I have several images I would like to convert to clip art such that
they have transparent backgrounds, but am having trouble doing so. I
start with an image in a square frame, the background around the image
being white. I have tried a few photo editing programs (e.g.,
PhotoImpact XL) that purport to have tracing devices and/or image
editors that can supposedly detect the background and then make it
transparent. I say "purport" and "supposedly," because they are
anything but intuitive or simple to use (my hand begins to shake!),
and the result is a jagged outline around the image. What I seek,
therefore, is a low-cost downloadable program (with a full-featured
trial version) that enables such background conversion (from white to
transparent) in an automatic manner.

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Clarification of Question by nautico-ga on 02 Aug 2004 06:35 PDT

Crythias --

I got over my fear of "Greek" and followed your instructions with success. Thanks!!

In general, you can only achieve transparency with .GIF or .PNG. And,
in general, the transparent "color" of a .gif is usually Magenta (255,
0, 255 or FF00FF), although that may be changeable.

so, if you can "Paint/Fill" Magenta and save as .gif, you're nearly
there. You then have to tell your .gif what color is transparent. And
that is about it. Of course, GIF reduces your image to 256 colors.

PNG has more color availability, including something called "Variable
Transparency" http://www.webcolors.freeserve.co.uk/png/png-alpha-transparency.htm
which helps avoid the "jaggies"
http://www.webcolors.freeserve.co.uk/png/edit-png.htm talk about
programs that  manipulate specifically .png files.

I like and use irfanview, and according to
http://www.webcolors.freeserve.co.uk/png/review.htm, irfanview has "an
option to set an indexed transparent color in PNG files."

Simply put, tell irfanview when saving that you want 255 255 255
(FFFFFF) white to be transparent, and it will be. This is index
transparent, so it may be jagged on non-white backgrounds.

God, it sounds like Greek, but make it your Answer.

I am not a Google Answers Researcher. Consider this a freebie. (GA
Researchers have an underlined hyperlinked name.)

But, if you consider this to be "greek" :) (And I *do* understand your
point of view), then you are welcome to wait for an official "Answer"
that might in some way be clearer.

If you're satisfied with the comment as an answer, feel free to cancel
the question.

If you want some more information on any terms that I used, I'll be
glad to answer as best as I am able to do.