...snip...

My question: Is there a straightforward way to get a transparent background on a flattened image?

Not exactly what you request in the next bit

The top portion of the book cover I'm generating features two separate images, a girl and a guy, brought together to give the illusion they're with each other in the same setting. I want to set a third image (a blueprint vector) behind them, then reduce the opacity on the first two layers so the blueprint lines show faintly through.

..snip..

Or . . . is there another a method for joining two images together so their opacity can be adjusted without one image showing through the other? That would solve the problem, too.

Always better if you can show screenshots with the layers dialogue, otherwise it is all a bit of a guess.

Anyway, without spending too much time on it, you might have something this screenshot http://i.imgur.com/YoeXAON.jpg a front character layer, a back character layer - with layer masks and a blueprint background.

Turn off the visibility of all layers (background) leaving the character layers and create a new layer from those. Layer menu -> New from visible. http://i.imgur.com/CYEykne.jpg

Then turn the visibility of the characters layers **off**, visibility of the background **on**, and adjust the opacity of the 'new from visible' http://i.imgur.com/5Ew0KIn.jpg

rich: www.gimp-forum.net

On Sat, Jul 1, 2017 at 5:26 AM, recoveringartist wrote:

Hi, I've been making use of this forum the past few months as I learn GIMP, but
this is my first time posting.

I'm working with GIMP 2.8.16.

My question: Is there a straightforward way to get a transparent background on
a flattened image?

The word "Flatten", when used in GIMP gui, literally means "to reduce to

one layer and remove all transparency".

Of the many way to achieve what you described, flattening is not one of them.

carol

When you open your base (new) image, open with a fill of "transparency". (Click "Advanced")
- Create three transparent layers on top of base layer. - Put your woman on the top layer, man on the second down, blueprint third down.
- Merge woman and man. Adjust transparency so blueprint lines show through. - If you want, merge Man-Woman layer with blueprint layer. - DO NOT FLATTEN ANYTHING.
- Export to PNG (which supports transparency). - Put in book cover layout.

Rick S.

-----Original Message----- From: recoveringartist
Sent: Saturday, July 01, 2017 5:26 AM To: gimp-user-list@gnome.org
Cc: notifications@gimpusers.com
Subject: [Gimp-user] Transparent background on flattened images?

Hi, I've been making use of this forum the past few months as I learn GIMP, but
this is my first time posting.

I'm working with GIMP 2.8.16.

My question: Is there a straightforward way to get a transparent background on
a flattened image?

The top portion of the book cover I'm generating features two separate images, a
girl and a guy, brought together to give the illusion they're with each other in
the same setting. I want to set a third image (a blueprint vector) behind them,
then reduce the opacity on the first two layers so the blueprint lines show faintly through.

Problem is, when I reduce the opacity on the girl, the guy shows through her (see attached photo "Book cover transparency attempt").

The same thing happens when I use Merge Down.

I've experimented with opening a new view and flattening the girl and guy layers
to make one image. Hooray, they're equally solid now and I can adjust their opacity simultaneously with no ghosting. But now I've got a gray, opaque background where I need it to be clear. (See image "Flattened view").

If I must go through all the _fun_ of redoing the layer mask, I'll suck it up
and do it. But if there's a simpler, more elegant way to get a clear background
on a flattened image, I'll be immensely grateful to find it out.

Or . . . is there another a method for joining two images together so their opacity can be adjusted without one image showing through the other? That would
solve the problem, too.

Thanks!

Attachments: *
http://www.gimpusers.com/system/attachments/620/original/Fullscreen_capture_712017_41303_AM.bmp.jpg *
http://www.gimpusers.com/system/attachments/621/original/Fullscreen_capture_712017_43823_AM.bmp.jpg

recoveringartist (via www.gimpusers.com/forums)