Transform a non transparent GIF to transparent GIF in photoshop

[Guest]

This is what I been trying to do if it’s likely to change a GIF image with a hard contextual background to GIF with see-through background?

[Nicktendo28]

When you save a GIF (export for web) you have the option to select a color to make it transparent. note that you only get to pick ONE color, so you will typically end up with halo's around your image where it blends from your image into the original background color.

You're better off getting the original PSD file and then saving it as a transparent PNG.

[Semaphoric]

Actually, you can set as many colors as you like to transparent in Save For Web (Legacy) as a GIF:

    

However, once it's saved as  GIF with transparency, the color is gone, and when opened back into Photoshop, all the transparent colors are mapped to the same slot in the color table.

[Nancy OShea]

GIF is not very good quality except for real simple stuff like drawings.  It tends to look pixelated and/or  banded which is usually not desired.

[Guest]

Thank you and certainly I shall use original "PSD"

[Nancy OShea · Accepted solution]

Depending on complexity of image, you need to  use Magic Wand or Quick Selection tools to grab the background.  Use Backspace key to delete it.  The result should be your image on a transparent background denoted by the checkerboard pattern.

File > Export > Save for Web (Legacy).  Save image as a transparent PNG.  See screenshot.

[Guest]

Thanks Nancy, spot on!

[Trevor.Dennis]

Adding to what you have already been told, it does very much depend on the contents of the GIF, but more importantly, what your desired final result is.  Looking at the circle image in Nancy's post, that's as easy as grouping the layers, and adding a layer mask to the group like this.

With more complex situations, like for instance, where you want a moving character on top of other content, then you might need to make a layer by layer (frame by frame) selection, and delete the background.  That's likely to be quite a job if there are a lot of frames/layers, and if the pixel size is limited, it is is likely to be difficult to get a good result.

Do you have a particular GIF in mind?  Can you come at it from a different direction using something like Fuse?  I occasionally come across animated GIFs where the background layer is separate from the moving content, but that is rare.  What I am saying is that if you can be more specific, we might be able to offer better advice.

[Guest]

Thank you Trevor, I used "Magic Wand" and pressed back space which sorted out the issue!