Transparent Background

[Suzanne]

Wordle is brilliant. I have worked out how to change the colour of the
backgrounds using hex codes, but I would also like to create Wordles
with a transparent background so that I could add other backgrounds in
Photoshop with, say, gradient colours or 'ghosted' pictures. Is there
any way I can do this?

[strathview]

Yes, this can be done, but the hard work to create the transparent
background is done on your graphics programme not wordle. I don't use
photoshop very often but usually use (the free) paint.net from www.getpaint.net
which is very good. Take a screen shot of your wordle and paste it
into a new layer in your graphics programme. Then for example you
could paste it again into another new layer and set the transparency
(paint.net calls it opacity) of that layer to a lower amount. In
Paint.Net there is also a "mode" for the layer which I set to multiple
which helps with the doubling/ghosting effect as well.

I've done a very quick and not very good example here:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v678/BAW448/doublewordle.jpg

If you need step by step instructions let me know.

Rob
http://www.strathviewconsultants.co.uk

[Kojaks43]

Yes, Wordle is brilliant.

I'm guessing you wanted to make the background transparent while you
were in Wordle. Sadly,you must make the Wordle with an opaque
background. Once you are happy with it, make the screen shot. Then
allow Photoshop to do it's magic.

I use Paint.net. In Paint.net, I select the "tolerance" and the
"flood" mode to be "global", then, using the magic wand tool, click on
the background and delete it. et viola, transparent background. Just
save that as the type of file you wish. I use Paint.net because it is
free. I know you can do the same thing using Adobe's Photoshop. The
"global" allows Paint.net to include the background inside of letters
like "o", "d", "e", "a" etc.

I hope this was clear and helpful.

k

[Suzanne]

Thank you for very much Rob and Kojak for confirming, as I thought,
that you cannot create a transparent background in Wordle. I like the
sound of paint.net and particularly the ‘global’ facility to include
the inside of the letters. I cannot find a similar facility on
Photoshop and therefore have been clicking inside each and every ‘o’,
‘d’, ‘e’ and so on (hence my query).

As I am self-taught and work on my own, I really appreciate being able
to ‘float’ a problem and to get careful and considered replies such as
yours. Your time and trouble is much appreciated.

Suzanne

[Kojaks43]

Suzanne, as long as you have Photoshop, don't bother with Paint.net.
Your instinct is correct, float your problem at a Photoshop forum. I
am certain you will get an answer that equals what Paint.net does with
"global"
good luck,
k

[JEF]

It is easy to remove the background in photoshop. Just save the file
to PDF and open it in photoshop.

Go to "Select" menu and then "color range". Click the eye dropper on
the background color in the image. Click ok and all instances of the
background color will be highlighted. Then press delete and you will
have your worldle cloud on a transparent background.

You can then add a layer below it with a new (and more complex)
background such as a gradient. I also like to apply a stroke to the
top layer which really makes it stand out.

On Jul 2, 6:52 am, Suzanne <sue.crouch...@btinternet.com> wrote: