saving PNG & GIF w/transparent areas

seachnasaigh · Post by **seachnasaigh** » Sat Mar 25, 2006 12:58 pm

How do I save images with partial/fully transparent areas as PNG (and GIF) in PI11? When I attempt to do so, I get one or the other of these warning messages

and the program will not save the image without merging it onto a white background. I have meanwhile been saving them as a UFO and then loading them into GA5 to save them as GIF with transparency, but this should not be necessary, and I want to use PNG format because the image quality is better than GIF.

example:

heinz-oz · Post by **heinz-oz** » Sat Mar 25, 2006 1:54 pm

This happens because you have a number of objects (layers) in your image. PNG and Gif do not support layers. You need to merge your image prior to saving as Gif/PNG or let the program do it for you. If you need to retain your separate objects, do not save the ufo file after merging or work on a duplicate ufo file.

The second message crops up if your image (ufo) contains non image objects like text and path elements. These need to be converted to images first. Again, keep an ufo file with the unconverted-unmerged objects if you need to manipulate these objects further after you saved your PNG/Gif image.

seachnasaigh · Post by **seachnasaigh** » Sat Mar 25, 2006 2:32 pm

But, how do I merge the objects without the program introducing a white opaque background? I want to retain transparency.

keenart · Post by **keenart** » Sat Mar 25, 2006 5:44 pm

Did you convert your UFO to an Indexed Optomized 256 color image before trying to save as a GIF?

seachnasaigh · Post by **seachnasaigh** » Sat Mar 25, 2006 6:02 pm

If that consists of the settings in the dialog box as shown, I did. Is there something else I need to do? I want to save it as a PNG.

(top: GIF save, bottom: PNG save)

Eureka! And thank you! The command path is adjust / convert data type / optimized 256 color for GIF. It works for PNG also, but why is the true color greyed out? I would want to save the 3D images as true color PNG.

heinz-oz · Post by **heinz-oz** » Sun Mar 26, 2006 1:22 am

Once you optimise to 256 colors, your true color depth is lost. Gif can only be saved to 256 color depth.

If you want to retain true color for Png, do not convert from true color space. In the image optimiser, select the PNG option and in presets stay with true color. Select the Masking Option tab and select the "Pick color" option for the mask. Select the eyedropper and a suitable Similarity setting and click on the color you want to make transparent. Select 'Transparency' in the PNG options tab and save your image with quality settings you want for the compression.

sjj1805 · Post by **sjj1805** » Sun Mar 26, 2006 2:05 am

Is this any help?
http://phpbb.ulead.com.tw/EN/viewtopic.php?t=12185

Steve J

seachnasaigh · Post by **seachnasaigh** » Sun Mar 26, 2006 2:42 am

Thanks for taking the time to reply, Heinz, Keenart, and Steve! I will try to execute your instructions; I think I have already been doing something of masking in making these forum signatures: