Making transparent images with Gimp

I know this is in Linux and there should be a Gimp category, but whatever…

I do this with regularity, and always have to Google the instructions. So here they are!
The Gimp: Making Colors in a GIF Transparent
By Crouse
USA Linux Users Group
Web Site: http://www.usalug.org

Sometimes when working with an image you want to make a certain color transparent. When working with a gif file this would make a round circle look round on any color background. This is actually very simple once you do it once. Finding the information for this took me a while so I thought I would pass it on to anyone that was interested.

1. Open your image in the gimp.

2. Right click the image and go to LAYERS then Transparency->ADD ALPHA CHANNEL.

3. Right click on the image again and go to SELECT and then down to BY COLOR.

4. Now click on the color in the image you want to be transparent. These colors will now show up outlined.

5. Right click on the image again and go to EDIT and then down to CLEAR (or Ctrl-X). This should now erase the outlined color you just picked from the image and the “transparent gimp checkerbox” should show through.

6. Right click on the image and choose SAVE AS and make sure to save as a GIF file if you want the transparency to work on the web.

Another fun feature that can be used while using the SELECT and BY COLOR ….. instead of hitting CLEAR you can FILL W BG COLOR or the other one FILL W FG COLOR ……….. this allows you to change the colors over the entire image instantly for the particular pixel color you choose to start with. Very fast and fun once you figure this out.

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