image transparency

[bezzina]

Does anyone know a good method to make an image background transparent? [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_razz.gif[/img]

[bezzina]

Does anyone know a good method to make an image background transparent? [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_razz.gif[/img]

[Beth]

Easiest way I know is to copy the background layer to a new layer and then fill the old background with a 'background' colour. White blue, black....up to you. THen you can adjust the transparency of the background layer.

[BuddyB]

..to the exportation of .GIFs?

Thanks,
BuddyB

[Mark (theKeeper)]

If so bezzina, try this...

Once you're ready to save your finished image for the Web, turn OFF the default "Background" layer in the layers palette (by clicking it's eye icon). If you are just using a normal layer for your image's BG colour, then turn that layer off.

NOTE: you could also just delete the default Background layer, if it's not essential to your image.

Now open the FILE menu and choose the "Save to Web..." option. When the preview window opens click in the checkbox where it says "Transparency". You will now have an invisible background in your image. If you want/need to blend the edges of your image into any specific BG colour (like the one your Web page uses), open the "Matting" dropdown menu and choose a suitable option.

Careful...
One thing to take note of in this situation is that if your layers above the 'Background' layer are set to any other Blend Mode than Normal, you may lose any blending effects you've created, using the colour from the background layer. If this happens, simply Ctrl+Shift-Click on all of the layers that use a specific blend mode effect (to select each layer's contents collectively). Then click on the B'ackground' layer and press Ctrl+J. This will create a new layer that will fill your selection with the BG colour you're using - thus preserving any special blending mode effects you've created.
When you're done this, then you can turn off the 'Background' layer, as mentioned earlier.

Hope this helps anyone wanting to know how to create Transparent gifs from their normal Photoshop images.

PS: Beth... you can make the 'default' Background layer editable by simply double-clicking it and reNaming it. That turns it into a normal layer with transparency characteristics. Then you can turn down the layer's Opacity if you want to make it invisible.

Is that what you were referring to?

Mark...

[This message was edited by theKeeper on July 12, 2001 at 01:54.]