Need help with PSP and exporting to PNG....

[cmdixon]

I'm taking the Word Art class and I'm trying to create some word art in PSP, then exporting it to PNG. I have several layers. Some of my layers have the words in black, and then a few of the layers I created the words in black, then dropped the opacity to about 35-50%. It looks fine in PSP - it even looks fine as a jpg, but when I export it to png, the layers that I dropped the opacity on are coming out pixelated.

Any tips? If I want some of my words to be more transparent, is changing the opacity the way to go? Is there some setting I'm missing when exporting to a png? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Pam]

Are you creating your words on a transparent background? I always save my wordart in the psp format first, so I can go back and work on it more if I want. I begin with a raster background, transparent and I have always used raster text (a different layer for different words and fonts so I can slide them around or change just a part of the wordart). I know there are advantages to vector text, but I've never had pixelated PNG saves with raster.

I often type the text (or a letter or a word), then while it is still selected (some call it marching ants), I copy it to the clipboard, then Ctrl-Z (undo) to clear it off the layout, then Ctrl-L (paste to a new layer). Another way would be to create a new layer before each text addition.

File > Export > PNG Optimizer - and a menu comes up -- I leave the colors in 24 bit (16.7 colors) and in the second tab use “Alpha channel transparency” and “Existing image or layer transparency” - third tab I leave as Non-interlaced. I use PSP9 but don't think this area has changed since PSP8.

Different ideas, anyone?

[cmdixon]

Thanks Pam! I use PSP 9 also, so your directions should work great for me! I appreciate the help.

[Emma]

Here's a PSP tutorial on making word art and exporting as a PNG file
http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/university/tutorials/PSP_WordArt.shtml

She uses raster text in here

But I do it with vector text all the time and never had a pixelation problem. can you describe the process you're using so we can trouble shoot with you?

[cmdixon]

Thanks Pam and Emma. My problem has been solved. When I exported it to PNG, I had "Single Color Transparency" selected on the transparency tab. As soon as I changed that to "Alpha Channel Transparency" everything worked great!

By the way, my text layers are vector layers, not raster. So apparently that didn't have anything to do with the pixelation.

Thanks so much for taking the time to help! I truly appreciate it.

[Emma]

yep, that'll do it! Transparency is important when making PNG. Was the Alpha Channel covered in that tutorial? I always use that, don't really have a use for Single Color...

[MandyNI0]

I managed to create a nice tube for some pearls and was having fun making a necklace element. BUT, oh frustration ..... every time I try to save it either by flattening the layers, or leaving it as it is and exporting directly to PNG the background goes white.

Will the word art tutorial cover the pics etc. too. I'm assuming the principals are the same.

[Emma]

When exporting the PNG, you go to the Background tab, or similar, don't have PSP open, and click Exisitng Transparency so your background is transparent

LMK if that's right. If not, I'll open it and try again! :D