Layer trouble

[serb85]

Hello all,

I'm struggling with one aspect of photoshop. I am trying to export a piece of text without a background so i can overlay it onto another background later on. I understand how to save as a mask with alpha layers etc but when i open in a completely different program i still get a white background. Is it only possible to work with overlays in photoshop or can u bring it into other programs and put it over other backgrounds?

Sorry for the rambling- hope someone can help

[Phoenix Wynde]

Originally Posted by serb85

Hello all,

I'm struggling with one aspect of photoshop. I am trying to export a piece of text without a background so i can overlay it onto another background later on. I understand how to save as a mask with alpha layers etc but when i open in a completely different program i still get a white background. Is it only possible to work with overlays in photoshop or can u bring it into other programs and put it over other backgrounds?

Sorry for the rambling- hope someone can help

Is the file your opening a PNG, GIF, or PSD file? To the best of my knowledge, and I could be wrong here, but I think only PNG, GIF, or a PSD file supports transparency.

Also, I think if you save the image as JPG or BMP, Photoshop automatically puts the white background there.

As for other programs, I can't help you there, man. I only know Photoshop and I'm still a noob for the most part.

[Tamlin]

Originally Posted by dewdman

Also, I think if you save the image as JPG or BMP, Photoshop automatically puts the white background there.

Dewdman is right about that. You could try saving in TIFF format - that also supports layers.

[notjustgraphics]

You can save JPG's with layers as well, but not transparencies....

I havn't pacticed this myself, but I know we download stock photos with clipping paths and mask layers from Getty Images in .JPG format...

Some experimenting is in store for me today!

Mike.

[serb85]

Thanks for the advice guys..if anyone figures it out could they let us know. I'm using a program called web page maker so was hoping to import text and create links out of the image..

thanks again

[Tamlin]

If you want to display an image with a transparent background on a web page, you're currently limited to GIF or PNG format. Both of these have their limitations: GIF can only display a maximum of 256 colours, so it doesn't render subtle colour-changes (such as gradients) well. PNG can support 16 million colours, but there are issues with the way Internet Explorer handles PNG transparency (i.e. it doesn't do it well).

You pays yer money and you takes yer choice...

[serb85]

THANK YOU SO MUCH! You helped me figure out my prob.. GIF's was the answer