Making Image Backgrounds Transparent

I need help making the background of several images transparent using Photo Shop. For instance, I have a picture of a flower that appears to be floating on a white background, but when you try to insert the picture on a page with a color background, the white shows up too. I would just like for the flower to appear directly on the color background of the page. I hope this makes sense. I just want to make the background of the picture itself completely transparent. How can I do this using Photo Shop?

U first must delete the background. When u see a checkersboard in grey and white it is transparent in photoshop. Then u must save it as a ".gif " ; .jpg-files can't be transparent.

Doody

If you dont have any special reasons for transparency (other than to see the page color) then skip transparency all together and make your background color the same as the page.


If you do want transparency, then either turn off or delete your background layer then use saveforweb. Be sure to set your matte color (to the page color) to avoid any fringe.

Thank you both for your replies, but for some reason it is not allowing me to delete the background. For one thing, it is showing only one layer -- the background layer. The only options when I double click on ithe background layer are Duplicate Layer and Group into smart object. I see delete layer there, but it is not active. Is there another way to do this? Please let me know what you think. Thanks.

U can't delete that layer because it's the only layer, infact u just have to delete the white-background part of that layer. To do this u must select the white part by clicking it with "magic wand"-tool. Then u just press the delete-button on ur keyboard. It is possible that u have to unlock the layer before u can do anything. If u managed to do this properly u can create a new layer and fill it with the background-color of ur site.This way u don't need transparency as Rodder said.

For professional user, avoid the magic wand to remove the background colour.
Better to choose/make a new path.
Create a path, use the pen tools to 'draw' around the image. Then choose, create select from path to achieve the 'marching ants'.

Tip: Go to Select in the title menu, choose modify, contract 1 pixel if low res, 3 pixel if hi res.
This will 'smooth out' any nodes and give you a nicer 'marching ant' selection.

Go to Select and choose 'inverse', then delete background or whatever your intentions are to alter the background.

Lesson Suggestion: Scan a photo of your friend, then, try this exercise to-

1. Magic wand around the hair
2. Make a new path around the hair.
-Compare the two results and this may give you knowledge of when to use either method.
Glossy Printed Magazines never use the magic wand for such tight imagery and is why you can drop fantastic scans into any background.

Using the magic wand for 'quicker' manipulation, try changing the field of selection range to around 15.

More can be found at http://www.australiasigns.com.au
Hope it helps
BillyTea

For professional user, avoid the magic wand to remove the background colour.

Being professinal means knowing what tool to use for your situation, not what tools to avoid. I agree the pen gives good results, but try using the pen on a very detailed tree.

For your flower, the pen should work well around the simple curves. But that may be over kill if it's on a simple white background where you could use the magic wand.....just play with the tolerance.