question on png files

[JamieStillwagon]

I'm VERY new to this and I'm making tiny baby steps everyday! Last night I downloaded and alphabet set and some embellishments that download on a single 'sheet' (all the letters and all the charms) and it has a white background. I don't know how to use these. The alphas I've downloaded all came in single letter png files (one file for each letter) and are on transparent backgrounds. Anyone wanna try to walk me through how to use the other type? Thanks so much! I've been a paper scrapper for about 2 yrs, but I'm already hooked (and my daughter, who is 12, is too!)

Jamie

[boobearsmama1]

I don't know how others do it, but when I come across alphas all on one page, I use my magic wand to cut it out. What program do you use? It might help you to get more program specific information.

[JamieStillwagon]

I'm using PSP 7. So you just open the file, crop out the letter you want and then use the magic wand to erase the white?

[boobearsmama1]

yes, that is exactly what I do..

[JamieStillwagon]

thanks so much! This is such a fun new hobbie! It just takes time to learn all the tricks of the trade (or in this case--software!). Thanks again.

Jamie

[webmaster]

our alphas will come separately or at least with a transparent background. i know there's a psp trick for opening png files with the background transparent that would make for much nicer edges than deleting the whilte. can a psp'er share that??

[JamieStillwagon]

One of the files I'm talking about I found in the Freebies section. It is called Metal Charms Alpha (by Emma). It downloads a single file and the background is white.

Jamie

[Margie]

ah, be sure to read her description. this has a transparent background, so you don't have to do the work!
http://www.dsplace.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=16697

[JamieStillwagon]

I'm not sure what I did wrong the first time (to make it have a white background), but I've redownloaded it and it's perfect! (transparent and easy to use) Thanks so much for everyone's help.

Jamie

[Emma]

glad to hear you got it to open with a transparent background! Now just use the Freehand Selection tool to "lasso" around the letter you want to use and Ctrl-C to copy. Then on your new layout Ctrl-L to paste as a new layer. Then go back and lasso the next letter you want and repeat.

If you use Add to Selection option when lassoing, you can copy all the ones you want and just Ctrl-L one time, but I like doing one at a time so each letter is on its own layer for easy rearranging into a word

have fun!

[JamieStillwagon]

Oh thank you so much Emma! I didn't know about the lasso tool. I've been cropping each letter I want out off the page, then file saving it, then opening it, then copy-pasting as new layer! Yeehaw!!! I'm gonna LASSO from now on!

Jamie

[JamieStillwagon]

BTW....I'm in Waco.... I see you're in Austin!!! we're nearly neighbors!

[Emma]

Not far at all. I'm in far SW Austin, near Dripping Springs. Donna, txmusicmom is in Waco, though she hasn't been posting much lately that I've seen.

Welcome to DSP!

I'm wondering if on your first save you accidentally saved the actual JPG preview image instead of the PNG file, maybe something like that, since the preview has a white background