Transparant Text

[dacphotography]

I'm having trouble creating transparant text for use on a web page that retains sharpness...I create the text layer in photoshop (5.5), set it to index color and use the export to gif funciton...the result usually ends up with the text a little blurry.

Any suggestions?

 

[PetitPal]

The problem I always find with doing transparent text is that no matter how hard you try the anti-aliasing always looks a bit dodgy; after all, it's supposed to blend in with the background colour so it's not that suprising. There are three ways that I normally go (other may know more!)

1) Forget using transparency and just do your text on a plain background.

2) Use text without anti-aliasing (this doesn't look to bad on small fonts but can make big ones look a bit worrying).

3) i) Create your text in, for example, black. ii) Make the graphic background a medium grey colour. iii) Merge all the layers together. iv) Fill the areas around the text with green or something (that will be your transparent bit); now just trim the grey bits back until the text looks ok. v) Do the normal save as transparent jobbie and use the green as your transparent colour.

You see, the problem with text and transparency is the whole anti-aliasing thing; most paint packages use an 'in package' semi (or partial) transparency to blend the text into what ever background colour you choose to go underneath. The problem? Gif format doesn't support partial transparency.

Useful, eh?

=)

PetitPal.