1. How to make background of graphic transparent.
These documents explain about various ways such as make background of graphic transparent by using
Adobe Photoshop CS5.
If background become transparent, transparent section look like a white and grey latticed pattern.
Many such graphics are often used by Web or DTP.
Figure 1: transparent section look like this.
If you want to make background transparent, perform one or several ways in following many ways.
A. When you make new file, make background transparent.
B. The background layer unlock and make back ground transparent.
C. Use “eraser tool”.
D. Use “magic eraser tool”.
E. Save graphics that background is transparent for Web.
A. When you make new file, make background transparent.
When you make new file, can set transparent background.
The operation is following.
1. Select “new file” from “file” menu. Then, will open “new file” dialogue box.

2. 2. Select “transparent” from “canvas” pop-up menu in “new file” dialogue box.
Figure 2: A-Step 2
3. Click the “OK”.
4. Be made new file that transparent background.
B. The background layer unlock and make back ground transparent.
The background layer is locked and can’t include transparent pixel. So, you should need to unlock and
change layer type to “normal”.
The operation is following.
1. Select “layer” from “window” menu. And display “layer” palette.
2. Double-click the “background” layer.
Figure 3: B-Step2
3. Input layer name in “new layer” dialogue box. And click the “OK”.
Then, background layer is unlocked and change layer type to “normal”. So, became be able to make
background transparent.
For example, background become transparent by using “eraser tool” and read the C.

3. C. Use “eraser tool”.
You can make background transparent by using “eraser tool”.
The operation is following.
1. You have to change layer type to “normal” by B way.
2. Select “eraser tool” from tool box.
Figure 4: C-Step2
3. After you drag on graphic, dragged section will be transparent.
Figure 5: C-Step3
4. If you click the downwardly triangle at the left in “option bar” and drag “master diameter slider”, can
change eraser size.
Figure 6: C-Step4
5. If graphic erases by accident, drag while keeping push “Alt” or ”Option” key and be reconstructed.
Figure 7: C-Step5

4. D. Use “magic eraser tool”.
You can make background transparent by using “magic eraser tool”.
The “magic eraser tool” can erase the extent of same color in a lump.
The operation is following.
1. Select “magic eraser tool” from “tool box”.
Figure 8: D-Step1
2. Click transparent section, continuing the extent of same color is erased.
Figure 9: D-Step2
3. If you want to erase not continuing area, uncheck “adjoin” from “option bar” and click graphic.
Figure 10: D-Step3

5. E. Save graphics that background is transparent for Web.
The JPEG and GIF are often used by Web. These are file type. But GIF is only type such as can include
transparent pixel. The JPEG usually doesn’t support transparent function.
If you want to save graphics while keeping transparent background, perform any of the following
operation.
- Use “save” command.
- Use “save for Web” command.
Use “save” command:
1. Select “save” or “save such as” from “file” menu.
2. Select “CompuServe GIF(*.GIF)” from “file type” or “format” pop-up menu.
Figure 11: E-Step2
3. Check “transparent” and click “OK” from “index color” dialogue box.
Figure 12: E-Step3
Use “save for Web” command:
1. Select “save for Web” from “file” menu.
2. Confirm whether file type is “GIF” and check “transparent section”.
Figure 13: E-Step2
3. Click the “save” and input file name and click the “OK”.