In the May issue we gave directions for making gradient, plasma and patterned backgrounds at IM. Now you can learn to make transparent backgrounds. The process is slightly different from making gradient and plasma ones.

Click on the IM URL above. Ignore the Filename and URL box. Scroll down past the text paragraphs, until you come to "Optional Input Attributes:" 3 rows of boxes and drop downs. These are what we use to make backgrounds from scratch.

1. "Size" - box is already filled in with 320x240. Change it to the desired size, or leave it; you can always resize later. You need only enter the width and the height: 100x100. Do not use an exclamation point after the numbers. But if you resize later, please remember to use the exclamation point there.

2. "Format" (to right of Size)
Click on "implicit" and scroll down clear to the bottom to select "xc" and click on it.

3. Under "Size" is "Meta" with a blank box below it. Instead of colors, type a color name or hex code, such as "red" or #ff0000 or the word "transparent" (without the quotes).

4. Interface (to right of Meta). Leave this as is.

5. Ignore the 2 below these. (Scene and Channel)

6. Scroll up to "View" (immediately under the URL box) and click.

7. Next screen will show you the solid color or transparent background.
You can proceed from this to resize, rotate, or whatever else you want to do with this.

8. Output: This tab is at the top of the page. Click on it.

9. Next screen: In the "Format" box, select the type of output image. Select gif or the background will not stay transparent. Click. Move cursor down to "Storage Type" and click on "single file." Click on "output."

You know what to do now to TL your image. It's so easy to do this rather than having to hunt throuh your file manager for a transparent gif!