cannot make background transparent

[richard_r1]

so am following online tutorials

1 method says use the magic wand, other says use the magic eraser

am using PS elements on PC

load up jpeg - I want to save this to bmp to use as a button in captivate

method 1 = make a layer, click magic wand click white continuous space click delete. background goes transparent = checker. Save as bmp.  Load into captivate or open in picture viewer and there is the white background 😞

method 2 = make layer and add new layer (layer 0 and layer 1) put the picture layer to the top.  Repeat as above click and delete - layer goes to checks = transparent. Save as bmp open and there is the white....

so this is all very disappointing ...

what is missing here - I can't bear to follow another youtube tutorial and get the same error

[Derek Cross]

Is it a Background Layer. What happens if you make it a Normal Layer?

[richard_r1]

Ah - I think I fixed it

I was saving as bmp files - the same as the format in Captivate

Now I tried as png and this suddenly works - phew

well that was simple but frustrating

[Derek Cross]

BMP is a obsolete format. Is that the one the Captivate needs?

You can't have transparency with JPGs, you can with PNGs and GIFs and of course native PSD files.

[richard_r1]

I spoke too soon

Captivate is still showing the white background???

Even though when I open the image in picture viewer it is correct

Am going to try the other formats - this is now a Captivate issue (no surprise)

[Derek Cross]

Might be worth asking the question is the Captivate forum: Adobe Captivate

[Akash Sharma]

Moving to Adobe Captivate

[Lilybiri]

Did you ever see a movie that had a transparent background? Captivate is publishing as a movie, with or without interactions. Why would you want a movie that is partially transparent?

You can insert images that have transparent pixels, both SVG and PNG can be imported. I never use GIF anymore.

[richard_r1]

er CGI movies like star wars (haven't seen it) have lots of transparent backgrounds. The actors have to learn to act against a blank backdrop with a distinct color like green that is then made transparent for the CGI effects

[BDuckWorks · Accepted solution]

Are the YouTube tutorials showing saving to a BMP file?

Your methods are nearly there, but saving to BMP is the flaw.  When you import the BMP format anything transparent turns to white, or possibly the same color as the upper left pixel in the image.

Repeat the process, and save to PNG, or PSD, import that to the library and drag the new file to the stage. (It IS a two step process, and saving a new version won't replace the BMP file's in the library or on the stage.)

When you export, these items will show what is behind them, even if it is the background  of the Cp slides.  But, you will not be able to see what is behind them on your desktop.