Transparent image using the Gimp

On the header image, make sure that you have transparency enabled. Click on Layer -> Transparency -> Add Alpha Channel.

PSS: I know, I know, I need to get something better than Gimp. But its free

There is nothing wrong with The Gimp. I use it all the time, and it works great.

I use the Gimp all the time too. It has some fantastic features and functions that produce great effects with hardly any knowledge or input required.

Ok, Iv clicked on Layer and pressed Add alpha channel to the header but the black background still appears when i paste the .png file that has no background. Any ideas what to try next?

Thanks

What is the type of image that you are copying the source image to (gif,jpg,png)?

The header image is a .png and the image im trying to put on it is a .xcf

Cheers

Ok, Iv clicked on Layer and pressed Add alpha channel to the header but the black background still appears when i paste the .png file that has no background. Any ideas what to try next?

You need to select the black bg and delete it. (use the magic wand tool)

You will see the alpha layer revealed, a kind of gray checkerboard. Now you're ready to save it.

I usually save transparent images as png, but I think gif will do too.

Yes, the Gimp is my main image editor (I ain't no designer, though)

I also play around with Inkscape, a free vector graphics app (like Illustrator)

Gimp is fine for Web work, in my opinion. A lot of people illegally copy Photoshop; if they were forced to pay for it, I believe there would be many more Gimp users out there.

Incidentally, have you tried importing the .png by going to File -> Open as Layers. Then selecting the .png image?

Hope this helps.

You could also try deleting the background on your original and than save as a new name to save the original. All I use is the gimp and inkscape for web work and i have never had it do that to me.

You could also try making the new image; advanced options; Fill with: set to transparency and make sure Color space is set to RGB not grayscale. Than select the black background with the magic wand tool and delete it.

You shouldn't have to select it by color and delete the background if you didn't have one to begin with. If possible, could you post the two images? I can try to combine them to see if I get the same problem.

Hey guys, thanks for all your help. Iv been playing around with it and managed to make it work. Yeahhhh

I pressed Alpha to Selection and bang when i pasted the image on my header the background was no more.

Don't understand how it worked but it did so im not complaining.

Thanks again, you guys are smart

Hi, I've been trying to get these suggestions to work. Very new at Gimp. I have an image that is an alpha .bmp. When I click on it in the Open list, I see it with the checkerboard behind it, but when I actually open the image it just looks white behind it. When I copy/paste to a new image, the white background copies too, even when pressing Alpha to Selection and trying just copy, copy visible and even select by color, then trying those copy options. What am I doing wrong? I'm missing a step somewhere and I just know this can be done without erasing the white.

P.S. I'm trying to paste the alpha image into a New Image in Gimp. I'm trying to make a display with several different views/styles of a clothing ensemble. I took a bunch of pictures, saved them as alphas in Gimp (with no background)...but now I seem unable to copy just the image itself without this white background that's appearing out of nowhere.

Never mind...geez, I got it right after I posted. I guess just posting a problem gets the mind working...funny how that works. Anyway, so I went back to my original .bmp image and this time after making it an alpha image, saved it as a .xcf. Then all I had to do is copy visible and paste to the New Image. That's just what I wanted, so that once I have my 10 or so images in the New Image I can drag them around and arrange them the way I want. Yay...frustration over.

Thanks vladmm...it was you saying you have a .xcf that tipped me off that I saved the alpha image in the wrong format. Even though it looked like an alpha, it didn't work like one.

You can use .png for alpha images.

friend don't mind please tell me about Gimp i don't know about it i want to know about it, i am using only photoshopCS3 except it i never used anything so i am very much interested to know more about it, you all are very experienced than me in this so i need your advice so please share your knowledge with me.waiting for your reply, hope anyone of you help me out.