Creating Transparent GIF Images
Using LView Pro 1.C/32 for Windows 95

By: Randy D. Ralph, MLIS, Ph.D.

Last updated January 16, 1996

	GIF87a	GIF89a
BEFORE -->			<-- AFTER

1. From the Windows 95 Start Bar open Lview Pro 1.C/32:

Open the .GIF file from the LView Pro 1.C/32 File pull-down menu.

Before you save any images take a minute to set up LView Pro 1.C/32 properly so that your saved GIF89a images will have the right properties

From the File pull-down click on Propterties... and the Properties dialog box (below) will appear.

2. Properties Dialog Box - GIF Properties:

The Properties dialog box will open with the option tab last selected.

Click on the tab labeled "GIF" for GIF file properties and the dialog box will snap to the GIF Properties Dialog Box (above).

Deselect the interlaced GIF save option. This prevents the Venetian blind load effect which is not suitable for small files.

Select the save transparent color information to GIF89a files option. If this option is not selected your transparent color index may not be recorded properly and the resulting file won't display correctly.

Click on the "Options" tab to reselect the Properties Options Dialog Box (below).

4. Properties Options Dialog Box:

Click on the "Save all Options" button to complete the LView Pro 1.C/32 set up.

WARNING: If you do not save the options you will have to start again

5. Retouch Options Pull-Down Menu:

To make your GIF image transparent click on the "Retouch" pull-down menu.

Select "Background color..." and the Select Color Palette Entry Dialog Box (below) will appear

6. Select Color Palette Entry Dialog Box:

• Select the correct settings in the check box and radio button at the bottom of the dialog box to MASK to BLACK.

• Locate and select the correct index for the background color.

  NOTE that the numbering of color indexes begins at 0 NOT at 1.

  From the example .GIFs at the top of the page you would click on the bright yellow color index box.

  When you have correctly selected the background color index the display of the .GIF behind the dialog box will snap the non-background portions of the .GIF file to black. You should see your image in silhouette.

• If you are unsure of the color index of the background click on the "Dropper" button and LView Pro 1.c/32 will allow you to select a color from the loaded image.

You'll need to return to this dialog box after selecting the color using the dropper option.

When you're finished with the transparency options return to the File Pull-Down Menu (below).

7. File Pull-Down Menu Save Options:

To save your transparent GIF file select the SAVE option from the File Pull-Down Menu.

A Save Dialog Box (below) will open.

8. File Save Dialog Box:

Click on the button labeled YES to save your file in GIF89a format.

A little experimentation and practice may be required to get it right.

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