Material information in texture map lost when editing in Photoshop?

[Monkeyfarm]

I know it's possible to to include material information in the texture map in ZB as an alpha channel. It appears gray scale info cooresponds with a material index position, as verified when opening the texture in Photoshop.

However, if I open the texture in Photoshop, modify the alpha channel, then re-load the texture in ZB the material info is gone. The alpha info is still there, because if I reopen it in PS I can see it, however ZB seems to be ignoring it...

Is there a way to retain the texture info out of photoshop?

[Antimorph]

After 240 posts it seems to me you should already know that this post belongs in the feedback and troubleshooting forum.

I do not think labelling this information as "lost" is an accurate description.

You could easily write a zscript to reapply materials from an imported alpha.

[ramon]

jeez anti take it easy no harm was done

[Antimorph]

I'm applying course sandpaper to my sharp tongue (forked). :)

[andreseloy]

excuse me.

[Antimorph]

Whisky :)

[aurick]

When importing a texture using the Texture palette, ZBrush has now way of knowing what the purpose of that Alpha channel is -- for all ZBrush knows, it could be a visibility mask or something. So ZBrush doesn't use it to apply materials.

As you may or may not know, the way to get ZBrush to remember the materials that are embedded within a texture is to save the model with the texture wrapped onto it and then say yes when asked if you wish to save the texture with the model. I am not aware of any way to edit the texture, however, as it is saved within the ZTL itself.

[Monkeyfarm]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR> When importing a texture using the Texture palette, ZBrush has now way of knowing what the purpose of that Alpha channel is -- for all ZBrush knows, it could be a visibility mask or something. So ZBrush doesn't use it to apply materials.
As you may or may not know, the way to get ZBrush to remember the materials that are embedded within a texture is to save the model with the texture wrapped onto it and then say yes when asked if you wish to save the texture with the model. I am not aware of any way to edit the texture, however, as it is saved within the ZTL itself.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

But when ZB EXPORTS a texture from the texture pallet that has material info, it saves it as an alpha channel... It seems to me that if I save/export a texture with material FROM ZB that I should be able to LOAD it back into ZB and have it still recognize the texture.