help in scanning images please

[purrfect7]

hi there, i'm wanting to scan a few of my own images. I did some yesterday but noticed when I brought it up in my PSP8 that it wasn't transparent. besides erasing the background, is there an easier way to make the background transparent? or is it possible at all?

thanks so much!

steph
new scrapper!!:yahoo:

[dmrdm]

When I scan items, I usually place a piece of white or black paper behind the item. That will not make the background transparent, but it will make it a solid color. Then take your magic wand tool to select the black or white background to delete it...and then save as an png. If you save back to jpg it will no longer be transparent.

There are other things you can do also, but this seems to work fairly well.

[Muma]

They way scanners work you will not get a transparent background ... your image is reflected via mirrors and mirrors can not perceive a transparent area as there is always something to reflect even if its in the distance it will record as colour.

[purrfect7]

DMRDM~thanks! I had forgotton about that magic wand :)

thanks a bunch
s.

[lbjiowa]

Thought I'd just add a short note ... I find it helpful to keep a collection of papers handy so I can use a color that DOES NOT appear in the image/item being scanned. This makes the magic wand work beautifully! (Not an original idea ... I stole it from the television industry ... the famous 'green screen' thing!)

I also have some pieces of microfiber cloth in different colors so when I scan something bulky (memorabilia) I can just lay it over the item and not need to lay the scanner lid down ... works like a charm! NOTE: Some fabrics don't work well as they 'reflect' the light ... the microfiber cloths seem to absorb the light instead ... making a great background to delete easily with the magic wand.