Greetings,
Apologies if this is a real newbie bunch of questions, but I really tried to get search for an answer but most articles and threads I have seen don't seem to be helping me understand this.
I understand the 4bit and 16bit PNG files are much faster than an 8bit png file. However, I can't seem to figure out how to make anything BUT an 8bit PNG file. I tried using PaintShop Pro (I have version 6) and whenever I try to save a 16bit image as a png, it says it must reduce the image to 256 colors (which to me means 8bit color).
I also tried using GIMP... I added a transparency channel and then (according to what I could glean from a few articles I read) I used the fuzzy selector to clear out the parts of the image I want to make transparent. Then I changed the mode to indexed...however, it then only gives me the option to have up to 256 colors again.
So I am kinda banging my head against the wall. I don't have a ton of graphics, but I have enough that 256 colors is going to make me need multiple AtlasSpriteManagers...which seems a waste simply for the sake of having more colors to use.
I have no idea if I am heading down the totally wrong road here but from what I have read it seems that PNG can have 4bits per color plus an alpha channel, which should be a 16bit image file. right? Or am I really missing something?
Any help would be greatly appreciated. Again, apologies if this a real newbie sounding problem, but graphic design is really not my strong suit.
Regards,
Q