Neverside

Transparent Bitmaps

I am attempting to create a BMP that I would like to be able to use on multiple backgrounds (BMP or JPG). I am using Hoverdesk for my windows shell and the buttons, etc have to be bmp format and want to find out if there is a way to make my bmp's background transparent so I can use them on other backgrounds as well. How I have been doing it, is cutting out a portion of the background where I would like to place it and adding a new layer and putting the picture on it and saving it as the bmp, but seems like more work then necessary. Plus I have to watch the x,y (i.e. 1024x768) settings to make sure they are aligned just so. I would like to be able just to place them and forget it. I am using PSP 8. I hope I have made what I would like to do clear. Thanks

Bitmaps don't support transparency.
If you want to save a template (bitmap with the desired transparency) in PSP, you would first have to promote it to layer, make the transparent areas, and then save it as .psp otherwise if you save it as .bmp you'll loose such transparency.
PNGs support transparency (the alpha channel transparency is great), so if you could use this format it would make things much easier for you, since you wouldn't have to be copying and pasting it all the time.

Thanks for the info. The one thing I don't understand though is with the hoverdesk themes that I have tried is all the icons, etc that they use for their theme is in bmp format and when placed on the desktop in hoverdesk the bmp blends in with the background, but when I look at the bmp in PSP, it has a pink background. Just wonder how they did it so it is transparent when placed on the desktop.

I've just the read the Hoverdesk tutorial. You need to set the transparency on the program, not in the bmp.

Misc Options

The top transparent check box is for use with tiles that contain pink sections in theme, we don't have any pink in this tile so leave it unticked.
TIP: disabling transparency, if not needed, increases display performance.

http://honz.hoverdesk.net/hvdtut_page1.htm

So that's why when you view the bmp in PSP it has pink.
In PSP you set the pink area and on the program you set the color transparency.

Last edited by malephika, July 28th, 2004 02:19 AM (Edited 1 times)