Workflow for white images with transparent backgrounds in Inkscape - Artists: please help!

edited in General
I'm going totally insane.

I'm making simple tiles in Inkscape which are white, and have transparent backgrounds. The problem is I cannot see anything edit: while I'm working. I use this convulated system of first making the tile background in an opaque non-white. Then I select the background, make in transparent, and while still selected, add the actual tile image (now invisible) to the selection (and group the whole thing) before I export.

This is bad, but it's infinitely worse when I have to make changes and re-export (and this often happens a few times).

What is a sane way to do it?

I tried setting the background colour in Inkscape itself, but then it helpfully exports your image with the same background colour! !! !!!!!

Is there a better way?

Comments

  • a)What program are you using?
    b)Are you sure you are exporting to an image format that supports transparencies (ex. png)
  • @SquigyXD I'm using Inkscape. The problem is not the resulting images (they come out perfect). The problem is that everything is white and it is difficult to work with. Half my files are basically unusable becuase of this (since it is easier to just remake simple tiles than to try and find the tiles in the white white file.
  • Could you not just add a layer of colour underneath and switch it on and off when saving? And if you load up the file, just add a new layer underneath all the white stuff? Or am I missing the point? :)
    Thanked by 1hermantulleken
  • edited
    One of the simplest ways I use to deal with this particularity, is to create a black square the desired size of the sprite, eg.32x32px, on a layer below the white sprite so that I can work while seeing it clearly on a black background.

    You can lock this background layer temporarily to avoid selecting the background while you work on the sprite.

    Then when it comes to exporting, you select the black background piece, make its layer invisible, and then export the now invisible, but still selected, background piece using "Selection" in the exporter. Everything that is visible in the selection area is exported. Thus a lovely white-on-transparent PNG will be generated.

    Updating the sprite is then easy since you only have to toggle the transparency of the background layer to be able to see what you're doing.

    P.S. You can toggle between 3 different display modes which can make editing invisible things easier. Using Ctrl+Num5 cycles through "outline", "no filters" and "normal" mode.

    Edit: Yes, like @iceblademush says, except I usually have multiple sprites scattered about in a single document. But if it is one sprite per document, then just toggling on and off a locked background, then exporting with "Page" works well.
    Thanked by 1hermantulleken
  • I don't use Inkscape. :(

    But I do run into bits of tediousness no matter what software I use. As an example, when I export textures, I usually have to hide my UV layer, unhide my heavy detail layer group (because I can't paint with it on at work because of crappy PC), and save out a copy of the file at 50% size with some light sharpening applied. With 3D I have similarly tedious things going on. And each time I've ended up running a script that does it for me, whether it's an Action in Photoshop, or some C#/python script that automates it in 3D. I imagine that Inkscape can do something similar.

    It effectively becomes a 1-button export that does everything I need it to, and makes iteration super fast.
  • Thanks @iceblademush, and @Asbestos with more detail. The locked layer is really what I was looking for :) (The view modes are also useful!)

    @Elyaradine Don't you think it's retarded? Especially with basic stuff that thousands of others must suffer with as well.
  • Yes.

    But it makes me more valuable for building workarounds to it.

    :P
  • I don't use Inkscape so I can't really help there... But what Asbestos says is pretty much right. And are you sure there's no option to make the transparent background represented by something? In photoshop it's a checkerboard pattern by default.
  • edited
    @Elyaradine Smart people are always valuable; there is always something they can do other's can't. Lack of basic features in applications is inexcusable.

    @Tuism Unfortunately, no :( I think maybe I should spend some money on art tools. Do you use Illustrator?
  • Yes Illustrator and Photoshop. If you're making specific resolution images I think Photoshop is the right tool.
    But if Inkscape has layers, making a layer behind everything, colouring it, then switching it off when saving works too!
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