How do I create a transparent GIF logo?

[wetmoon]

I've spent several days trying to figure out how to make simple black-and-white seal logo become transparent (lose background) to be able to "stamp" it on pictures as "signature". The logo is round seal with two circles inside of each other, and some text within and then a picture in the center. All done in black ink and white background everywhere. I check colours and it says it has 63 or 64 colours. I took every single step with evaluation versions of GIMP, and Paint Shop Pro as per the following instructions (I made sure I followed everything that he suggests): http://www.htmlgoodies.com/tutorials/web_graphics/article.php/3480011

It seems simple, but it fails to create a gif that has transparent background. I post the "transparent" logo on another image and it still has the rectangular white background.

Am really devastated how such a simple task has to be so time-consuming and so difficult to achieve. Isn't there a software that just does that?

Any ideas and help?

[TheBearMay]

I've done it several times using GIMP, but have noticed that when using a GIF image I need to start by copying and pasting into a new transparent image without a designated type. Once you've pasted it into the new image you should be able to select the white background and remove it, then save it back as a GIF.

[\\.\]

The only program that I have come across that makes this completely painless is an Adobe / Macromedia product called Fireworks.

I have tried many editors and all to varying degrees of success.

I have tried GIMP myself and TBH I am not impressed with it, they make a simple process awkward & like bear may says, you have to copy to another transparency first...

[tracknut]

By the way, another thorn in your side... a gif image dropped on a photo as a logo is likely to not look very good either. The edges will be pixellated (aliased), and you'll be back soon asking about PNG formats and such.

A better way to solve this problem is to make and store your logo in format with full color depth, either PNG or the native format of your graphics program, with transparency of course. Then use a macro in your graphics program that will copy and drop the logo image into the corner of the photo.

Dave

[Tsid]

btw, are you trying to 'stamp' the pictures in the editor itself or you want to create 'watermarks' with server-side scripts (like PHP graphics functions) ?