How to make internet image backgrounds transparent?

CanAm · 27 May 2015

Hi all,

I am new to this forum and this is my first post so bear with me. I think I am in the right thread, but if I'm not I hope the moderator will move this post to the correct one. :)

What I want to do is download an image from the internet and then make the background transparent so I can use it on a Tee Shirt Design website.

First off, I already have "Paint" and it has a 'Transparent Selection" feature, but I don't know how to use it the way I explained above. Can someone tell me how to do this, or if it is even possible?

Secondly, if 'Paint" won't do what I want, do I need to download "Windows Essentials" or some other free software? I don't know if Windows Essentials has this feature.

Thanks in advance for your replies and I will check back tomorrow to read them.

GokAy · 27 May 2015

You can check out GIMP, it's free and has more features than paint. I am no good with image manipulation though, you will have to ask others about it.

ThrashZone · 27 May 2015

Hi and welcome to SevenForums,
I would leave all of the details to the t-shirt maker just give them the files you want to use they will do the magic

Cheers.

CanAm · 28 May 2015

Thanks GokAy and ThrashZone for the replies! I will look into GIMP as you sugessted GokAy, thanks! ThrashZone, one of the Tee Shirt websites I use does have a transparency feature, but the other one doesn't. I would use the first one exclusively, but the brand they use for the 2XLT size I need only comes in a limited amount of colors. But thanks for your reply anyway. Hopefully GIMP will have the feature I am looking for, or someone else will come forward and tell me of some free software that definitely has it. It would also be great if someone else could tell me how to use Windows 7 "Paint" the way I want it to. In the meantime, thanks again to both of you for your help.

ThrashZone · 28 May 2015

Hi,
Yes GIMP uses Layer Opacity not a transparent listing,
So really you just need to
A- Make sure you have a high resolution image to work with,
Open GIMP and use File/ Open as Layer,
Then on the top it will show Opacity and click on the little down arrow until you like it,
Then go to File and Export image,
Type a name and file type in the top and Export.

wasnotwas · 29 May 2015

I don't think the OP wants to make his image transparent, but to delete the background ie cut out the subject and save it with a transparent background. GIMP can do this. You import the image, add alpha channel (alpha means transparency), select and delete the background and export as png. PNG supports transparency unlike jpg etc. This video shows how

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCoTky6ddcU

Amar65 · 29 May 2015

Sorry for posting something irrelevant , but how do you post on this forum ?

CanAm · 29 May 2015

Thanks ThrashZone and wasnotwas for the help on GIMP. I also found Clipping Magic https://clippingmagic.com/ but that costs money, and Lunapic LunaPic | Free Online Photo Editor which is also free. I will be checking out all of these over the weekend and wil be back on Monday if there are any further posts.

Thanks again to ALL of you!

CanAm · 29 May 2015

Hi all,

I was just trying to download GIMP when I saw this: SourceForge grabs GIMP for Windows

Sounds like something I will stay away from, at least until it gets worked out for Windows 7.

Have a great weekend everybody and I will be back on Monday.

GokAy · 29 May 2015

From Gimp official page:

How to make internet image backgrounds transparent?-gimp_news.jpg

You can still download from them GIMP - Downloads