Gimp how to make a transparent background

Sometimes you need to separate the subject of an image from its background. You may want to have the subject on a flat color, or keep the background transparent so you can use it on an existing background, or any other thing you have in mind. To do this, you must first use GIMP's selection tools to draw a selection around your subject. This is not an easy task, and selecting the correct tool is crucial. You have several tools to accomplish this:

• The “Free Select Tool” allows you to draw a border using either freehand or straight lines. Use this when the subject has a relatively simple shape. Read more about this tool here: Section 2.4, “Free Selection (Lasso)”

  Figure 3.40. Free Select Tool

  
  
  
  

• The “Intelligent Scissors Select tool” lets you select a freehand border and uses edge-recognition algorithms to better fit the border around the object. Use this when the subject is complex but distinct enough against its current background. Read more about this tool here: Section 2.7, “Intelligent Scissors”

  Figure 3.41. Intelligent Scissors Select Tool

  
  
  
  

• The “Foreground Select Tool” lets you mark areas as “Foreground” or “Background” and refines the selection automatically. Read more about this tool here: Section 2.8, “Foreground Select”

  Figure 3.42. Foreground Select Tool

  
  
  
  

4.10.1. Once you have selected your subject

• To fill the background with a single color:

  Click the foreground color swatch (the top left of the two overlapping colored rectangles) in the toolbox and select the desired color. Next, use Section 3.4, “Bucket Fill” to replace the background with your chosen color.

  There are two different approaches used by graphic file formats for supporting transparent image areas: simple binary transparency and alpha transparency. Simple binary transparency is supported in the GIF format; one color from the indexed color palette is marked as the transparent color. Alpha transparency is supported in the PNG format; the transparency information is stored in a separate channel, the Alpha channel.

  
  Note

  The GIF format is rarely used because PNG supports all the features of GIF with additional features (e.g., alpha transparency). Nevertheless, GIF is still used for animations.

  Procedure 6.1.  Creating an Image with Transparent Areas (Alpha Transparency)

  1. First of all, we will use the same image as in the previous tutorials, Wilber the GIMP mascot.

     Figure 6.9. The Wilber image opened in RGBA mode

     
     
     

  2. After you're done with your image, you can export it in PNG format.

  Figure 6.10. The Wilber image with transparency

  

  Mid-Tone Checks in the background layer represent the transparent region of the exported image while you are working on it in GIMP.

  Make a logo with transparent background using GIMP or Photoshop. If you want to add a logo to your picture, but can’t get rid of the background, then this guide will solve that with just a few easy steps! You don’t need special software.

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  GIMP is an open-source tool completely free to use and has many features Photoshop has to offer as well. 

  
  

  This guide will teach you:

  1. GIMP
  2. Photoshop

  NOTE

  If you do not want to download external software you can find a guide on how to make your background transparent with the online editor Picmonkey right here or by using Fotor.

  1. GIMP

  1. Setting GIMP Up

  2. Making the background transparent

  3. Exporting your logo

  1. Setting GIMP Up

  Alright, so you installed GIMP and fired it up, it will probably look similar to this.

  

  To open GIMP in one window, you go to Windows --> Single-Window Mode

  

  2. Making the background transparent

  Now open the image you want to make transparent. I’ve chosen this image:

  

  But you can use whatever image you like. To open an image go to File --> Open and then select your file. Alternatively, you can press CTRL+O.

  

  What differs GIMP and Photoshop from Paint and similar programs is that they use layers. Each layer can be edited individually, so you can edit parts of your image without having to touch the other one.

  
  

  These layers can be found in the upper right corner of your screen. To add transparency right-click the layer and select 'Add Alpha Channel'.

  

  To make the background transparent we will use the Select By Color Tool. You can use it by pressing Shift + O or going to Tools --> Selection Tools --> By Color Select.

  
  

  Press anywhere around the logo on the white space you want to erase. A moving dotted line should appear around it. Press delete and a checker-like background should appear, like so:

  

  If this isn’t the case make sure you added an alpha channel to your image, and there aren’t any other layers left. If you have a ‘Background’ layer you can delete this by right-clicking it and selecting ‘Delete Layer’.

  
  

  Congratulations! You’ve made your first logo with a transparent background!

  3. Exporting your logo

  You can’t simply ‘Save’ your image or ‘Save As’. You will save your image in .xcf format, this way it’s only suitable for an image editor. To use it on your site you have to export your image. To do this go to File --> Export As or press Shift + Ctrl + E.

  
  

  You can also choose to overwrite your file, but then the original image will be lost. A menu asking you where your file should be stored will pop up. You can also change the name of your image, make sure you add .png at the end. Formats like .jpg do not support transparency while .png does.

  

  Now press ‘Export’ and you are done!

  2. Photoshop

  In this tutorial Photoshop CS6 is being used. The performance will stay the same whether you use an older or newer version, menus may simply look a little different.

  Method 1: Magic Wand Tool

  2.1.1. Open the image

  2.1.2. Selecting Magic Wand Tool

  2.1.3. Removing Background

  2.1.4. Saving your Image

  Method 2: Polygonal Lasso Tool

  2.2.1. Open the image

  2.2.2. Polygonal Lasso Tool

  2.2.3. Removing background

  2.2.4. Saving your image

  Method 1: Magic Wand Tool

  2.1.1. Open the image

  You do this by going to File --> Open or you can press the shortcut Ctrl + O.

  

  2.1.2. Selecting Magic Wand Tool

  You can see the icon to the right of your screen in the vertical Tools Panel. Right-click the 4th icon and select the Magic Wand Tool. You can also press W as a shortcut.

  

  2.1.3. Removing Background

  Press anywhere in the background space you want to delete. A dotted line will appear indicating the area you are about to delete. If the area isn’t big enough, you can always add more to your selection by holding down Shift + clicking the area you want to add.

  
  

  If you miss clicked you can remove your entire selection by right-clicking and picking Deselect.

  
  

  A checker-like background should appear on your image.

  2.1.4. Saving your Image

  Now it’s time to save your image. Go to File --> Save as. Not all image types display transparency. Make sure your image is saved as a PNG file.

  

  Select the PNG option:

  

  Now press ‘Save’.

  
  

  You now have a transparent logo. But, there’s a second way to do this:

  Method 2: Polygonal Lasso Tool

  If your background is a little too cluttered the Magic Wand tool will not always be sufficient. In this case, we will use the Polygonal Lasso Tool.

  2.2.1. Open the image

  You do this by going to File --> Open or you can press the shortcut Ctrl + O.

  

  2.2.2. Polygonal Lasso Tool

  You can see the icon to the right of your screen in the vertical Tools Panel. Right-click the 3rd icon and select the Polygonal Lasso Tool. If you already selected it simply press L as a shortcut.

  

  2.2.3. Removing background

  You can now draw a path around what you want to delete from your image. To select more accurately you can always press Ctrl and ‘+’to zoom. To complete your selection press Ctrl + click on the final piece of your created path. Press Delete to remove the element, a checker-like background should appear at the place of the object.

  2.2.4. Saving your image

  Go to File --> Save as. Make sure your image is saved as a PNG-file. Other image types do not always support transparency.

  

  Select the PNG option:

  

  Now press ‘Save’.

  What's next?

  • Learn how to Create an Animated Background in Photoshop. A GIF can be a handy tool to get people interested in a picture. If you get very creative, moving images can capture the viewer’s attention very quickly. So it’s worth the time and effort to experiment with animated images to enhance the pictures on your website and social media platforms.
  • Edit Design Settings to customise your survey's design to match your company colors and identity. There are loads of different features for you to play around with. Each one works independently, so choose as many or as few as you fancy to customize your design!

  • Create a survey to collect data from a group of respondents in order to obtain knowledge on different topics of interest. Here’s a guide to quickly create your first great-looking survey.

    How do I make a PNG background transparent in GIMP?

    How to Make Background Transparent in Gimp.

    Click on the background of the image (the area which you want to make transparent):.

    Go to Layer -> Transparency -> Add Alpha Channel :.

    Press the Delete keyboard button:.

    Go to File -> Export As... :.

    Choose PNG file format and click on Export :.

    Click Export again:.

    And that's it!.

    How to make an image background transparent?

    Make Your Background Transparent Using Adobe Photoshop.

    Open Logo File..

    Add A Transparent Layer. Select “Layer” > “New Layer” from the menu (or just click on the square icon in the layers window). ... .

    Delete the background. ... .

    Save As A Transparent PNG Image..

    Does GIMP allow transparency?

    One of the easiest ways to create a transparent background in GIMP is by using the Fuzzy Select tool. It allows you to select areas of an image based on color similarity. This will work great if the background of the picture you're working with has different colors and structures that you need to erase.