Creating Transparent .GIFS
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About the tutorial:
If you've ever wondered how some avatars or buttons appear transparent, or if you've ever wished to make some -- taking this tutorial will show you how. We will be converting the first image into the third avatar using the middle image as the template.
Step by Step:
To make a transparent avatar, first you need the avatar and a template. I've chosen a 60x60 template and a 60x60 avatar. Like here:
Open them both in PSP. On the template, Control+A to select the template and then Control+C to copy it. Then go to the avatar, right click and select Paste --> Paste as a new layer. Or simply Control+L.
Once you've done that, you now have the template superimposed on the avatar.
Now, magnify the image. Select the Eraser tool, set it's size at say 5px, and start erasing the white portions only. See below. For the more narrow areas, setting the eraser tool to 1px would suffice. Now your avatar should look something like this:
To make it transparent, Go to File-->Export-->GIF optimizer and a window pops up. Like this:
Now you have to make all the green transparent. Click on the white area next to Areas that match this color and a second window appears that allows you to select which color you want made transparent. 
Once you've done that, the green vanishes like magic and you can see the checkered background. Look below to have an idea: 
After you've done that, save it as and .gif file you're virtually done. Voila!! Below is the avatar we've just made.
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