| > | | | | Fake Transparency with JPEG works where |
| | | | the area of the image, which you have chosen to be |
| For transparent images that you have extracted from | | | | transparent are filled with the same background color |
| your photos, the next step is to choose where | | | | or texture as the web page. Many designers use this |
| you’re going to post them. There are several | | | | especially when image is placed on a colored |
| options: you could either post the images on the Web | | | | background where alignment is feasible. |
| for your website, on a page layout application, or on a | | | | Your image to a page layout application. |
| presentation program. | | | | Applications like InDesign, QuarkXpress, or Pagemaker |
| Your image to the Web. | | | | are often used for page layouts. You have three |
| If your image is going to be posted on the web, it | | | | applications to choose from: |
| should be in GIF, PNG or Fake Transparency | | | | - Use the Adobe native PSD format when you need |
| with JPEG. | | | | to retain transparency among Adobe applications. |
| GIF is the original format with transparency support for | | | | - Use Embedded Paths (EPS) as most desktop |
| the web. A disadvantage when using GIF is that the | | | | publishing applications accept the EPS format. In |
| image can have color shifts, posterization and | | | | addition, EPS images support the use of embedded |
| distortion, particularly on those with high color densities. | | | | clipping paths. However, when used for transparency, |
| In addition, GIF only supports 1-bit transparency. This | | | | the isolated object can only have hard edges, and |
| would be a problem for images with partial | | | | again, it doesn’t support partial transparency. |
| transparency because each pixel is either completely | | | | - Use Alpha Channels (TIFF) when you want to define |
| transparent or not. Enhancements like smooth drop | | | | transparency in shades of gray. For page layout |
| shadows that fade away gradually may not be | | | | applications, the TIFF format is used for images with |
| feasible. | | | | alpha channel transparency. |
| PNG, on the other hand, is developed as an answer to | | | | Your image to a presentation program. |
| the limitations of GIF. It allows high color and partial | | | | When the image is going to be used in a presentation |
| transparency with the use of alpha channels. However, | | | | program such as PowerPoint for on-screen display, |
| the downside to this application is that there are still | | | | PNG is usually the ideal choice. However, this only |
| many browsers being used today that do not support | | | | works if your presentation program supports PNG. |
| PNG. | | | | |