I'm at a bit of a 'shoppers block right now.
I want to get my sig's logo's white background to become a transparent layer for a GIF.
Aside from the lack of cooperation behind GIF and feathered lines, how could I go about making this transparent while keeping the logo looking good?

Logo is below.
Let me know if you need the PSD

you need 2 layers. 1st one is empty, no color at all.

2nd one is your logo. Delete all the white in the background then "save for web" and choose Gif.

If you still have all the layers, just don't paint or use white for the background. Make sure you delete the color from the bottom layer (select all, delete)

Thanks.
I naturally did the first thing you suggested, but I got problems with the feathering, so I came here.

I already had all my layers devoid of white background, but I had a white layer on the bottom. I needed this layer for the red screen on top of the text, and that was the start of my obstacle.
Your suggestion helped me realize I could delete the text selection from the screen layer and delete the troublesome white background.

Dear Mr. Bluss

Your logo has a lot of aliased edges in it. In other words, if you look at that red line coming out of the gun barrel you'll see that it isn't a solid edge... its a bunch of white, pinkish, and red pixels all trying to make the curve look smooth.

For a good transparency to happen in a GIF you need a good solid edge. As only ONE colour will be the TRANSPARENT colour (usually the pure white pixel) the semi-white and semi-red pixels show up as that nasty feathered white halo around the edges when you try to make it transparent. If you have PS CS, there is feature in the SAVE AS WEB that is right under the TRANSPARENCY check box. Click the down arrow and you'll have the choice of Transparency Dithers (there are three of them, the first one usually works best).

Other than that, you have to keep your edges clean and neat and that is that.

Hope this helps!

I know about the Save for Web, but nothing is satisfactory with the feathering.
I'll just be satisfied with the white.

I'll suggest the same tip I got from supak0ma.

http://photoshopcontest.com/boards/viewtopic.php?p=73425&highlight=#73425

Make the background of your file the same color as what you want to post it on.

Try taking a small screen capture of white background on this website ( which apparently isn't 100% white ), then open it in PS and use the eye dropper tool to sample the color.

Screwloose is right... if you know where it is going then match the background fer sher. His technique of screen capture and then eyedropping the colour works great. Us pros have been doing it for years!!!!



Its crazy how it works!

Though that will only work when you're post is on the lighter background...

Why not just make the gradient a solid line instead, that would allow the transparency to work cleanly.

For example:

I agree with making the edges sharp and not a gradient. Sharp/defined edges makes better looking gifs

That's what I've done for my blog. The only problem in here is you don't know if the background of your post will be white or blue.

Next project: adding stubble to certain people's faces.