How can I make a series of images transparent for t-shirt design.

[danielacfield]

Hi! In Photoshop, I was wondering how I can make a series of images transparent to put on a t-shirt. Thanks in advance!

 

[thebestcpu]

Hi @danielacfield
In most cases for T-shirt prints, one wants the surrounding background made transparent so only the subject of the image is printed and the background is just the T-hirt by itself with no added printing. My response below will address how to do that yet your description is lacking details so you may want something else. If that is the case please clarify.

- First load the image into PS. I used a bird with a background


In the Layers Panel, click on the lock symbol to delete and this allows there to be transparent backgrounds


Now you want to make a selection for the background. There is many ways to do this. On more recent versions of PS I have used the Select > Subject command.


To change that selection to be the background it just needs to be inverted. That is done with the command Select > Inverse or the keyboard shortcut Shift + Cmd+ I (Shift+Ctrl+I on PC)


Now just click the delete key (backspace on PC) to delete the selected background. I also used the keyboard shortcut Cmd+D (Ctrl+D on a PC) to remove the selection (so not marching ants)


From here, you can crop your image to the desired size and then save as a PNG file with the Transparency Box checked to save the transparency with the file. Save the file and use that to print your T-shirt

Hope this helps
John Wheeler

 

[danielacfield]

Hi John,

Very helpful! However my image has multiple layers so it doesn't work from what I tried. Happy to send you the image(s) I am working with if that helps.

Thanks,
Daniel

 

[thebestcpu]

If you can send a link to your layered file I am sure that will help in understanding what you are trying to do yet a description to go along with that would go a long way to help you out.
John Wheeler.

 

[IamSam]

Hey guys.........as this is the General Ps Board, please keep all materials related to this question in the open forum. This is a help forum and working outside the thread does not benefit current members or future searches on this matter.

Thanks!

 

[thebestcpu]

Hey guys.........as this is the General Ps Board, please keep all materials related to this question in the open forum. This is a help forum and working outside the thread does not benefit current members or future searches on this matter.

Thanks!

I am always on board with that approach. I am repeating my request making it a bit more clear:

If you can post a link to your layered file in a response to this thread, I am sure that will help any forum member in understanding what you are trying to do. It would also help out a lot if you could provide a description in that post to go along with linked file.
John Wheeler.