Datasheet
8 chapter 1 ■ Tools for Building Your Masterpiece
Paste the apple into the new document (F/Ctrl+V; see Figure 1.16). If you would like
to save this image for later use, I recommend saving it as a PNG file. This format will retain
the transparent background so you can easily drag and drop the object into any photo envi-
ronment you choose as well as resize it to fit your needs.
Figure 1.16 The apple in a new transparent background
Have you ever created a new document with a transparent background and find it appears
all white? Where are the tiny gray squares that we all know and love? The checker pattern
expected to delineate transparency is actually still there. Photoshop CS4 at times defaults
to a variation of light gray/dark gray squares so it is difficult to see that the document back-
ground is indeed transparent. To change this, select Edit
→ Preferences → Transparency
And Gamut; Mac users will find Preferences under the Photoshop menu. From here, you
can change the color of the squares simply by clicking on one (there are two shown) and
selecting a slightly darker shade of gray. Now your transparent backgrounds will have the
little alternating checkers once again.
A New Home
The true test comes when you try placing your object in a new setting. Take a look at
Figure 1.17. What if we replace the eight ball with the newly extracted apple? To play along,
open the
eightball.jpg image found on the book’s CD. With the newly extracted apple
image open (the one resting on the transparent background), drag and drop the apple into the
eight ball file and place the apple over the pool ball with either the Move tool or the arrow keys
(see Figure 1.18). The Move tool needs to be selected in order for the arrow keys to work.
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