Creating Transparent Backgrounds in GIMP Tutorial

There is a very simple method of creating transparent backgrounds in GIMP that works nicely for illustrated, black and white drawings such as I usually offer on this blog. It works best with a background of a solid color. It can be used on other images too, but it might not work quite as you wish. It removes all of one color...and also makes lighter shades of that color semi-transparent.

For example, the default color to remove is white (which is what we want to use too). However, be aware that shades of gray will turn semi-transparent with this method. The lighter the color the more transparent it will be, the darker the color the more opaque it will remain. So black remains black, white becomes completely transparent, and shades of gray have varying degrees of transparency. If you try this method on an image with colors, you will find that light colors (such as pink) become semi-transparent as well.

Version One

Step 1: Click "Colors" and then on "Color to Alpha."

1904 Vintage Car Clipart Black and White

Here is a cool, vintage black and white car illustration from the year 1904. I believe it is a "Winton Touring Car." Wouldn't it be fun to drive an antique car like this?

I used it in a tutorial here to explain how I use GIMP to remove backgrounds from black and white images like this.

This image is free of known copyright restrictions.

Vintage Cottage Illustration Clipart

I love cottages. So as soon as I saw this illustration I immediately wanted to make it available here on this blog. It comes from a newspaper published in the year 1903. There are trees, a hedge,I think a fence...and a dapper gentleman standing in front. The description that accompanied this image said that it had six bedrooms (so it is a Large cottage...of course, the bedrooms were probably small too...I am currently typing this in a house that was built in 1907 and the bedrooms are tiny by today's standards).

The cost of the house and the lot it came on at the time...$5,500.

As usual, this image is in the public domain, because it was published before 1923...so you can use it any way you want!



This image is free of known copyright restrictions.

Antique Motor Truck

Here's a fun image of an old truck from an ad from the year 1919. I removed the name that showed on the truck, because I believe that company is still around and the name is trademarked? But the image itself is public domain. The image is quite a bit flawed, somewhat "grungy" ... but I think that makes it look cool and adds to the antique feel.

As I was preparing this image for posting her I suddenly thought, isn't Father's Day coming up? So, maybe this image could be incorporated as something for Dad's Day, like a card, or on a t-shirt or mug that you create and put on Zazzle?




This image is free of known copyright restrictions.

Funny Marathon Runner B&W Clipart

Here is a funny looking illustration of a mustached man running. If I remember right, the article it was from said this illustration was of a marathon runner from England. I do know that it came from the year 1908.





This image is free of known copyright restrictions and is in the public domain.

Strawberries Clipart Black and White

Here are two black and white illustrations of cute, tasty strawberries. From an old newspaper ad that is in the public domain. So you can utilize these as clipart images in any project you like, any way you like.

  





This image is free of known copyright restrictions.

Bicycle Skis / Sled

Have you ever seen those bicycles with skis on them? There are a lot of different versions around, I think. Well, the idea isn't new. Here is an image from 1896 of one that a "Yankee" invented. I just thought it was fun and unusual...so this is my "Weird Wednesday" post. I'm not sure why I am posting it in late the late spring time though. :P

This image is free of known copyright restrictions.

Pear Clipart - Black and White

Continuing with the fruit theme I had yesterday, here is a pretty black and white illustration of a pear. It also is from an old newspaper ad and is in the public domain, making so you can do whatever you want with it.



This image is free of known copyright restrictions.

Peach Clipart in Black and White

I was working in the garden a lot this past weekend, so I thought I would try to post a few plant / food related things the next few days. This is the first one. 

This is a pretty black and white image of a peach from an old newspaper ad. Makes great clipart for all sorts of uses. Because it is in the public domain you can do anything you want with it.

This image is free of known copyright restrictions.