Creating Transparent GIF Images
Using LView Pro 2.0 for Windows 95

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

In place October 24, 1997
Copyright © 1997 Randy D. Ralph. All rights reserved.

GIF87a GIF89a
BEFORE --> <-- AFTER

WARNING! DO NOT attempt to render animated GIFs transparent using these methods!
You will destroy the animation. Transparency for animated GIFs is controlled within the animation editor.

A. From the Windows 95 Start Bar open LView Pro 2.0:

If you have already set GIF File Options go to step B.

LView Pro 2.0 Opening Screen Before you can render any image transparent you must make sure that LView Pro 2.0 .GIF file saving options have been set correctly.

To do this:

  1. Click and hold on the File drop down menu item.

  1. Holding the mouse button down drag down until menu item Peferences is highlighted.

  2. Continuing to hold down the mouse button drag across into the Preferences Selection Box and release the mouse button when the selection labeled Graphic File Formats... is highlighted.

    NOTE: You could also have done this using the quick keystroke combination -
              <ALT> F R G

    When this has been done correctly the File Format Options Dialog Box (pictured below) will appear.

File Format Options Dialog BoxThis only needs to be done once.

Follow these steps to set your GIF File Format Options to the appropriate settings for saving transparent images:

  1. Click on the tab labeled GIF.

  2. Make sure that the radio button next to the label GIF89a is selected.

  1. Check the Save Transparent color information selection box.

    OPTIONALLY you may also select to save your images in Interlaced Format. Interlaced images load quickly in low resolution and sharpen as more lines are read. Non-interlaced images load as if a window shade were being drawn down.

B. Open the image you wish to render transparent:

LView Pro 2.0 File Transparency #1 Follow these steps to render the image transparent:

  1. Click on the Frames Tool .

    This will activate the Frames Tool Bar at the bottom of the screen.

  2. Click on either the Dropper Tool or the Color Swap Tool. .

  3. Using either tool click on the color within your image that you wish to make transparent.

    NOTE: This technique will only work if the background you have selected is in a single color index. Many graphics editors create a mosaic of closely related colors to depict a uniform background. If your background is not in a single uniform color index you must make it so before you can render the background transparent.
LView Pro 2.0 File Transparency #2
  1. Click on the Transparent Color located in the Frames Tool Bar at the bottom of the screen.

  2. Go to the File drop down menu and select the Save As.. option.

    The Save As Dialog Box (pictured below) will appear.

Save As Dialog Box

Follow these steps to save your new transparent file:

  1. If the displayed Save As default file type is not GIF87a/89a then click on the blink (encircled above) to show file type options and select GIF87a/89a.

  2. Click on the button labeled Save.

Your file has been saved as a transparent GIF89a file.

Load your new .GIF file using Netscape or some other browser and check to see that it appears as you expected it to look.

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

to the LView Tutorials Page.