Transparent PNGs

Ke^in · August 14th, 2009, 12:57 PM

For those of you that know about PNGs, ignore this. For those that don't, they are the finest thing since sliced bread. Know how you have to get the background of your sigs/avatars the EXACT color of grey on this forum or it looks screwy? And even then you can only use said sig on this forum and nowhere else? With transparent PNG images you don't have to worry about that. Forget what you know about GIF image transparencies. PNGs have THOUSANDS of layers of transparency. ANY drop shadow in Photoshop that has a transparent background, will show up properly. This is an example.

The "rainbow" effect around our friendly neighborhood zippy isn't 100% opaque. It has transparency. Yet, you wouldn't think so by looking at it in the page. Save the image, open it up in Photoshop and you'll see something like the picture below. To save pngs just go into Photoshop and use the "save as web device" select PNG-24 and check transparency like below.

The image above is also a PNG. You'll notice that the drop shadow has true transparency. It can be used on any background color you throw at it.

A real time saver, and it looks 100% better.

Ke^in · August 15th, 2009, 01:22 PM

No one? COME ON!

This is just too neat.

StangGTR07 · August 15th, 2009, 04:44 PM

Originally Posted by Ke^in

No one? COME ON!

This is just too neat.

I agree, it is neat. Typically don't upload my PNG files, but may have to flatten one out and try it.

Ke^in · August 16th, 2009, 07:20 AM

If you aren't using png for the web, what are you using it for?

StangGTR07 · August 16th, 2009, 12:18 PM

Originally Posted by Ke^in

If you aren't using png for the web, what are you using it for?

Default format Fireworks saves to. I use Fireworks most of the time to layout graphics and usually just export gif or jpegs. Only use Photoshop for image manipulation.

Ke^in · August 16th, 2009, 12:20 PM

If it's print work you are doing, export to png. Cause the others really suck cause of the lossy compression.

I almost hate the invention of jpgs. everyone sends me jpgs for print work.

StangGTR07 · August 16th, 2009, 12:24 PM

Originally Posted by Ke^in

If it's print work you are doing, export to png. Cause the others really suck cause of the lossy compression.

I almost hate the invention of jpgs. everyone sends me jpgs for print work.

I'll keep that in mind. Mostly just web graphics or vinyl work.

Ke^in · August 16th, 2009, 02:56 PM

Web graphics pngs rule. Print work (vinyl) 300 dpi EPS, PDF, or TIFF images are the best. and you'll want to save them as CMYK (if not web based) especially if the printer uses CMYK separation.

Ace417 · September 1st, 2009, 11:54 AM

most of the time the file size is too big to use here is why i dont use them

Ke^in · September 1st, 2009, 12:48 PM

Really? What do you use to make them with? All of the ones I've made worked fine.

Ace417 · September 9th, 2009, 07:41 PM

cs3

Ke^in · September 10th, 2009, 06:35 AM

Same here, and you are saying it's too big? For what? a 14.4 modem?

Muscletang · September 11th, 2009, 06:48 PM

I could use some help with this. I've never been able to get a png file to fit on this site. I always try first and it never works when I attempt to use it as a signature. I have always just matched the color to get around this and if it's used for another site I give them the png for it or match the color for that site as well.

Here's my png file:

Ke^in · September 12th, 2009, 06:43 AM

For one, why it is bigger than your sig?

Muscletang · September 12th, 2009, 09:36 AM

They are both the same size. The site adjusts them. Even if I adjust it, it's still too big of a file size.

Ke^in · September 12th, 2009, 11:08 AM

I got it to fit at a smaller size. I guess I don't make huge sigs. They distract from the content. IMHO of course.

It's not PNG's fault that the forum has silly 90s file size regulations.

People rarely use dail-up anymore. And if they do, they probably aren't concerned with such things. Plus, you can turn sigs off. 200k image on a cable modem/dsl, isn't noticeable.

Muscletang · September 12th, 2009, 11:25 AM

I know what you mean.

I like to make the signatures big for detail and for people to show off their cars without having to load a picture to explain what they have. It's an artistic way to visually communicate what they want to say about their cars as well. Plus I like my art to be seen lol.

Thanks for trying to work with the PNG for me.

Ke^in · September 12th, 2009, 11:36 AM

I think the size I put up there is fine for those things. Remember, the forum is about the content of the text. Anything that distracts from that too much is a negative as far as design goes.

August 14th, 2009, 12:57 PM	#1
Ke^in Hardcore Enthusiast Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 2,617 iTrader: 0 reviews	Transparent PNGs For those of you that know about PNGs, ignore this. For those that don't, they are the finest thing since sliced bread. Know how you have to get the background of your sigs/avatars the EXACT color of grey on this forum or it looks screwy? And even then you can only use said sig on this forum and nowhere else? With transparent PNG images you don't have to worry about that. Forget what you know about GIF image transparencies. PNGs have THOUSANDS of layers of transparency. ANY drop shadow in Photoshop that has a transparent background, will show up properly. This is an example. The "rainbow" effect around our friendly neighborhood zippy isn't 100% opaque. It has transparency. Yet, you wouldn't think so by looking at it in the page. Save the image, open it up in Photoshop and you'll see something like the picture below. To save pngs just go into Photoshop and use the "save as web device" select PNG-24 and check transparency like below. The image above is also a PNG. You'll notice that the drop shadow has true transparency. It can be used on any background color you throw at it. A real time saver, and it looks 100% better. __________________ I like to go to Subway because the women there have to make ME a sandwich.

August 15th, 2009, 01:22 PM	#2
Ke^in Hardcore Enthusiast Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 2,617 iTrader: 0 reviews	No one? COME ON! This is just too neat. __________________ I like to go to Subway because the women there have to make ME a sandwich.

August 16th, 2009, 07:20 AM	#4
Ke^in Hardcore Enthusiast Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 2,617 iTrader: 0 reviews	If you aren't using png for the web, what are you using it for? __________________ I like to go to Subway because the women there have to make ME a sandwich.

August 16th, 2009, 12:20 PM	#6
Ke^in Hardcore Enthusiast Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 2,617 iTrader: 0 reviews	If it's print work you are doing, export to png. Cause the others really suck cause of the lossy compression. I almost hate the invention of jpgs. everyone sends me jpgs for print work. __________________ I like to go to Subway because the women there have to make ME a sandwich.

August 16th, 2009, 02:56 PM	#8
Ke^in Hardcore Enthusiast Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 2,617 iTrader: 0 reviews	Web graphics pngs rule. Print work (vinyl) 300 dpi EPS, PDF, or TIFF images are the best. and you'll want to save them as CMYK (if not web based) especially if the printer uses CMYK separation. __________________ I like to go to Subway because the women there have to make ME a sandwich.

September 1st, 2009, 12:48 PM	#10
Ke^in Hardcore Enthusiast Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 2,617 iTrader: 0 reviews	Really? What do you use to make them with? All of the ones I've made worked fine. __________________ I like to go to Subway because the women there have to make ME a sandwich.

September 10th, 2009, 06:35 AM	#12
Ke^in Hardcore Enthusiast Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 2,617 iTrader: 0 reviews	Same here, and you are saying it's too big? For what? a 14.4 modem? __________________ I like to go to Subway because the women there have to make ME a sandwich.

September 11th, 2009, 06:48 PM	#13
Muscletang Hardcore Enthusiast 1997 SVT Cobra Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Chesapeake, VA Posts: 2,233 iTrader: 1 reviews	I could use some help with this. I've never been able to get a png file to fit on this site. I always try first and it never works when I attempt to use it as a signature. I have always just matched the color to get around this and if it's used for another site I give them the png for it or match the color for that site as well. Here's my png file: __________________

September 12th, 2009, 06:43 AM	#14
Ke^in Hardcore Enthusiast Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 2,617 iTrader: 0 reviews	For one, why it is bigger than your sig? __________________ I like to go to Subway because the women there have to make ME a sandwich.

September 12th, 2009, 09:36 AM	#15
Muscletang Hardcore Enthusiast 1997 SVT Cobra Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Chesapeake, VA Posts: 2,233 iTrader: 1 reviews	They are both the same size. The site adjusts them. Even if I adjust it, it's still too big of a file size. __________________ Last edited by Muscletang; September 12th, 2009 at 09:51 AM.

September 12th, 2009, 11:08 AM	#16
Ke^in Hardcore Enthusiast Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 2,617 iTrader: 0 reviews	I got it to fit at a smaller size. I guess I don't make huge sigs. They distract from the content. IMHO of course. It's not PNG's fault that the forum has silly 90s file size regulations. People rarely use dail-up anymore. And if they do, they probably aren't concerned with such things. Plus, you can turn sigs off. 200k image on a cable modem/dsl, isn't noticeable. __________________ I like to go to Subway because the women there have to make ME a sandwich.

September 12th, 2009, 11:25 AM	#17
Muscletang Hardcore Enthusiast 1997 SVT Cobra Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Chesapeake, VA Posts: 2,233 iTrader: 1 reviews	I know what you mean. I like to make the signatures big for detail and for people to show off their cars without having to load a picture to explain what they have. It's an artistic way to visually communicate what they want to say about their cars as well. Plus I like my art to be seen lol. Thanks for trying to work with the PNG for me. __________________

September 12th, 2009, 11:36 AM	#18
Ke^in Hardcore Enthusiast Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 2,617 iTrader: 0 reviews	I think the size I put up there is fine for those things. Remember, the forum is about the content of the text. Anything that distracts from that too much is a negative as far as design goes. __________________ I like to go to Subway because the women there have to make ME a sandwich.

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