NEW TO PS7--INSERT IMAGE??

[Angie Allendorf]

I'm VERY new to PS7 and I'm working on a project due next week! I have a main document (psd format) with a dark background and I have to insert several company logos (jpg or bmp format), some of which have a white background. Is there an easier way of changing the white background of the logos to match the dark background of the main document, short of using the magic wand and matching background color on each logo before dragging/dropping into my main document? Thanks!

[YrbkMgr]

Angie,

It depends on the backgrounds of the logo's themselves - that's what drives how you would do it.

If they are plain white backgrounds, and there's no white in the logo itself, it can be blended out quite successfully. In some cases you may have to use the pen tool to create a precise path and create a selection out of that.

Other techniques include using your magic wand, selecting the transparent area, feather the selection then delete to remove fringes.

Since you are new to photoshop, NONE of these are going to be a piece of cake. Bear in mind also that JPG's are lossy compression images and will have JPG artifacts that affect the periphery of the logo in most cases.

Here's a blending technique that I like a lot that can be used if there's no white in your logo proper, yet there's a white background (works with other colors too).

Your image has a Background Layer that is locked. Alt-double click on the background layer to automatically rename it to Layer 0. Now duplicate that layer by dragging it onto the New Layer icon at the bottom of the layers pallet.

Next, double click on the icon of that topmost layer in the layers pallet. That will bring up the blending dialog.

In the middle of the dialog is a dropdown called "Knock Out". Set it to shallow.

Beneath that there are two slider bars. Look at the one called "This Layer". On the right is a pointer with a hairline split in it. Hold down your Alt key and grab the leftmost part of that right pointer, dragging it to the left to split that pointer apart. Look at the image - the white has been blended out to transparency. When you are satisfied, press "ok".

The next part is to "stamp" those two layers into a single layer while keeping the originals in tact (in case you need to tweak them)

Create a new blank layer in the layers pallet. Hold down the alt key. Click and HOLD on Layers and drag your mouse (with the button still held down) to Merge Visible.

that will create a layer that has only non transparent pixels showing.

It looks more complicated than it is, but I happen to love this technique, depending on the image.

Peace,
Tony

[Margaret McDowell]

What if he saved the logos as GIFs and deleted the white backgrounds?

[Ed A. Ortiz]

I don't see where Angie stated if it was for print or for screen. I know she said .jpg/.bmp, but being that she's new to PS perhaps she's not aware of what format she should use.

[Margaret McDowell]

Sorry, Angie, meant she. :)