Can't get Transparent on new graphic!!

[MarybethG]

No matter which one I pick for a new graphic (Content choices white, background color, transparent) I can't seem to cut out the background-it is always white. I have been using the Photoshop for several years, but this is my first time in needing a transparent background. I can't figure it out, and it is very frustrating. My new web site has a blue background.
The white boxes around my graphic is aggravating me! The paint bucket
doesn't work either-I get an error

Marybeth Gallagher

[Andrei Doubrovski]

Hi Marybeth,
- What is the "Color Mode" of your new document? "Transparent" option is not available for "Bitmap" images.

Note also, that on your web pages the GIFs' transparency may not look clean enough. Perhaps, blue background would work better in your case (define your background color before opening "New Document" dialog").

[Tips]

Greetings, Marybeth

Well, you didn't say what kind of image you're starting with, nor any real 'description' of the image.

However, if you want a transparent image for the web, you'll need to make it.

If you choose "New Document" then select the "Transparent" option.

Now, create a new layer. (We'll assume you know how to do that)

Paste or create your image on that layer. The results should be the specific image "floating" in transparency.

Next, to generate a web-safe transparent image :

http://www.photoshop911.com/images/NOTE.gif Choose: File > Save for Web...

This generates the "Save for Web" dialog wherein you select :

GIF as the file format
Lossy = zero
Perceptual
Diffusion
Click ON "Transparency"

to the right you'll see "COLORS" and a number.

In the side-by-side comparison, observe how these settings have changed your image in the right pane.

Now, begin reducing the number of colors, so long as the image is not degraded. Once colors become "dithered" (spotted) you know you're removed too many colors. Begin increasing the number of colors until all dithering is gone.

Now click SAVE and there's your transparent GIF.

Now, BE AWARE -- this is the MOST brief instruction for doing what you want to do. There are many options and "tricks" that will yield far superior transparent images for the web. There have been books written on the topic.

Years ago, I did a tutorial that shares some real tricks for getting perfect edges in a transparent image by defining the colors to buffer (http://www.graphic-design.com/Photoshop/surfboard/index.html)

Even though this is for a much earlier version of Photoshop, the principles in the technique are still valid.
:cool: