particle image questions
 

I dont really understand these g4particle images. they show some very interesting properties... they appear to have detail in the image preview on windows XP, but when i open it in paint shop pro, it looks totally different. the most signifigant thing is the black background which is obviously shown white in the preview, as if it was a transparent color, but on a 24 bit png?

can someone who made the existing particles explain to me the process of making proper particle images. thanks

You can actually use any image for particles.

yes i know that... but look at the picture and what i wrote..

ok folks i figured out the solution to this problem. 24 bit png's have the ability to save with alpha channel transparency.
i can teach people to do this in paint shop pro 7:

to save your png with this feature activated, you need to have Paint shop pro save your LAYERED image with the PNG optimizer. by layered i mean that there is no background to your image. this is represented by a checkered pattern behind your image.

choose:
File > Export > PNG Optimizer

then click the second tab caled Transparency. you want to click the 3rd radial button called "Alpha Channel Transparency".
then on the 2nd set of buttons choose "existing image or layer transparency".
then choose ok and you should be all set.