How to create and save an object with transparent background

[coljediv]

Try as I may, I can't figure out how to create an irregular object (like a signature for example) and make all the inside and outside background to be transparent rather than white, and then save it for later use. I painstakingly erase all the edges around and inside the object, although there must be an easier way to do that. But when I save the file, the background is white, not transparent. What am I doing wrong? Is it the format I save it to, or is it just not possible to do so?

[Ken Berry]

What format are you saving to? I personally use .png for my transparent signatures and the like. I get the signature edited the way I want (in my case usually getting it a bit darker to stand out better as the signature will usually be relatively small on forms). I then go to Save As and select PNG as the output. I give the file a name and click on the Options button. In the next box I have the image Non-Interlaced and click on Optimized Palette. Then I click the Run Optimizer button. On the next box, I click on Transparency. And then I click on Alpha Channel and also, under 'What areas' I usually click on the first option "Existing image or layer transparency". Then I OK out and the image should have your signature against a checkerboard background indicating transparency. Works for me anyway, and when I insert that png in my various PDF programs, I can insert the signature correctly and with full transparency of its background.

[coljediv]

Thx, will give it a try

[coljediv]

Perfect. Now I need to get better at editing since I don't do this as a regular thing. I have forgotten how to use the color from one part of an object to clean up defects in another part of the object where the color should be the same. I also wish there were a way to more easily create the transparency right up to the edge of the object in the foreground, so that I don't have to do it manually while zoomed way in.