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View Full Version : Creating Transparent Images

ByteWizard
11-09-2002, 05:20 PM
I cannot create a simple transparent image....just text on a transparent background. I have Adobe and of course MS Paint on Win 2000 Pro. What am I doing wrong. I seem to create the simple image just as the FD say, and yet the background is not transparent.

Frustrated!
DCElliott
11-09-2002, 05:30 PM
You must save as *.gif, specifying a transparent color. Depending on the application, you specify the transparent color before or during the save.
ByteWizard
11-09-2002, 05:42 PM
I save as *.gif, I specify the transparent color up front when creating the new image, I set the background to the specified transparent color, enter the text in a contrasting color, and save the image.

NOT TRANSPARENT!!! This is what is driving me up the wall.
ByteWizard
11-09-2002, 05:46 PM
DC.... Just saw your tag line.

I think there are 11 types of people... Your 2 and those who used to think in rectal (octal)..
DCElliott
11-09-2002, 05:47 PM
Here is an idea.

Post the image by attaching it to your next message.

I can then take a look at what color is "indexed" to be transparent. OK
ByteWizard
11-09-2002, 05:53 PM
Thanks a bunch. Image attached. Attempted to use 255/255/128
DCElliott
11-09-2002, 06:19 PM
It appears to me that the wrong color was chosen. On my system it shows the index for the transparent color to be 191. I saved it with the transparency set and it appears OK below.

Couple other tips: If you are looking for a really small but legible font, check out silkscreen font (http://www.kottke.org/plus/type/silkscreen/) Verdana was also designed to be very legible at small point sizes.

If you are trying to match transparent color by eye, that may not be working. If you have the bundled Microsoft Photo Editor - comes with Microsoft Office, you can plop the image in there: copy it and then, in the Photo Editor do Edit|Paste as new Image. There is a transparency tool to the right of what looks like a little sun on the toolbar. Just click on the tool, then on the color you want rendered transparent. Save the sucker and you are home free.
ByteWizard
11-09-2002, 06:51 PM
Many thanks DC.

If you are not the lead dog
the view never changes