Avatars 101 intermediate

Turn off visibilty of the background layer (click the eye)

Click the top layer on the toolbar to be sure you are working on it. Select either the magic wand, lasso or crop tool use it to select parts of the purpleish background colour and cut or delete. Repeat untill you get this.

Now open the new background image you wish to use it should be at least 80 x 80. Select all> Copy. Click on the cats_avatar window and click on the layers pallet, background layer to work on and show it. Now Paste. You’ll get a new “layer 2”. Click the Move tool and position your new background (can use keyboard arrows)

Goto File> Save a copy. Enter filename> Save as jpeg, jpg> click OK. A “JPEG Options” dialog box will appear as we’re saving for the internet a Quality of 2 is sufficent. And you’re done. YAY!.

NB: Saving with PhotoShop 7

File> Save for the web> Settings> JPEG from the drop-down menu. Go to the drop-down menu with “JPEG High” displayed. “Medium” is a good setting to choose. Use “Quality” setting. to save the JPEG as a percentage of the original image’s quality. For example, 50% would be half the quality of the original image. When you are ready, click “Save” and save the image by giving it a file name.