Making transparent GIF images

The GIF89a image file format allows you to specify that one colour in the image will be treated as transparent by a web browser. Giftrans is a tool that will enable you to create such transparent GIFs.

To use Giftrans:

1. Download a copy of the executable program file:
   • giftrans.exe (35 kb) for DOS.
   • giftrans.exe (33 kb) for UNIX SunOS.
2. Read the documentation for giftrans
3. If you are using the UNIX version, rename the program file as follows:

    mv giftrans.exe giftrans

   and make sure that the program file giftrans is executable:

   chmod u+x giftrans

4. Use the giftrans program from the DOS or the UNIX prompt as follows:
   To convert the white background of a gif file to transparent, use:
   

      giftrans -t #ffffff file.gif > transparentfile.gif  

Easier Alternatives:

If the above command-line program is too esoteric for you, then you might like to consider the following tools:

• GifWeb from http://www.informatik.com/ is a simple Windows 3.1 "point-and-click" tool for creating transparent GIFs. It is available as shareware.
• Trans-Web Transparent GIF service at http://www.mit.edu/tweb/map.html offers a free (but slow) on-line service for creating transparent GIFs. It is best used in the mornings (UK time).
• Lview Pro, the professional shareware version of Lview, can create transparent GIFs. See a guide to using Lview Pro to generate transparent GIFs.

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Last Modified: Thursday, 20-Mar-1997 18:01:05 GMT