Re: Making background transparent
John Inzer
> I am using Picture It 7.0. I have two pictures - plant
> branches and the other of a flower. I have cropped the
> flower quite close. I want to put the flower on top of
> the branches. I then want the branches to show up around
> the flower. In other words, the background of the flower
> picture must be transparent. How can I do that? I don't
> want to fade to transparent or anything like that.
>
> I know that in WORD on the picture toolbar there is a
> "pen" that allows making the background transparent.
> Can't find a similar thing in Picture It. If only I could
> save the WORD doc to a jpeg format that would save the
> day.
>
> Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.
>
> Norm.
====================================
I'm thinking you require a cutout.
Open the flower picture and go to...Format /
Create a cutout.
Using the "Tracing an area on my own" option...
you can outline the portion of the flower you wish
to add to the other image. If you take your time...
(click / move your pointer...click / move your
pointer) you can make a very accurate cutout.
When the selection is defined...click the "Close
outline" button / Next...
Choose..."In a separate project" / Done.
Now open your Branches picture and drag
the flower cutout from your stack onto the
image.
You can position the cutout by dragging with
the 4 way arrow or nudge it with your arrow
keys.
Also, the cutout can be resized by dragging
the corner handles.
--
John Inzer
MS Picture It! MVP
How to ask a newsgroup question:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375
doglover4JC
having the same trouble making an image transparent but I don't want to layer
it on top of anything. I cut out an image, converted it to a painting and
saved it. I want to insert it into a banner on a web page but when I do the
cutout of the picture is sournded by a white background. I couldn't just save
the image; what was saved was the image "on" the canvas. Can anyone help me?
Alex
Mary
You didn't say what version of PI or DIP you are using, but first any time
you cut something out and want it to be transparent, always save as a GIF or
PNG (or in older versions MIX).
To get the white out you will have to cut it out. If you have the selection
tool, in DIP 7/9/10/2006 then just open the program and your graphic, then
click on the selection tool's magic wand and click on the white area, once
it is selected, you will just click EDIT/DELETE on your menu bar.
If you have an older version you will have to go to where you will find MAKE
A CUTOUT, MS has moved it and changed the name, but it is in every program.
You would have to go in, click on the white area, it should turn pinkish if
you are in the right area...LOL! Before you click done, you will have to
click CHOOSE OPPOSITE AREA (or something like that) so that it makes the
actual part you want unmilky looking, then click done and it should have cut
off the white area.
You can take a look at my lessons for an idea also...
http://www.marysgraphics.com/picit/dip/cutouts/cutoutshape.html
http://www.marysgraphics.com/picit/dip/erasewand/eraserwand.html
http://www.marysgraphics.com/picit/basic/gifs.html
Good Luck!
Mary
Proud To Use Picture It! & Digital Pro!
http://www.marysgraphics.com/picit.html
"doglover4JC" <doglo...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:D7ACE1BC-DBCD-448B...@microsoft.com...
doglover4JC
but I saw someone who had the same question that I had...well, almost. I did
try to cut it out and then past it on another page but it ends up taking the
dimensions of the new canvas. So while it's still a separate object from the
canvas I save it and then when I try to import it intomy html document it
ends up having a square white background, which is the canvas. Now, if I were
to import it into a desktop publishing document I can edit the selection
handles and get rid of all that extra white space.
John Inzer
> Actually I have digital image pro 9. I'm not sure exactly
> how I ended up here but I saw someone who had the same
> question that I had...well, almost. I did try to cut it
> out and then past it on another page but it ends up
> taking the dimensions of the new canvas. So while it's
> still a separate object from the canvas I save it and
> then when I try to import it intomy html document it ends
> up having a square white background, which is the canvas.
> Now, if I were to import it into a desktop publishing
> document I can edit the selection handles and get rid of
> all that extra white space.
As Mary explained...try saving your DIP9
cutout as a .gif.
How to save your Cutout as a separate
object in DIP9:
Relatively easy to do...complicated to explain.
To make the basic cutout you must use your
"Advanced Selection Tools".
With your image open in PIP9...left click the
"Marquee" tool on your toolbar. Also your
"Selection" button must be clicked. Now, on
your Marquee pallette you will have a "Shape"
fly out menu. Choosing the circle will allow
you to create your oval. (also you must
uncheck, "Shape Proportions")
Now...just...left click/drag after you select your
choice of shapes. Once you have your shape
on the image...left click the "Adjust Marquee"
button...this will allow you to resize and reposition
the shape.
When you're satisfied with the shape and content
of your selection...type...Ctrl / C...this will place a
copy of your selection on your windows clipboard.
Continue, for instructions on how to save your
cutout as a separate project.
All versions of Picture It! with the exception of
version 9 have an option in the cutout tool called
"In a separate project". This will place the cutout
on a proper sized canvas, and all you have to do
is save it.
For version 9 try the following work around....
Make your cutout and type...Ctrl / C...to copy the
cutout to your clip board. (BTW...Ctrl / D...will layer
a copy of the cutout onto the original image.)
Left click the "New" button on your toolbar to
create a 4x6" blank.
With the blank on screen...type...Ctrl / V...this will
place the cutout on the canvas.
Now, with the cutout selected... go to...Format /
Resize Object to Fit Canvas / Scale to Fit...this
will center the cutout on the blank.
Now, if the cutout does not fill the blank horizontally
and vertically...you can go to...Format / Crop /
Canvas and left click / drag a selection box around
the cutout...then left click done and your canvas
will fit your cutout.
Whew!
doglover4JC
it. First of all, this image, though converted to a painting, was a
photograph and when I save it in gif format the image is totally ruined.
There are too many gradations of color. Second, I think all the instructions
you just wrote (bless your heart:) were for Picture It and I have Digital
Image Pro 9. I know how to use the selection tools to cut out the image and
copy it to the clipboard and paste it into a new canvas. I also know how to
resize the canvas and make the image fit to the canvas. The only thing is,
the canvas is square and my picture is not. In fact, it is an image of a dove
and I cannot make the canvas conform to the outline of the dove. Is digital
image pro not really good software? I'm taking a web design class right now
and the teacher never heard of it before. I'm wondering if I should buy Paint
Shop Pro or just move on to Photoshop. I just don't want to buy other
software if it just does the same thing that DIP 9 does. Thanks for any help.
John Inzer
> Okay. Sorry to keep this going but if I can really get
> the help I would love it. First of all, this image,
> though converted to a painting, was a photograph and when
> I save it in gif format the image is totally ruined.
> There are too many gradations of color. Second, I think
> all the instructions you just wrote (bless your heart:)
> were for Picture It and I have Digital Image Pro 9. I
> know how to use the selection tools to cut out the image
> and copy it to the clipboard and paste it into a new
> canvas. I also know how to resize the canvas and make the
> image fit to the canvas. The only thing is, the canvas is
> square and my picture is not. In fact, it is an image of
> a dove and I cannot make the canvas conform to the
> outline of the dove. Is digital image pro not really good
> software? I'm taking a web design class right now and the
> teacher never heard of it before. I'm wondering if I
> should buy Paint Shop Pro or just move on to Photoshop. I
> just don't want to buy other software if it just does the
> same thing that DIP 9 does. Thanks for any help.
Yes, the instructions are for DIP9.
The canvas will always be there, the idea is
to find a format that will make it transparent.
Try other formats, .tif or .png-plus for example.
Paint Shop Pro and Photoshop offer 30 day
evaluation versions...I guess you'll have to try
them and decide for yourself. Get ready
for a steep learning curve.
doglover4JC
accept other formats and so it's best to stick to gif. and jpg. when you said
to get ready for a steep learning curve do you mean because Paint Shop Pro
and Photoshop are so much more advanced? Because if they are then that's what
I want.
kimlizzy
the same. I opened a background I had previously made. Using the
marquee tool, I marked out a bird shape. Then I clicked on the Object
Tool (left diagonal arrow on toolbar.) Now right click on the bird and
"copy". Go to File/New/Done. In DIP10, the canvas size is
automatically the same size as your "copied" graphic - not sure about
DIP9. Right click on the new canvas and "paste". I saved as a gif
file. I added the bird to my webpage and the background is
transparent. (When you see the bird on the "canvas" in DIP it appears
to be white around it. That is just the canvas in DIP. It doesn't
save with the white around it when saved as png, png+ or gif.
kimlizzy
kimlizzy
linked to my main webpage. Just graphics for my own use.) I use IE
and when I view the page there is no white around the bird.
http://www.members.iinet.net.au/~kimlizzy/animations.htm
Kim
Mary
they are really hard to understand how to use!
I have used PI/DIP since I have had a computer, and have never ever read a
book on how to use them...but then I know how to use it and how to "fake"
things while using. But when it came to PSP, I had to buy a book just to be
able to do basic stuff! I also sit there and think to myself "why am I
sitting here trying to learn this program, when I can go to my PI/DIP and
get it done" LOL!!
Anyways, you can do a search for paint shop pro or photo shop. There are
tons and tons of lessons out there for psp and it is a very good program if
you want to take the time to learn it :-)
Good Luck,
Mary
"doglover4JC" <doglo...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:10603FEB-46AF-43F4...@microsoft.com...
John Inzer
> I guess I'm stuck, then, because
> my instructor said that not all web
> browsers accept other formats
> and so it's best to stick to gif. and
> jpg. when you said to get ready
> for a steep learning curve do you
> mean because Paint Shop Pro
> and Photoshop are so much more
> advanced? Because if they are
> then that's what I want.
What I mean is that Digital Image
Pro is a very powerful program that
is user friendly and very intuitive...
the other programs we discussed
are much harder to learn.
Why not download the evaluation
versions and try them for yourself.
BTW, no matter which program you
choose...the format for saving a
cutout that requires transparency
will still be the same.
There are some tutorials at the following
link that may give you a better view
of the various programs.
Scrapbook-Bytes Digital Image Pro Tutorials
http://tinyurl.com/dd4tl
doglover4JC
working on doesn't have much RAM? (I can't remember what it's called but it
doesn't have enough of something to run a lot of programs that require so
much to run) I'm not sure if I download a trial version if I will be able to
uninstall it at a later date. I was probably going to end up getting
photoshop for my Mac. I'm just more comfortable on the PC and I thought that
if there was some really preofessional software out there for a PC that is
comparable to software for the Mac I might invest in getting a new system.
When you say that I will have to use the same method to make the
background transparent on whatever software I use, it sounds like you are
saying that it "is" possible to do this in DIP9. I was thinking that I
couldn't do it in DIP9 but I probably could in a more indepth program.
John Inzer
> it sounds like you are saying that it "is"
> possible to do this in DIP9.
Several of us have told you this is
certainly possible...apparently we
are not communicating. And if you
are viewing and reading the content
at the links we have provided for you...
it is not reflected in your replies.
Maybe it would be best if you ask
your teacher for instructions.
doglover4JC
these need to be displayed in jpeg format. Gif is good for compressing images
that contain just a few colors, hand-drawn images or images with 256 colors
or less. When I tried to save it as a gif the canvas was transparent but the
image looked horrible. Thanks anyway.
doglover4JC
only way to make the background transparent from what I have learned from
what you guys have told me is to save it in Gif. format. And, if you have
really read my posts, which I thought you have, you can see that I said the
photograph is too detailed for it to be saved in this format and uploaded
successfully as it should look. I'm sorry for going back and forth but I've
been trying everything that has been said and I have appreciated the
suggestions. I will quit now.
John Inzer
I will quit now.
==============
Excellent!
doglover4JC
so much maybe you shouldn't respond to people.
John Inzer
> You really are rude and make this site
> not worth going to. If it bothers you so
> much maybe you shouldn't respond
> to people.
Rude...no, I'm simply tired of you asking
the same question ad nauseum. Mary
correctly answered your question in her
first reply three days ago...the remainder
of this thread has been a total waste of
time.
Mary
Gotta say that if you have a problem with wanting not to save in GIF, then
you would need to go to a way higher source, because in the world of
computers you can not ever get a transparent background if you save in jpeg.
Yes gif will change and sometimes really mess up your graphic, but that is
just the way computers work and no program can help you out with this
problem.
Although if you think DIP changes your gif, you should try PI99! That
program was horrible when saving in gif format!!! Our program has come a
long way!
But again there is no program that can do what you want. It is a computer
fact that you can not save a jpeg and get a transparent background. But if
your graphic/photo is large enough to upset you with the loss of pixels and
colors you might try making it much smaller, sometimes you don't notice it
as much when it is smaller!
Good Luck,
Mary
"doglover4JC" <doglo...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:0B003854-1BFE-491F...@microsoft.com...