I am trying to create a photo to be framed , with a single car image, and surround the image with words in different styles, tightly packed around the car?

[Guest]

I have an image of a car and wish to surround it with tightly packed words, but cannot get rid of the white backing on the car image. The final photo will be a Word document. So I need to import into Word the car image without the white backing so that I can add the many words?

[Mark_Sand]

From your description it sounds like you want to change the white backing to transparency.

If that is the case, here is one way:

1. Duplicate the Background layer and turn off its visibility.

2. Activate the Magic Wand tool, with the Contiguous box checked.

3. Click anywhere in the white background to select it.

4. Delete the selection. This replaces the white with transparency.

5. Save the file in png format which preserves transparency.

In the Word file, insert the png. Choose the "Wrap Through In Background" option for the picture (or similar named option depending on your Word version).  In this Word example I added a color background to demonstrate that the transparency indeed works, and I added text.

If this is not what you are trying to do, please clarify.

Note the reason for the duplicate layer: If you did the background select/delete on the "Background" layer (the default name), the deleted portion is replaced not by transparency but by the current color defined in the background color chip at the bottom of the toolbar. This is white by default so you would end up where you started!

[Guest]

Dear Mark,

Sorry to trouble you again, but, as you will probably already know, I do not have much experience with PSE, especially fairly complicated manoeuvres like the one on which you have kindly offered advice. Can you tell me how I save “in png format” (your point 5)? I got as far as that and it seemed to be working!

Many thanks,

Victor

[Mark_Sand · Accepted solution]

Can you tell me how I save “in png format” (your point 5)? I got as far as that and it seemed to be working!

From the main menu bar choose File > Save As.

Enter the file name and select PNG from the Format pull-down list, and click Save.

If this window pops up, just click OK.