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Wow. Just realized that if one searched for "GIMP transparent object" right now on google, my tutorial on Creating transparent images in GIMP would be shown as the top result. :)

Creating transparent images in GIMP

Transparent images are useful when you are not certain about the page/image background where you want to put your image which could be an object, a logo, a signature or even a watermark to copyright your photographs. By making the background of such images transparent, you essentially create a mask which could then be overlay-ed on any other image and only the non transparent object/text/logo will float on the output image. This post gives a step-by-step tutorial on creating such transparent images on GIMP(GNU Image Manipulation Program). I find GIMP easier to use than Photoshop or any other image editing software and best of all, its open source ! :) There is a lot you can do with GIMP, but for now, lets see how can you make transparent images.

• Open the image in GIMP from which you want to remove the background. The more uniform the background is, more easier it is to remove it.
• Add an alpha channel (transparent layer) to this image.
  
• Right Click on the image->Layer->Transparency->Add Alpha Channel

• With the fuzzy selector (Keyboard shortcut is Z), click on the background which you want to remove and based on the uniformity of the background, all or part of it is selected on clicking on it.

• Now the last step is to remove this selected background. Click on the menu (Edit->Clear) or use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+K. If there are still some patches left in the background then repeat steps 3 and 4 on each of those patches separately till you succeed in removing the background completely.
  
• Your transparent image is ready. Save it as a PNG or a GIF which support image transparency.