PNG Graphics

[Karey1970]

How do I go about making any ole graphic or pic a PNG file without the white box around it? Do I need special software and is there any freeware you might be aware of? Thanks in advance!!

[Linda]

Using GIMP to make png transparencies

Hi Karey,

You can download the Gimp and it's free, not just a trial. It does most things the expensive programs do.

Download at:http://www.gimp.org/windows/


TUTORIAL FOR MAKING PNG TRANSPARENCIES USING GIMP

1.Open your clipart in the Gimp program
2.Go to layer & click on transparency, click to the right for menu
3.Click on add alpha channel
4.Go to tools-selection tools-fuzzy select
5.Click on your white background
6.Go to edit & click on cut
7.Go to file-save as. Name your document. Choose folder you want to save in.
8.Click on select file type-click on png- click on save.
9.In the box that comes up, place a checkmark beside:
save background color; save resolution; save color values.
10.Hit ok
This sounds like a lot of steps, but it's really fast & easy to do.

Doing this will get rid of the dreaded "white box".
If you have any problems, PM me and I will try to help you.

[*eng*]

Ooh Linda, thank you, I'm going to copy this. Does it work on black as well. S'cuse my ignorance!

[Linda]

Yes, it does work on black, too. It took me a long time to figure out how to make the pngs, but now they are so easy. This can also be done using Photoshop Elements and Paint Shop Pro, but it's done a little differently in each program. Here's the tutorial for PE:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Instructions to remove white background from Clipart or embellishments using Photoshop Elements
1.Open your clipart picture or embellishment you want to make transparent.
2.Double-click on background layer. It should say new layer O. Click ok.
3.Click on the white background with the magic wand; you should see the “marching ants” now.
4.Go to edit and click cut. You should now have a checkerboard background.
5.Go to file and then to save for web. A new screen comes up. Be sure it says PNG-24 and there is a checkmark beside transparency. Click ok.
6.You get your save box so you can choose the folder you want to save it in and a file name. Be sure the save type in PNG.

[Granny]

Excellent explanations, Linda. I had downloaded the Gimp, but could not figure out how to do it. PE also. I use other programs, but it's nice to know more just in case.

Thank you so much for your help.

Granny

[*eng*]

Yes, it does work on black, too. It took me a long time to figure out how to make the pngs, but now they are so easy. This can also be done using Photoshop Elements and Paint Shop Pro, but it's done a little differently in each program. Here's the tutorial for PE:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Instructions to remove white background from Clipart or embellishments using Photoshop Elements
1.Open your clipart picture or embellishment you want to make transparent.
2.Double-click on background layer. It should say new layer O. Click ok.
3.Click on the white background with the magic wand; you should see the “marching ants” now.
4.Go to edit and click cut. You should now have a checkerboard background.
5.Go to file and then to save for web. A new screen comes up. Be sure it says PNG-24 and there is a checkmark beside transparency. Click ok.
6.You get your save box so you can choose the folder you want to save it in and a file name. Be sure the save type in PNG.

Thank you so much!I have tried to download the gimp but I can't even do that without complicating matters! I shall get my son to do it...I can see his looks of despair already lol!

[crops2dawn]

Hi Karey,

You can download the Gimp and it's free, not just a trial. It does most things the expensive programs do.

Download at:http://www.gimp.org/windows/


TUTORIAL FOR MAKING PNG TRANSPARENCIES USING GIMP

1.Open your clipart in the Gimp program
2.Go to layer & click on transparency, click to the right for menu
3.Click on add alpha channel
4.Go to tools-selection tools-fuzzy select
5.Click on your white background
6.Go to edit & click on cut
7.Go to file-save as. Name your document. Choose folder you want to save in.
8.Click on select file type-click on png- click on save.
9.In the box that comes up, place a checkmark beside:
save background color; save resolution; save color values.
10.Hit ok
This sounds like a lot of steps, but it's really fast & easy to do.

Doing this will get rid of the dreaded "white box".
If you have any problems, PM me and I will try to help you.

Oh I have tried downloading the gimp and go sooo confused! I had to download two parts of it then when I finally got it set Up I had no idea what to do with it soo I deleted it! Man where were you a few weeks ago LOL

[MaggieMae]

Thank U

Hi Linda,

I'm going to try this - I was a miserable failure at PS Elements and decided to give up. I have a question - when you said clip art did you mean just clipart or can it be pictures of items?

Thanks!

[Linda]

You're very welcome! I'm so glad I could help you! I know how I stuggled with it when I first started. It was great when I finally figured it out!

While I'm at it, I'll give you the directions for Paint Shop Pro Photo. Then you have 3 choices.

Transparent background using Paint Shop Pro:

1. Open your image
2. Click on image- palette- set palette transparency
3. Export as png optimizer
4 Save where you want it.

[Linda]

Any picture with a background.

[*eng*]

Oh good, I don't feel such a numpty now!

[autisticwonder]

This is really good info!! THANKS for the hellp!

[*eng*]

Well son says 'I have no idea'. I keep getting an error message when I try to downlos. Do you have simple simple simple instuctions for downloading

[Linda]

I'm sorry you are having problems downloading. You can get some help here:

http://gimp-win.sourceforge.net/

and here:

http://gimp-win.sourceforge.net/stable.html

Download all of these (choose between the 2nd & 3rd according to your version of windows to get the entire program. Be sure and close all other programs while you are doing this so nothing will interfere. You might also try re-booting your computer before downloading.
This is really a great program and so easy to use.

This page has a direct download link. I just used it to update my own Gimp. I didn't know they had a new version out so I learned something too!

http://sourceforge.net/project/downloading.php?groupname=gimp-win&filename=gimp-2.2.13-i586-setup-1.zip&use_mirror=easynews

Hope this gets you going!

[crazcat3835]

Linda, thanks for sharing this info for GIMP -- i downloaded and tried my hand at changing clipart into transparent and it works great.. ur instructions are very precise.. thanks again for the tutorial!!