Hi lmaceleighton,
Thanks for the request. The latest developmental build (v2.5.3.14), now on the downloads pages, includes DDS support for RGBA alpha map exports*. Please let me know if there are any problems.
because PNG doesn't seem to hold the alpha channel right, in any program
Can you provide examples? I use PNG's alpha layer support quite a lot, and I've never had a problem with it, in any program (well, except 'paint.exe').
Oh wait: I just remembered that when using RGBA alpha maps, most programs won't render them 'correctly' because the alpha layer is usually interpreted as meaning opacity rather than transparency, and this means the images will look weird in most programs.
See this thread for an explanation of the difference. Note this doesn't mean there's a problem with PNG; it's a problem caused by a difference in the definition of the alpha layer for RGBA alpha maps and for regular alpha-layered images.
and the DDS seems to work better with shader work anyway.
Okay, but you should be aware that DDS is lossy, so you may find weird artefacts in your final alpha map once it's been DXT1'd. This is why PNG is the default; it's perfectly lossless in RGBA mode.
Best regards,
Aaron.
* Note RGBA alpha maps are only supported in L3DT Professional and L3DT for Torque. L3DT Standard can only export single-layer (8-bit) alpha maps.