InteXX Posted October 12, 2009 Share Posted October 12, 2009 I'm absolutely new to Paint.NET, and not even that handy with graphics editors in general. I'll try to digest your reply as best I can, but I may need to ask for a bit more how-to breakdown. Thanks in advance for your patience... I've been searching the forum and experimenting with the program for just about a couple of hours now, but I'm not finding a thread that exactly addresses my problem. Many come close, but not exact. I don't know the program (nor its concepts) well enough yet to adapt these replies to what I'm looking for, so I find I have to ask. I'm building a website for which we have an artist sketching some drawings for us on white paper. They'll come to me as .jpg scans. My task for the banner image is to replace the white background with full transparency, with the transparency gradating to color at the same rate as the white gradates to color. I get bonus points that I'm willing to share if I can do all this without getting the trademark white halo that so often appears when replacing background colors. I'm attaching the site's banner background image 'Banner.jpg' as well as a second image 'Tree.jpg' that I plan to test with. The tree image seems a good one, as it has plenty of the above-described white/color gradient. If with your assistance I can create a .png with all of the above details we will have won the battle. In my searching I came up with links to a couple of plugins: http://paintdotnet.forumer.com/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=4394 http://paintdotnet.forumer.com/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=31446 Do either of these apply? If any, which would work best to accomplish all this? Naturally any discussion on how to use either of these is lost on me at the moment. Thanks, Jeff Bowman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarkut Posted October 12, 2009 Share Posted October 12, 2009 For the banner I believe you can use Alpha Mask Import plugin set to Invert Mask, using the banner file as a mask for itself. Afterwards, save the image as a .png file to preserve transparency. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
InteXX Posted October 12, 2009 Author Share Posted October 12, 2009 I'm not sure, but I think you were able just now to say a lot with only a few words. I wish I could do that I'd like to try what you're suggesting, but I have no idea where to begin. Could you elaborate a bit? Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarkut Posted October 12, 2009 Share Posted October 12, 2009 (edited) First install the plugin, with Paint.NET closed. HOW TO INSTALL PLUGINS ======================================== Next, open your banner file with Paint.NET, click on Effects in the Menu toolbar, click on Alpha Mask. Checkmark Invert Mask, browse to where your banner file is kept and click it. OK. Save as .png . Edited April 8, 2010 by Sarkut Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
InteXX Posted October 12, 2009 Author Share Posted October 12, 2009 OK, sounds good. Did that. Got the attached image, no tree, strange transparency. What did I miss? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarkut Posted October 12, 2009 Share Posted October 12, 2009 It is what I missed, or misread. I thought you needed the white gradient of the blue background replaced with transparency. Not so. What you want is the white removed from the other image. Yes? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
InteXX Posted October 12, 2009 Author Share Posted October 12, 2009 Yes, exactly. The tree needs to look like it was drawn originally on the striped blue background. I'm pretty sure Paint.NET can do this, and that it's just one of those 'easy if you know how' things. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarkut Posted October 12, 2009 Share Posted October 12, 2009 (edited) Because the tree image is on a white background, is anti-aliased, and has some whitish reflective highlighting it will probably require some work by hand to cut it out from the background. The currently 2nd and 3rd items at this link will explain the basics of cutting out an image. Link Removed. Edited April 8, 2010 by Sarkut Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
InteXX Posted October 12, 2009 Author Share Posted October 12, 2009 Hmm... Is there a way to automate something like this: - Pixels with white color get full transparency - Pixels with white/green mix get the corresponding mix of transparent/green - Pixels with green color get no transparency Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarkut Posted October 12, 2009 Share Posted October 12, 2009 You could try using the image as a mask for itself as before. I suspect some "hand work" will be necessary. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zwicky Posted October 12, 2009 Share Posted October 12, 2009 Hmm...Is there a way to automate something like this: - Pixels with white color get full transparency - Pixels with white/green mix get the corresponding mix of transparent/green - Pixels with green color get no transparency The Color to Alpha plugin may be helpful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
InteXX Posted October 12, 2009 Author Share Posted October 12, 2009 The Color to Alpha plugin may be helpful. Say, that looks like it might be the ticket. I can't be dangerous, 'cause I don't even know a little bit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
InteXX Posted October 12, 2009 Author Share Posted October 12, 2009 I suspect some "hand work" will be necessary. Gosh, I hope not. I'll keep digging. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zwicky Posted October 12, 2009 Share Posted October 12, 2009 Try out the plugin, and with any luck there won't be any hand work involved. Hope it helps you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
InteXX Posted October 12, 2009 Author Share Posted October 12, 2009 Hope it helps you. I think it will. I'll give it a try tomorrow and report back here. Promise Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
InteXX Posted October 12, 2009 Author Share Posted October 12, 2009 Promise I gave it a run, still got the white halo. Maybe my settings are off. I fired off a quick note to the plugin's author, with a link to this thread. With any luck he'll spot it and check in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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