Transparent Gif – the dumbest question of the year….

FB
Posted By
Frank_Bright
Apr 24, 2004
Views
260
Replies
4
Status
Closed
Hi-
I’m on Win XP Pro, PS CS, IR CS. I know it’s crazy, but I can’t get the background of my gif image to be transparent. I created it originally as a jpeg, but now I want the background to be transparent. I’ve done a right-click on the color layer and chosen transparency; I’ve searched around with the background layer selected; I’ve saved it into ImageReady, clicked Gif on the optimize tab, and checked the box that says ‘transparency’ and still it carries the background with it when I export it to my web page.
My apologies in advance for my stupidity – many thanks for your help,…Frank
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S
sboerner
Apr 24, 2004
Frank, you should erase the background to transparency first before importing it into ImageReady. That’s how the app knows which pixels are supposed to be transparent when you optimize the image. (You’ll need to turn it into a layered image first.)

Or you can define a transparent background color in Photoshop and save the file as a GIF from there. Convert the image to Indexed Color and select Image > Mode > Color Table.

ImageReady is easier though. Suggest you search the ImageReady help file for "transparent gif."

SB
FB
Frank_Bright
Apr 24, 2004
Hey SB-
Thanks. The ImageReady method may be easier. I guess I get a little shy about deleting layers, even when it’s the obvious thing to do. I’m not sure what you meant by saying "turn it into a layered image first". Could you elaborate on that if possible ? I also have another important and related question as well. When I put a transparent gif image on a web page – especially text images – the edges never settle very smoothly or sharply. They’re always jagged looking. What’s the best way to remedy that ? Is that what a matte is for ? It’s like needing an anti-alias edge, but I don’t think that’s possible with gifs.
Many Thanks,…Frank
L
LenHewitt
Apr 24, 2004
Frank,

In Photoshop’s Save for web>GIF colour palette you can drag any colour(s) to the transparency icon and it (they) will become transparent
S
sboerner
Apr 24, 2004
Frank,

Since your original image was a jpeg, I’m assuming it’s a flat document — no layers. To turn it into a layered document in Photoshop, just double-click the background layer in the layers palette and click "OK" when the layer options box pops up. Now, when you erase data on the image, you will erase to transparency instead of to the background color.

Yes, you can use a matte to reduce the effect of aliasing around the edges of transparent areas in a GIF image. Again, I’d strongly suggest that you refer to the help file — the information on how to do that is all there.

Len -> Thanks for the tip. That sounds easier than using the Color Table. I rarely use Save for Web in Photoshop … I skip right to ImageReady. Sounds like I should check it out.

SB

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