Transparency: eliminate white/eliminate black

[sallybode]

I work in several graphics programs, PSP and Photoshop as well as PI. I found this really cool filter that eliminates black and white backgrounds easily in both PSP and Photoshop but does not work in PI8. Anyone else have a similar experience? Any solutions, every other filter has worked for me. Read about the filter at: http://graphicssoft.about.com/librar.../aa000725a.htm

[MaryLouW]

It probably doesn't work because it requires the part you want to filter out to be on a layer and the layers are handled a bit differetly in PhotoImpact. There's another one that makes incredible snow but won't work in PI because it requires a layer.

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[Grafixman]

I tried the filter myself a long time ago. It doesn't work with PI. It has something to do with the way PI handles transparency.
Some things are just not compatible with one another. I found out that a lot of filters that alters a layer's shape generally doesn't work with PI's object layers. One of those bugs the people in Ulead should work on if they want to keep users happy.

[Kelly]

Of course, PI DOES lots of things that other proggies can't do because it's object oriented.
Different paths to a goal, I guess.

Enter the PhotoimpactZone!

[MaryLouW]

PI has some excellent filters but they don't work in my PS. Maybe Adobe ought to make PS compatible? LOL!!! They all have their good and bad but I think PI is more on the good side. http://www.talkgraphics.com/images/smilies/smile.gif I know, I'm opioniated!

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[sallybode]

Thanks for the input. I have to agree there is a lot more to like than to gripe about with PI. For the price it's the best bargain around. I even had a banner to print for my two son's homecoming, they're in the Navy, and it handled a layout that was 5 1/2 FEET LONG! And it didn't even slow down or anything. And that was even before my new RAM was installed. The beautify skin filter is really a timesaver. The reason why Adobe and PaintShopPro don't try to make things compatible with PI is they feel they are the big boys on the block and it is their ball and jacks. They loose by not being able to use those filters. PaintShopPro for me does not like to work on a file even as large as 8 x 10 if I open it from scratch. There is just one thing that I use it for now and that is the warp brush. Ulead's warp brush is harder to use I find. Are there any good tut's on it that can help? I'm not really a novice to graphic programs.

[sallybode]

Thought I'd show you what I think about various programs. But around here seems like I'll be preaching to the choir. Is there an "Amen" out there!

[This message was edited by sallybode on December 31, 2003 at 17:21.]

[This message was edited by sallybode on December 31, 2003 at 17:24.]

[Grafixman]

Me, too http://www.talkgraphics.com/images/smilies/smile.gif. Despite some of its shortcomings, I find it to be very user friendly. You could pull off a lot of Photoshop tricks, without spending a small fortune.

http://home.pchome.com.tw/art/grafixman/flowers1.gif

[sallybode]

Gosh, just beautiful. Really inspiring. I'd love it if you could describe how you did it. Your technique is awesome!

[Grafixman]

No big secret, just a lot of 2D path objects and unlimited patience.
Every simple shape started out as a freeform 2D path object. After placing and resizing them to their final position(PI's vector objects can be worked without getting jagged edges),they were turned to image objects, dabbed with color and worked with the smudge and blur tool. I then selected the brush tool, set to 1 pixel, soft edge about 1 or 2, colored accordingly and use paint on edges. The separate objects are combined into one object. The second flower is just a duplicate of the other, rotated a little.