Creating Transparent GIFs with Photoshop CS3

Every now and then I have a need to create a custom logo or wallpaper.  After trawling through endless tutorials, here is the easiest method that I can find:

1. Open the file in Photoshop.
2. Convert to RGB mode (Image > Mode > RGB).
3. In the Layers palette, double-click on the name of the “Background” image. A dialog box will appear, asking you to rename it. Just click OK.
4. In the Tools palette, select the Magic Wand tool.
5. In the Tool Options bar at the top of the screen, set the tool tolerance to somewhere around 10, and toggle the “Anti-Aliased” and “Contiguous” options OFF.
6. Click on any white area in the image. All of the white areas should be immediately selected.
7. Delete the selection. You should see a faint checkerboard pattern in the deleted areas; this indicates areas that will be transparent in the GIF you’re about to create.
8. Save the image for web (File > Save for Web). In the Save dialog box that appears, use the following settings: GIF format; 0 Lossy; Adaptive method; 64 colors; Diffusion dither; 90% dithering. Make sure the “Transparency” checkbox is checked ON, and select a white Matte color. When you’re done, click Save and specify a filename and location.

iPhone 2.0.2 Update May Reduce Typing Lag, Connectivity Problems

Hooray a new iPhone firmware update…..   again.  Hopefully this fixes the 3G reception, lag in typing, phone hanging when I receive an SMS when on a call, etc, etc….  Overall I have had a good experience with the iPhone but the 3G was not a stable as my 2G iPhone.  😦

Apple releases their second iPhone 2.0 software update through iTunes today. The release notes only say it includes only “bug fixes” (any fixes at this point are welcome, but faster typing and better connectivity are the high hopes), and AppleInsider reports no new settings appear on your phone. If you install it, be prepared for it to undo your jailbreak.

iPhone 2.0.2 Update May Reduce Typing Lag, Connectivity Problems | Lifehacker Australia.

WordPress for iPhone

Well the guys at WordPress sure have been busy. A while ago I mentioned that they have improved the mobile WordPress interface, now they have released WordPress for iPhone. It is currently at version 1.1 and I tell you it is quite good. Typing a long post from the iPhone is a little challenging but the option is there if you do need to update your blogs.

Pros: mobile, can manage and post to different blogs, can upload pictures

Cons: no spell check. This is a real bummer as typing from iPhone is a little challenging

WordPress 2.6.1

WordPress 2.6.1 is now available..  Go get it!

2.6.1 offers several improvements for international users. Styling of the admin for right-to-left languages is much improved thanks to the efforts of the Farsi and Hebrew translation teams, and a mysterious gettext bug caused by certain PHP configurations is now fixed. For IIS users, 2.6.1 fixes several permalink problems. Image insertion problems in the Press This feature experienced by IE users are also fixed. Of note to everyone is a fix for a performance bug in the admin where those with a lot of plugins would experience slowness on some pages.

Check out the full list of over 60 fixes to see if 2.6.1 has something to offer you. A full diff and list of changed files is also available. Download 2.6.1 and enjoy.

WordPress › Blog » WordPress 2.6.1.