How is the alpha-value information used?

[ErDetEnAnd?]

Take a look at the left texture below. The gray background is not this texture, but another texture on another object behind it.



The "a" has an outline which is painted using antialiasing (which is shown on the right image, which has no alpha values).

It seems to me that the alpha-channel is used, but not the values. Is this supported?

Edit: Using render with 4xAA

[EgonOlsen]

If the anti-aliasing part actually contains alpha information, they will be used IF you are using the proper constructor for the texture, i.e. one of the ones with useAlpha-flag. All others will ignore alpha and create their own channel based on the color values. There is no such thing like alpha without alpha or something. Either you have alpha or you don't.

Edit: ...but a high value for transparency may "boost" the alpha values...play around with that values a little to get a feel for it.