Graphics Programs Reference
In-Depth Information
Figure 17-4. When you save an image in JPEG format, the transparent areas aren't preserved.
But Elements lets you choose a matte color, which replaces the transparency. By choosing a
color that's identical to your web page's background, you can simulate transparency. For ex-
ample, the purple matte around this hibiscus blossom will blend into the purple background of
the page it's bound for.
Dither is an important setting because the GIF format works by compressing and flatten-
ing large areas of colors. When you use dithering, Elements blends existing colors to
make the image look like it has more colors than it actually does. For instance, Elements
may mix red and blue pixels in an area to create purple. You can choose how much dither
you want by entering a percentage in the Dither field. Depending on your image, you
may not want any dithering; in that case, set the Dither field to 0 percent. (Dithering
makes for a larger file, but in these days of large files and fast connections, the difference
in size is minuscule, so you'll usually want to use it.)
You can choose the
kind
of dithering Elements uses for the image itself and for any trans-
parent areas by selecting from the menus directly above and below the Transparency
