Image with Transparent Background with The GIMP Software

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)I find it is a good idea to duplicate the working layer after each stepI 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)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 keyThe 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 ToolA 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 selectionStep 9 - You should now have an image of your signature with a transparent backgroundUse the File -> Export option to save as a .gif or .tif format file to preserve the transparent file!

BEFOREAFTER