Extracting background in The GIMP

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Extracting background in The GIMP

Help needed

jecasc

1:47 pm on Mar 18, 2008 (gmt 0)

I had heard of this new tool (SIOX) in GIMP for extracting foregrounds or backgrounds. So I installed the GIMP and gave it a try. Everything works great however since I am new to GIMP I have one little problem:

- I select the item in the image I want to extract with the foreground extraction tool.

- Then I invert the selection.

- Then I press DEL to remove the background like I am used to from working with Fireworks. However instead of getting a transparent background the background turns completely white. Then I tried to use the rubber tool but it does not remove the background but simply paints it in white, too.

Any help would be appreciated.

limbo

8:57 am on Mar 19, 2008 (gmt 0)

Hi Jecasc.

I'm not a user of the gimp but it sounds like you have you have your canvas background set to white - there will be a setting that allows you to swap this to transparent.

Look for canvas colour or image background.

Or perhaps a white background layer (delete it)

jecasc

1:32 pm on Mar 19, 2008 (gmt 0)

Thanks for the reply. That was my first thought, too but that was not the case.

I found out in the meantime however that in order to obtain transparency one needs to add a transparent Alpha Channel to the layer. A little odd - I have worked with different programms like Photoshop, Fireworks and this was never necessary.

However the Foreground extraction tool works great.

willybfriendly

1:49 pm on Mar 19, 2008 (gmt 0)

The easiest way I have found is to open a new image with a transparent background.

Cut the foreground that you want and paste it into the new image.

GIMP is a great tool, and a free tool, but it can be a clunky tool. I guess ou get what you pay for.