I_Raps]

You're welcome. If you post the final version, I'm sure it will be popular.