How to Make Transparent GIFs on Photoshop CS5

The Graphic Interchange Format (GIF) is safe for use on the Web and supports animation. This image file format also supports transparency. When you create a transparent GIF in a graphics program such as Photoshop CS5, you can display it seamlessly on websites or in your presentations. You can even use a transparent GIF in a colored container, such as a table, on a website. The container's background color will appear to be the background color of the image, even though it is transparent.

Instructions

1. Open any image in CS5 that you wish to make transparent.

2. Double-click on the current layer name in the Layers palette and click "OK" to activate it as a layer.

3. Select the area that you wish to make transparent with the Magic Wand or Lasso tool. This process may take some time if the image is complex. Press "Delete" to delete the area. You’ll be able to see the canvas through the transparent section.

4. Press "Control" and "D" together on your keyboard to remove the current selection.

5. Open the "File" menu and select “Save for Web & Devices." Choose "Gif" as the file type and make sure to tick the box to enable transparency. Save the file with your preferred name.

Tips & Warnings

• You can create an image from scratch and leave areas of a layer blank to produce transparency.

• Smooth the edges around the transparency for the most aesthetically pleasing transparent GIF.

References

• PhotoshopCall.com; Simple Tutorial to Turn a Picture Into a Transparent GIF on Photoshop; 2010
• SitePoint: GIF, JPG and PNG – What’s the Difference?