How do I make an image transparent? - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Grondar · 04-24-2003, 06:58 PM

If you look to the left of this post, you will see my avatar (Stewie from the Family Guy).

I took a screenshot and then copied the color of TFP, so that I could use it as the background color for my new avatar. However, it seems that TFP variates the "shade" of green used for each reply, so it seems I will have to make the background of my avatar transparent so that it will look right ("clear") regardless of what the background is.

Does anyone know how to make an image/background transparent? I have Paint Shop Pro, and only do basic things with it..

For those of you that do know, do you think you could explain what I need to do in order to make the background of my Stewie avatar transparent?

I realise someone could just do it for me (and that would be appreciated as well), but I figure I might as well make a learning experience out of this if at all possible.

Any help/advice with this would be greatly appreciated, as it is something I have been wondering how to do for awhile, and have never really taken the time to learn.

Thank you.

yournamehere · 04-24-2003, 08:18 PM

As far as I know, only .gif files (Which it appears Stewie is) have transparent qualities. I believe PSP should be able to do that - it's been awhile, but I believe you just select the color you wish to be transparent - probably under a tools, or image menu - use the help - just type in "transparent" - it should tell you how.

Or just wait until someone more knowledgeable than me comes along and posts.

Grondar · 04-24-2003, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by yournamehere
As far as I know, only .gif files (Which it appears Stewie is) have transparent qualities. I believe PSP should be able to do that - it's been awhile, but I believe you just select the color you wish to be transparent - probably under a tools, or image menu - use the help - just type in "transparent" - it should tell you how.

Or just wait until someone more knowledgeable than me comes along and posts.

Hey, thanks a lot!

It was in fact under the "Colors" menu, and it was really easy to do!

Thanks much, as you really helped me out!

yournamehere · 04-24-2003, 08:42 PM

Glad that between the two of us, we stumbled through it!

clavus · 04-24-2003, 09:01 PM

You know .gif files can be animated too. You could make Stewie do one of those "Keep on truckin'" walks

BubblegumTeflon · 04-25-2003, 03:45 AM

Transparency is created by an alpha channel. An alpha channel is like a red or a blue color channel, except that it determines how visible something is rather than how red or blue something is. Image formats with alpha channels are GIFs and PNGs. GIFs have one-bit transparency but the cool part about PNGs is they can have 8 or even 24-bit for cool effects; objects can be partially transparent instead of visible/not visible. With modern browsers that can read PNG format, you can have web pages with cool transparency effects.

To make parts of a GIF transparent all you have to do is turn off parts of the alpha channel and you're set. Hope this advice helps with more general applications of image transparency.

04-24-2003, 06:58 PM	#1 (permalink)
Grondar Junkie Location: Pa, USA	How do I make an image transparent? If you look to the left of this post, you will see my avatar (Stewie from the Family Guy). I took a screenshot and then copied the color of TFP, so that I could use it as the background color for my new avatar. However, it seems that TFP variates the "shade" of green used for each reply, so it seems I will have to make the background of my avatar transparent so that it will look right ("clear") regardless of what the background is. Does anyone know how to make an image/background transparent? I have Paint Shop Pro, and only do basic things with it.. For those of you that do know, do you think you could explain what I need to do in order to make the background of my Stewie avatar transparent? I realise someone could just do it for me (and that would be appreciated as well), but I figure I might as well make a learning experience out of this if at all possible. Any help/advice with this would be greatly appreciated, as it is something I have been wondering how to do for awhile, and have never really taken the time to learn. Thank you.

04-24-2003, 08:18 PM	#2 (permalink)
yournamehere Invisible Location: tentative, at best	As far as I know, only .gif files (Which it appears Stewie is) have transparent qualities. I believe PSP should be able to do that - it's been awhile, but I believe you just select the color you wish to be transparent - probably under a tools, or image menu - use the help - just type in "transparent" - it should tell you how. Or just wait until someone more knowledgeable than me comes along and posts. __________________ If you want to avoid 95% of internet spelling errors: "If your ridiculous pants are too loose, you're definitely going to lose them. Tell your two loser friends over there that they're going to lose theirs, too." It won't hurt your fashion sense, either.

04-24-2003, 08:42 PM	#4 (permalink)
yournamehere Invisible Location: tentative, at best	Glad that between the two of us, we stumbled through it! __________________ If you want to avoid 95% of internet spelling errors: "If your ridiculous pants are too loose, you're definitely going to lose them. Tell your two loser friends over there that they're going to lose theirs, too." It won't hurt your fashion sense, either.

04-24-2003, 09:01 PM	#5 (permalink)
clavus pow! Location: NorCal	You know .gif files can be animated too. You could make Stewie do one of those "Keep on truckin'" walks __________________ Ass, gas or grass. Nobody rides for free.

04-25-2003, 03:45 AM	#6 (permalink)
BubblegumTeflon Insane	Transparency is created by an alpha channel. An alpha channel is like a red or a blue color channel, except that it determines how visible something is rather than how red or blue something is. Image formats with alpha channels are GIFs and PNGs. GIFs have one-bit transparency but the cool part about PNGs is they can have 8 or even 24-bit for cool effects; objects can be partially transparent instead of visible/not visible. With modern browsers that can read PNG format, you can have web pages with cool transparency effects. To make parts of a GIF transparent all you have to do is turn off parts of the alpha channel and you're set. Hope this advice helps with more general applications of image transparency.