How to make a transparent background/selection on an image using GIMP

Open your image.
Select the area you want to make transparent.
1. Select the appropriate selection tool from the Tool window or the Tools - Selection Tools menu on the Layer window. I usually use the magic wand/fuzzy select (Select contiguous region) tool or the Select regions by color tool.
2. Click in the region you want selected. Use shift-click to add more regions/colors.
  Tip: It's easier if you zoom in (View - Zoom menu) to see finer details of exactly what you're selecting.
In the Layer window (the one showing your image), select Layer - Transparency - Add Alpha Channel. If this is blanked out then it's already done. This makes sure your image can store transparency data.
Select Edit - Clear. This makes the selection transparent.
Save the file.
Note: If you save it as a PNG file, be sure to select the 'Save colour values from transparent pixels' option in the Save as PNG dialog box.

And that's it.

NOTE: IE does not support showing PNG transparencies (alpha channels) natively. There are a few work arounds for this (theres loads to be found on google) - here's MS's solution. However, personally, I find the simplest approach is to save the image as a GIF (which all major browers support transparencies for).

When saving your image as a GIF from within Gimp, it will prompt you to export it - you can select either Indexed or Greyscale - however, on the next screen (Save as GIF) be sure to check the 'Interlace' option.

HTH

Tim

posted on Monday, March 20, 2006 9:49 AM

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# How to make a transparent background/selection on an image using .NET 3/20/2006 6:50 PM Lorin

I never use GIMP, but I frequently use .NET to edit images. And in .NET here's how to set transparency:

http://geekswithblogs.net/lorint/articles/60684.aspx

-Lorin

# re: How to make a transparent background/selection on an image using GIMP 6/27/2006 2:42 PM Joza

It works well with Firefox, but not on IE. IE (On MySpace) puts a greyish box areound the image, With Firefox it is transparent.

# re: How to make a transparent background/selection on an image using GIMP 9/19/2007 6:59 PM Sparrow

Thank you! This was just what I was looking for. Your directions are very clear .

# re: How to make a transparent background/selection on an image using GIMP 10/10/2007 4:01 AM Snow Wolfess

Hrm, everything worked well except when i tried to save as a gif and png. i followed everything in the guide, but when i went to "Paste From" in paintbrush, my image had the same white background???

# re: How to make a transparent background/selection on an image using GIMP 12/10/2007 5:24 AM rino

this is great stuff. the gimp manual itself doesn't have this simple and straightforward explanation for non-artists and newbies.

you ought to write their manual! ;-)

# re: How to make a transparent background/selection on an image using GIMP 1/12/2008 5:05 PM aRiaL.

Thank you for that =]

# re: How to make a transparent background/selection on an image using GIMP 1/15/2008 9:28 PM anthony

thank you!!

# re: How to make a transparent background/selection on an image using GIMP 5/16/2008 7:43 AM Robert

I can get the checkerboard background and all that and when it's opened again in GIMP it's all good. When I try to upload to other paint/graphic programs, the transparency is gone and it's all a white background again. I take it this has something to do with the alpha channel???

# re: How to make a transparent background/selection on an image using GIMP 5/25/2008 12:23 AM shins

Thanks so much!

# re: How to make a transparent background/selection on an image using GIMP 6/15/2008 5:47 PM Chuck

Thanks for the clear, concise and well written instructions!! These simple steps made all the difference in the world.

# re: How to make a transparent background/selection on an image using GIMP 8/14/2008 4:54 AM lizriz

This works great, but now my edges are crap. I guess they weren't great to start with, but now they look worse. It's a logo and it went from usable to unusable.

:(

# re: How to make a transparent background/selection on an image using GIMP 9/9/2008 1:09 PM Adam

If you have issues with the edges, change the tolerance (it's generally a box in the lower portion of the tool selection screen) to something higher than 15.

# re: How to make a transparent background/selection on an image using GIMP 9/20/2008 8:37 AM James

Thanks a lot, was exactly what I was looking for and done in 2 ticks :)

# re: How to make a transparent background/selection on an image using GIMP 9/23/2008 11:53 AM Katerina

Thank you! Excellent instructions!

# re: How to make a transparent background/selection on an image using GIMP 11/4/2008 5:05 PM VICKY

that's great instruction. but what if the object is a glass?? or transluscent? how can you do transparency on those?

pls help

# re: How to make a transparent background/selection on an image using GIMP 11/9/2008 5:22 PM Cody

thanks for the NFO

# re: 11/22/2008 11:55 AM Arken

Nice. and very simple!

# re: How to make a transparent background/selection on an image using GIMP 1/9/2009 11:02 PM nullpointer

excellent tutorial. simple, to the point, works like a champ.
thanks!!!!

# re: How to make a transparent background/selection on an image using GIMP 2/4/2009 10:15 AM Lisa

Thanks! Very simple. Easy to follow.

GIMP could learn a lot from you about writing manuals. The GIMP manual is horrible.

Thanks again!

# re: How to make a transparent background/selection on an image using GIMP 2/9/2009 10:05 PM gittythegimpuser

I need an explanation how to adjust the transparency level of a selection from one file o(foreground image) after I paste it on to another image (background ground image). Once I paste it there, How do adjust the transparency? level.

For example. If I want a big ordinarily opaque image on the forground with a background of stars. I want to have a way to adjust the foreground image level to about 50% transparency ----------- with 100 % transparency = invisibility, 50% transparency = 50% visible/50% transparent, 0% transparency = non-transparent.

This "add alpha channel" selection doesn't do anything to make these selections "transparent" if I'm using the word "transparent" correctly.

# re: How to make a transparent background/selection on an image using GIMP 2/20/2009 4:58 AM Hein

Very helpful thanks short and to the point

# re: How to make a transparent background/selection on an image using GIMP 2/25/2009 5:05 PM Keesh

I got the the part where I save
'Save colour values from transparent pixels' is greyed out, I only downloaded this so I can get transparent backgrounds, so Im really new haha, help please!
Thanks =D

# re: How to make a transparent background/selection on an image using GIMP 3/12/2009 11:12 PM Web3

Useful little tutorial thanks.

Amused at the amount of people above that think you owe them - and should finish their logos for them :)

# re: How to make a transparent background/selection on an image using GIMP 3/13/2009 1:14 PM rose

very well explained!
i can do that but when you are deleting one color- it tends to delete all of it (say the background is white, and what you are trying to get rid of has white in it as well... so witht he fuzzy wand tool it selects all the white and erases part of your image.) besides using the lasso tool, then going back and erasing the rest, which is a pain, i cant think of another way. i know it is much easier in photoshop, but just wondering if gimp had an easier way to do it.

# re: How to make a transparent background/selection on an image using GIMP 3/15/2009 7:14 AM TimH

Sounds like you should be using layers - that way you can manipulate/change one layer at a time without affecting the rest ie normally your background has it's own layer.

Yes you're correct - the wand only allows you to change one area at a time - whereas the color selection tool will select all areas with the same color.

One thought is maybe use the color selection tool to select the color, then hold down ctrl and click to de-select the areas you don't want to change.

HTH
Tim

# re: How to make a transparent background/selection on an image using GIMP 3/21/2009 4:40 AM cyco

refer the above link

# re: How to make a transparent background/selection on an image using GIMP 3/21/2009 4:42 AM cyco

Heres the solution refer this link
http://www.fabiovisentin.com/tutorial/GIMP_transparent_image/gimp_how_to_make_transparent_image.asp

# re: How to make a transparent background/selection on an image using GIMP 3/22/2009 2:23 PM tom

it dont work dont waste ur time with his directions

# re: How to make a transparent background/selection on an image using GIMP 3/29/2009 12:21 AM GGoldstein

Many thanks. Very simple.

GG

# Just to thank you. 3/29/2009 10:04 PM Miloš

I just wanna thank you for this tutorial. It helped me a lot!

Manny thanks fro Belgrade!
Cheers.

# re: How to make a transparent background/selection on an image using GIMP 4/10/2009 8:03 AM Niamh

Thankk youuu ;] very helpful ;]

# re: How to make a transparent background/selection on an image using GIMP 4/12/2009 5:28 AM blah

I followed this tutorial but whenever I post my art someplace, the backround always appears white.
Why?

# re: How to make a transparent background/selection on an image using GIMP 5/2/2009 2:49 AM Gus

It's incredible how difficult is to explain things in a simple way: this is the first well-done tutorial I found after many searches.
Thank you!

# re: How to make a transparent background/selection on an image using GIMP 6/8/2009 8:55 AM sara

Thanks a lot. Very helpful.

Sara

# re: How to make a transparent background/selection on an image using GIMP 6/8/2009 5:04 PM steven

how do i cut out part of an image and make the background transparent so i can put other layers behind my cut out figure?

# re: How to make a transparent background/selection on an image using GIMP 7/25/2009 11:01 PM colin

THANK YOUUUUUUUUUUUU!!!!!!

# re: How to make a transparent background/selection on an image using GIMP 7/31/2009 4:08 AM Tracy

Thanks for this tutorial it really helped me but I also have a question... When I try to save the image, it's tellin me that JPEG plug-in can't handle transparency... the export conversion will not modify your original image... what should I do?

# re: How to make a transparent background/selection on an image using GIMP 8/2/2009 7:38 PM Colin

Thank you!!! This is exactly what I needed! I appreciate you taking the time to put this up!

# re: How to make a transparent background/selection on an image using GIMP 8/19/2009 4:48 AM Marty Bhoy

To the people who think this doesn't work, try following the instructions!!!

# re: How to make a transparent background/selection on an image using GIMP 8/19/2009 5:37 PM Simon Harris

hey when i go in edit and select clear it just makes it black. It's not invisible when I look at all the layers. I followed all the instuctions but maybe i'm doing something wrong?

# re: How to make a transparent background/selection on an image using GIMP 8/23/2009 6:37 PM William

None of this works. I'm trying to CREATE TEXT in Gimp 2.6.2, then curve it, then get transparency on the background so that I can place the text directly on top of a picture of a church (in a Pagemaker document) and be able to see the church underneath/through the text. Please any way to do this?

# re: How to make a transparent background/selection on an image using GIMP 9/13/2009 11:45 PM Enk

It worked for me! It was plug-n-play!

Thank you!

# re: How to make a transparent background/selection on an image using GIMP 9/21/2009 1:18 AM Matthew Wright

Here's a way to do it with .NET: Open image. Select Magic Wand Tool. Click the areas you want transparent (use Shift+Click to select more regions at once). Go to "Edit" and click "Erase selection" (it should have an "X" beside it).

And Voila`!

# re: How to make a transparent background/selection on an image using GIMP 9/29/2009 1:32 PM #

perfect! thanks.

# re: How to make a transparent background/selection on an image using GIMP 10/10/2009 2:27 AM RedTulip

Thank you so much!!! It's Normal! I've been looking for one. The rest that I saw was hard. This is NORMAL! thanks!

# re: How to make a transparent background/selection on an image using GIMP 10/23/2009 3:50 AM stevenm

Could someone please answer a reoccuring question in this blog. My background is appearing white - not transparent.

I have followed instructions and have been saving in png ('save color values from transparent pixels' was selected) and gif format ('interlaced' was selected). I also made sure the alpha channel was selected. I can see the checked board before I save which indicates that its transparent. However, my background is still appearing white? Is this just buggy open source software or could someone please advise? I'm using Gimp 2.6.7

Ps. It would be nice if there was a more systematic way for questions to be answered on this blog as opposed to people just saying how much it helped or did not help them - surely they could just select a star rating for that.

# re: How to make a transparent background/selection on an image using GIMP 10/24/2009 4:09 AM Tim Huffam

Hi Steve

How are you viewing the image (what app)?

Tim

# re: How to make a transparent background/selection on an image using GIMP 10/24/2009 6:24 AM stevenm

Hi Tim

I'm viewed it in paint, dreamweaver, front page and kompozer. I do notice though that when I view in some other programs (windows photo viewer etc.) it appears transparent. So I see what your getting at...

Im trying to make rounded corners. I suppose I'll need to do this using CSS instead?

# re: How to make a transparent background/selection on an image using GIMP 10/26/2009 8:19 AM stevenm

Ok all sorted - thanks for your comment. The problem was the program I was viewing. It appears now with rounded corners on most browsers...

# re: How to make a transparent background/selection on an image using GIMP 10/27/2009 7:09 AM TimH

yeah - there's a known bug with IE that it does not render transparent png's correctly (see the "NOTE: " part of my original article above) - I dare say some of the other apps you're using to view it might be using and embedded IE browser.

Cheers
t

# re: How to make a transparent background/selection on an image using GIMP 10/31/2009 4:34 PM Guillermo

Thanks for the Gimp info.. Have a problem though.If I copy the image to my desktop (my signature), the thumb image is transparent. But when I paste the image to a PDF using Nitro, the background is white and blocks out what is below... Is there a solution to this or I am just doing something wrong?
thanks in advance

# re: How to make a transparent background/selection on an image using GIMP 11/20/2009 1:48 AM Ketan Kulkarni

Your tip helped me. Thanks a lot!

# re: How to make a transparent background/selection on an image using GIMP 12/3/2009 1:04 AM suzy young

It doesn't work. Don't waste your time with his tip.

# re: How to make a transparent background/selection on an image using GIMP 12/3/2009 3:27 PM Gomer

Worked great. Thanks for the simple and straight forward explanation!

# re: How to make a transparent background/selection on an image using GIMP 12/28/2009 9:33 PM liz

i am trying to do a back ground on a theme in wordpress..

how do i make it go infront not behind???

# re: How to make a transparent background/selection on an image using GIMP 12/28/2009 9:35 PM liz

i am trying to do a back ground on a theme in wordpress..

how do i make it go infront not behind??? I put this in my text widget....<div style="position:fixed;top:50px;left:0;background:#fff url('http://i50.tinypic.com/1zqrn10.jpg');width:100%;height:100%;z-index:-1000;"></div>

but it does not show tabs.. i had to have it at 50px instead of 0px...

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# re: How to make a transparent background/selection on an image using GIMP 2/2/2010 1:11 PM DB

Great answer, spent way to long trawling through the GIMP help and Manuals only to get nothing.

# re: How to make a transparent background/selection on an image using GIMP 2/7/2010 4:33 PM weebles

I've been a fan, promoter and user of linux since 1997. This means I've also tried and tried and tried to use, learn and promote Gimp.

In Coreldraw and Photoshop things are intuitive and learning just flows. In Gimp you can spend hours and days scouring web pages trying cut an image in two along a white are and inserting a spacer area to make the image longer with distorting the other elements of the image.

Gimp is a total piece of crap that needs to be banished and replaced. Gimp doesn't even deserve a second chance, they've had way too long to get their act together.

Gimp SUX

# re: How to make a transparent background/selection on an image using GIMP 2/9/2010 5:39 AM Ramiro Morgado

Thank for the explanation

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