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A question about GIFs.

by Bojangles
12 replies
  • WEB DESIGN
    • |
This has been annoying me. I've never really messed with GIFs (especially animated ones) but I realized their power of transparency. However, after I make something I want and get it looking good I save it. Once it's saved I realize that there is white spots randomly all around it. I mean everywhere. I'm going for a paint splatter type of look, by the way. This also happens when I just make text. Is there anyway to keep that from happening? If not, is there a quick solution? I spent all night working on something only to find that it looked very crappy once it was saved and put up on the web.
#gifs #question
  • Profile picture of the author Aronya
    Not sure if this is going to answer your question, but gifs don't do transparency well. You need to use .png instead. But, there is sometimes an issue with browsers displaying .png files properly, so you can be trading one problem for another.
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  • Profile picture of the author talewins
    First thing, Make sure your art files are being uploaded at 100% quality. Some programs automatically scale back on the upload, with 75% loss. Very visible little spots can show up.
    Second, if your art program has an eraser, don't use it for touch up work. The best solution is to have a TRACER in your art program remove everything in one operation.
    Third, if you thought big, then reduced in size, you are quite likely to need to RESAMPLE the product.
    Where the text is splotchy I suggest cutting it out and running it through something similar to notepad and bring THAT product back and paste it in with a different font. Which brings up the need to consider using only web proof fonts.
    Fourth.. if you have a preview and the artwork looks great but still looks splotchy beyond measure from the web, check your browser settings. Also, go to a friend's computer and look at that text and artwork from a different station.
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  • Profile picture of the author Harrier
    Originally Posted by Bojangles View Post

    This has been annoying me. I've never really messed with GIFs (especially animated ones) but I realized their power of transparency. However, after I make something I want and get it looking good I save it. Once it's saved I realize that there is white spots randomly all around it. I mean everywhere. I'm going for a paint splatter type of look, by the way. This also happens when I just make text. Is there anyway to keep that from happening? If not, is there a quick solution? I spent all night working on something only to find that it looked very crappy once it was saved and put up on the web.
    What Graphics program are you using?
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    • Profile picture of the author Bojangles
      Originally Posted by Harrier View Post

      What Graphics program are you using?
      Photoshop and Imageready
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      • Profile picture of the author Harrier
        Originally Posted by Bojangles View Post

        Photoshop and Imageready
        I would have thought that Photoshop would have not done that, but I cannot comment as I do not use it.... I use PSP (PaintShopPro) and I don't usually have any problems like that.

        But I do know what has been said above, that if you have used the eraser to clean major areas, it can have undesired results.

        If the gif is not too large, maybe you can PM me a copy and I could take a look at it. No promises though because fixing others work does not always work.
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        • Profile picture of the author Bojangles
          Originally Posted by Harrier View Post

          I would have thought that Photoshop would have not done that, but I cannot comment as I do not use it.... I use PSP (PaintShopPro) and I don't usually have any problems like that.

          But I do know what has been said above, that if you have used the eraser to clean major areas, it can have undesired results.

          If the gif is not too large, maybe you can PM me a copy and I could take a look at it. No promises though because fixing others work does not always work.
          I certainly appreciate it. Do they still update PSP? I remember that used to be a very popular program. Well, maybe you could look at it and tell me why you think it might be doing that. I don't know why it's doing that, but it really sucks.
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  • Profile picture of the author Harrier
    Yes... PSP still gets updates, but it is owned by Corel now.
    I'm am not a rich man so PhotoShop was too expensive for me.
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  • Profile picture of the author Harrier
    If you are having trouble PMing it, you can just send me a link where I can get at it.

    Here is a sample of a Transparent gif I made
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    • Profile picture of the author talewins
      Oh, that is just beautiful, Harrier!
      I'm surprised that no one has mentioned Gimp here yet.
      For some really nice animations I now use PagePlus X3. It weighs in at just under $100
      But my first love in graphics is real draw pro, just under $70
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  • Profile picture of the author Harrier
    Thank You talewins.
    I have PSP and Animation Shop that I use a lot.

    I have Gimp amongst others but have to play with them and work them out yet.
    So, I can't recommend what I don't use.
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  • Profile picture of the author lumpy burgertushie
    well, one of the main good things about gif versus jpg is the fact that gifs can be transparent. I would be willing to bet that most of the transparent images online are gifs. they have been around a long time before pngs were ever thought of.

    so, the point is that if your gifs are showing white dots, then you have to keep trying until you learn how to get rid of them.

    I have had the same problem myself, however, I have never taken the time to learn how to use the graphics programs correctly.

    by the way, paint shop pro is considered to be the equal of photoshop by everyone except die hard photoshop users and the manufacturers of photoshop.


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  • Profile picture of the author BrainDance
    PaintShopPro is a nice program, I had it waaaaaay back when, and to this day is affordable as is Photoshop Elements. GIMP is great free and you can edit PS files.
    true transparency..PNG24
    this is a great article comparing all formats for web with the good and evil!
    When and how to use internet image formats
    there is a PNG Fix for IE just google.
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