The GIF optimizer in Paint Shop Pro is an easy way to make your
images transparent. I have written this tutorial in response
to apprx.
6 emails a week from my web site, asking how to make a transparent
image. All you really need to do is follow the screen captures
below.
If your GIF optimizer is set to the following settings, you should
have no
problems. This tutorial is written using PSP 7.02
Step1 - I have chosen a tube file to make this transparent
image.
Click HERE
to download my zipped tube. Unzip the file and open it
in Paint Shop Pro. You may want to resize it a bit if you find
it too large.
Step 2 - Once you have your graphic as you want it, set
your background
color in PSP to #D5D3D3. This is the color I routinely use when
making an
image for a light colored background. In this case, I set the
background color
to match the one on this page exactly. Doing this eliminated
any light
colored "jaggies" around your image. I have put an example of
both below.
Follow the screen captures below to make your graphic a transparent
GIF file,
paying special attention to the settings on the COLORS
tab. This setting will
determine the clarity of your graphic.
The following capture is probably the most important. If you
don't use the
Optimized Median Cut, your image will come out "grainy".
I optimized this image using the light color I described above (#D5D3D3)
as the background. You will notice the visible white or
light "jaggies",
especially around her shoes.
With the image below, I used the same color for the background in PSP
as I am
using for this web page. You will notice the clean outside lines,
free of "jaggies".
Since I just chose a "color" for my background on this page rather than
an actual
background file, I find the easiest way to "copy" your background color
is to hit your screen
capture key in PSP (see below)
This will give you the following on your screen 
and
as soon as you let go of
your mouse button the color will pop up in PSP. You then just
use your dropper tool to
click on the color which will load in your background color pallette.
Another way, if you are using a background, open it in PSP and use
your dropper
tool again to pick the color of the background.
I hope you found this tutorial easy to understand and follow.
If you have any questions, please feel free to EMAIL
me.
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