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Thread ID: 69804 2006-06-13 00:23:00 How do I create a transparent image from text? Greven (91) Press F1
Post ID Timestamp Content User
462687 2006-06-13 00:23:00 I want to reproduce the toshiba logo (which is just red text using the arial font) & give it a transparent background so I can put it on the website I am making & be sure it will look the same to everyone.

Does anyone know how to do that using gimp, or another free tool? I don't have photoshop.
Greven (91)
462688 2006-06-13 01:46:00 Gimp

File New. There will be some option about background colour. Select the Transparent option.

Use the text tool to type 'Toshiba' on it.
mejobloggs (264)
462689 2006-06-13 07:55:00 Or you can use the 'colour to alpha' filter - this will (within the selected area) tranform the chosen colour to transparent - perfect for eliminating annoying backgrounds. However, be sure that you are complying with trademark laws, as I believe the toshiba logo is trademarked. Erayd (23)
462690 2006-06-13 11:02:00 Or you can use the 'colour to alpha' filter - this will (within the selected area) tranform the chosen colour to transparent - perfect for eliminating annoying backgrounds. However, be sure that you are complying with trademark laws, as I believe the toshiba logo is trademarked.
I tried that first with a logo I downloaded. It didn't work out well.

I've got it done now. wasn't as hard as I thought once I figured out the gimp interface. Had to grab the font off my windows box though.

After all that, I discovered that IE doesn't seem to support transparency :(.
Greven (91)
462691 2006-06-13 21:16:00 Yes, IE does support transparency.

What format are you saving it in?

If you are saving it as png, then IE does have a problem with transparency... sort of.

You see, IE is fine with gifs, which are 8-bit, and contain only 1 alpha transparency (100% transparent). PNG (default 32-bit) contains multiple alpha transparencies, and that is when IE(below 7) screws up.

If you want to get a png working in IE, you must first 'index' it (Gimp terms), or save it as an 8-bit png (photoshop terms).

In Gimp, it is something like 'Image > Mode > Indexed' I believe. Choose below 256 colours, and remove dithering.
mejobloggs (264)
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