This article is in response to an Experts Exchange question
Trouble cleaning a signature. Although the question concerns a scanned signature, this technique can be easily applied to any graphics file that requires a transparent background.
This technique is illustrated using the Gimp, a free, open source image editor (
http://www.gimp.org/).
Here are the steps to clean up a scanned image of a signature to create a transparent background.
Step 1 - Scan image of signature and open the file in the GIMP
Step 2 - Crop the signature AND duplicate this layer (just in case you mess up)
![Crop tool]()
![Crop-2]()
I find it is a good idea to duplicate the working layer after each step
![Duplicate Layer]()
I always make the lower layers invisible to see only the layer I'm working on...
Step 3 - Add alpha channel (if there is none, the layer name will be in BOLD characters)
![Tranparency]()
NOTE: If there is NO alpha channel, you cannot create a transparent background
Step 4 - Use the
Select by Color Tool to select the background and erase with the
Delete key
![Select by color]()
The
Select by Color Tool will select all the areas of the same color, even if they are isolated from the area you click in (this does NOT happen with the
Fuzzy Select Tool)
Step 5 - Clean up the extraneous spots with the
Eraser Tool![Eraser Tool]()
A dirty scanner glass can sometimes leave 'dirt marks' on a scanned image that should be removed with the eraser
Step 6 - Use the Select by Color Tool to select the background
Step 7 - Invert this selection (
Select tab ->
Invert (or ctrl-I)
Step 8 - Use Bucket Fill Tool (with Black foreground) to fill selection - make sure to select the option
Fill whole selection
Step 9 - You should now have an image of your signature with a
transparent background![Final Image]()
Use the
File ->
Export option to save as a
.gif or
.tif format file to preserve the transparent file!
BEFORE
AFTER
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