Export PNG8 With Alpha

export_png_8_with_alpha.textile

Choose your colors:

• Open original file in Photoshop
• Select relevant areas (“Marquee”)
• Choose: Selection > Save Selection…
• Enter name eg: “Colors” and hit “Save”

Remove transparent areas:

• Select layer alpha (“CMD+Click” on layer)
• Switch to Quick Mask mode (Hit “Q”)
• Choose: Image > Adjustments > Threshold
• Set “Level” to 255 and “Save”
• Leave Quick mask mode (Hit “Q”)
• Choose: Select > Inverse
• Remove transparent parts (Hit “Backspace”)

Export indexed image:

• Choose: Save > Save for Web & Devices…
• Select: PNG 8, Selective, 200 Colors, No Dither
• Click “Modify Color Reduction…”
• Choose Channel: “Colors” and hit “Ok”
• Set Matte to Pink
• Leave “Interlace” unchecked
• Check “Transparency”
• Hit “Save” and name it “sprite_index.png”

Select transparency areas only:

• Open original file in Fireworks
• Rename layer to “alpha”
• Choose: File > Import… “sprite_index.png”
• Rename layer to “index”
• Select transparency (“ALT+Click” on indexed layer)
• Select original layer and remove colors (Hit “Backspace”)
• Hide “index” layer

Export alpha channel only:

• Switch to “Preview” mode
• Select: PNG8, Adaptive, 30 Colors, Dither 0, Alpha Transparency
• Choose File > Export… and name it “sprite_alpha.png”

Merge indexed and alpha channel:

• Open “sprite_alpha.png” in Fireworks
• Choose: File > Import… “sprite_index.png”
• Choose: File > Save As… and name it “sprite_merged.png”

Quantize merged image:

• Download pngquant from http://pornel.net/pngquant
• Put it into your image path
• Open terminal and run “pngquant sprite_merged.png”
• Bingo: The result “sprite_merged-fs8.png” is your 8 bit baby!