Edge noise around pic after gif optim and insert into word

[JohnWalk]

I erased all background in a photo of a person. After I optimized with gif and inserted into a word doc, I have these sort of dots around the edges.
I used the "Existing Image or Layer Transparency" option when optimizing and saving. I've tried using the freehand selection and magic wand but had trouble trouble with the edges also. HELP!

 

[jconingham]

When you erased the background, you created an antialiased edge around your image, causing jagged edges.

Antialias is responsible for creating smooth edges through the use of semi-transparent pixels. Gifs, although support transparency, don't support the semi-transparent pixels - either a pixel is completely opaque or it is completely transparent.

If you are using a word doc, change the background color to the document's color and don't use the transparency.

A format that supports this type of transparency is .png. The transparency is created through alpha channels (sort of masks), instead of using colors. Because of how the transparency is created I'm not sure how well word can handle them.

Hope this helped.