Saving parts of a file for other uses

[Mr Brian]

I have tried saving a selected oval of a photo as a jpeg for use in a card programme that I have, but when I open the selection up in the card programme I always get a rectangle of white background which includes the selection. This background interferes with the surrounding printing or frames that I have chosen from the card programme. I would also like to save text that I have enhanced in Elements for other uses but I dont want any extra visible area. Is this possible?

[Daviskw]

Hi Brian

Standard JPG does not support transparency. Save your file as a Tiff, Gif, Png that should do it.

Butch

[Carbone]

If you're working with a photo, avoid GIF, they do not have enough colours (256) and will likely cause noticeable colour shifthing.

In your image, make sure the oval is alone, no white background (like one layer with your oval image).

Use the save for web, (File / Save For Web), then select PNG, and choose transparency (check mark).

Hope this helps!

Ray

[Ward Grant]

Pictures are actually square or rectangle. In Elements, the transparent area shows as a blue/white checkerboard. When you save as JPG, this area becomes white.

Some things to try:
1) create a background layer in Elements the same color as the stock you plan to use. When you save the file, the background will be the same color as the stock and will blend in better. If your card stock is a standard photo file (JPG or TIF) you can open the file in Editor and then use the Eyedropper Tool to get match the color.

2) See if your card stock program will accept a TIF file format. This will save your layers and the transparency should remain. When you overlay the image, it should blend in with the background.

Hope this helps. Ward

[Mr Brian]

Thanks to Butch, Ray and Ward, but I still cannot get this to work!!
Brian:(

[GaryK]

Brian

Are you talking about a selection?

If that is the case, then make a selelction,CTRL-J to put the selection on its own layer, then cTRL-click the new layer thumbnail, then Edit>Copy then File>New>image from clipboard. Then save as mentioned above

[Daviskw]

Hi Brian

When you save the file you want with a transparent background use the “save for web “ option and set your options as shown in the screen shot. Be sure you have a transparent background showing in your picture, usually checkered, and you have png and transparency checked.

If you save in this format and still cannot see a transparent background it may be the program you are importing into does not support it.

http://img349.imageshack.us/img349/8969/test6jz.th.jpg (http://img349.imageshack.us/my.php?image=test6jz.jpg)

Butch

[Carbone]

I made two short movies to show you how :

http://homepage.mac.com/carbmac/captures/Transparent_Background_01.mov

and

http://homepage.mac.com/carbmac/captures/Transparent_Background_02.mov

Ray

[Mr Brian]

:D To Ray. Many thanks for the wonderful and clear videos explaining how to save selections for other uses. It worked out great. Thanks again. Brian.

[Carbone]

I am happy that it helped :)

Ray