Getting alpha layers to work: help!

I've been doing a bunch of overlay posters for my map (as per the tutorial on this site), and every time I try and get the transparency to appear (or rather, not appear ), it just doesn't happen. I suspect the issue is in how I'm saving the images in photoshop, as regardless of whether I use the photoshop plugin, VTFEdit, or the console thing as per the tutorial, the posters come up in hammer with the parts that are supposed to be transparent with a white area.

When I open the images (regardless of whether its a TGA, VTF or whatever else), the alpha is either not there, or (in some rare cases with TGA files) present, but on a hidden channel.

I've spent the last week searching for a solution to my problem, but nothing seems to solve it. AFAIK, if I can get the alpha to export in photoshop, the rest should just work. I hope. And pray. Any ideas on how to do this?

Aly said:

If you have the alpha channel in the VTF, then all you need is "$translucent" "1" in your vmt

Click to expand...

There isn't though. I don't know why, but the transparency just isn't there. As best as I can tell, there SHOULD be an alpha, but whether I import it into photoshop or hammer after saving it, it is rarely there (and when it is, hammer isn't reading it).

EDIT: I swear, my days of being a grammar nazi have karma kicked me in the face. Just checked the vmt for the millionth time, and there's been a spelling mistake there the whole time. ARGH

Many thanks!