Photo Restoration - - Question about saving a transparency

kneff · #1 09-11-2005, 09:32 PM

I have used an image (with the opacity lowered), and traced a part of it to a transparency. When I go to save the transparency, it is saving the entire image and not just what I traced. I am tracing on a new layer. Can someone tell me how to do this.
Thanks

GaryRP · #2 09-11-2005, 10:03 PM

Did you "switch off" the layer that contained the original image before saving?

So the only "visible" layer is the trace layer ...

If you are using Photoshop it will then ask if you want to discard the hidden layers .. Say OK and save as ... Give it a new name so you can still go back to the original image ...

kneff · #3 09-11-2005, 11:24 PM

The image keeps saving on my original and not the copy.

PamSav · #4 09-12-2005, 03:48 AM

Kneff - if you're using Photoshop you can click on the eyeball next to your layer in the layers palette. That will turn it on/off. You can also export the layers to separate files is you are using PSCS or PSCS2. Can't remember the steps right now but it's somewhere under the File Menu.

kneff · #5 09-12-2005, 09:25 AM

Yes, there is an export, but no where that you can move an object. I also tried turning the eye off. It will give me the image, but its on a white background, even though I saved it on transparent. Is there a way I can get the object on a transparent background?

Racc Iria · #6 09-12-2005, 04:41 PM

If your layer is transparent (can see the gray checkerboard through the layer) and the transparent area came out in white when you saved it, then the image format you're saving to doesn't support transparency.

What file format were you saving it as? Is it for the web?

kneff · #7 09-12-2005, 06:10 PM

No, this isn't for the web. I saved it as both a gif, then I tried a jpg. Should it be something else?

kneff · #8 09-12-2005, 08:08 PM

What should a transparency be saved with...what file?

kschulz · #9 09-12-2005, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kneff

No, this isn't for the web. I saved it as both a gif, then I tried a jpg. Should it be something else?

Kneff,

The GIF format uses an indexed color palette (256 colors). It will allow you to specify one of the color indices as a transparent color - any part of your image using that color index will be transparent. When saving to GIF in PS CS2, an option dialog allows you to choose a palette for the image. If you choose to use a "local" palette in the drop-down, a "transparency" checkbox is available. When checked, all transparent layers in your image will be assigned color index 255, which will be transparent.

The JPEG file format does not support transparency.

You may want to consider saving in PNG format - this gives you full RGB color values (24M) with full alpha channel support (transparency 0 - 100%) in a single flat layer.

- Kurt

roger_ele · #10 09-12-2005, 09:13 PM

Turn off the eyeball in the background layer also - then flatten and save as, or duplicate, flatten and save as to be more careful about not messing up your original image.