By creating a transparent background for an image, lower layers are allowed to show through without whitespace or unwanted parts of the image. To achieve this effect, you can create a transparent background for an image or make an existing image's background transparent.
Using the Transparency Option
You can use the Transparency option to create an image on a single layer with no background color values.
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From the File menu, select New...
The New dialog box appears.
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In the Name text box, type the name of your image
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Set the width and height for the image
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From the Background Contents pull-down list, select Transparent
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Click OK
Creating Transparency
When creating a transparent background, the colors that you select in the Color Table will become transparent; therefore, this will work best if the background has been deleted or converted to a solid color.
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Open or create the desired image
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Adjust the background of the image as necessary
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From the File menu, select Save for Web & Devices...
The Save For Web & Devices dialog box appears.
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On the Color Table palette, select a swatch color that you would like to become transparent in your image
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At the bottom of the Color Table palette, click MAPS SELECTED COLORS TO TRANSPARENT
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OPTIONAL: Repeat steps 9 and 10 until you achieve the desired effect
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Click SAVE
The Save Optimized As dialog box appears.
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From the Save in pull-down list, select the desired location to save your file
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In the File name text box, type a name for your image
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Click SAVE
The image is now saved with its transparencies.
NOTE: If the Replace Files dialog box appears, click REPLACE
Deleting an Existing Background
Removing the background color with the Magic Wand Option works best if the image has a simple one-color background. However, if you have a complex, multicolored background (e.g., the background in a photograph) you will want to use the Select Inverse Option.
Deleting a Background: Magic Wand Option
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In the Layers palette, double click the background layer
NOTE: This may be the only layer present.
The New Layer dialog box appears.
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In the Name text box, verify that it reads Layer 0
NOTE: Do not make changes to the Opacity and Mode settings.
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Click OK
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From the Toolbox, select Magic Wand Tool
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In the image, click the background
NOTES:
The Magic Wand tool selects similar colors in the vicinity of where you click.
An animated dashed line appears around the background or area of similar color.
HINTS:
To add to the selected area, press and hold [Shift] while clicking.
To deselect areas, press and hold [Alt] while clicking.
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Once the background is selected, press [Delete]
The background (or selected area) becomes transparent.
- OPTIONAL: If the image has a multicolored background (e.g., the background of a photograph), and you choose not to use the Select Inverse Option, you may find it necessary to repeat steps 5-6 to delete the remaining parts of the background or to delete other parts of the photo you want transparent.
Deleting a Background: Select Inverse Option
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In the Layers palette, double click the background layer
NOTE: This may be the only layer present.
The New Layer dialog box appears.
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In the Name text box, verify that it reads Layer 0
NOTE: Do not make changes to the Opacity and Mode settings.
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Click OK
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From the Toolbox, select an appropriate selection tool
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Select the area of the image you want to remain visible
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From the Select menu, select Inverse
The background of your image is now selected.
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Press Delete
The background (or the area around your selected image) becomes transparent.
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