MS Paint is a user-friendly drawing program included with all versions of Microsoft Word. Among its many capabilities, MS Paint allows users to manipulate images and text to have transparent features. For pictures, the software gives you the capability to make the background colors transparent for more effective layering. Transparent text background is most often used to create watermarks or as shadowed lettering to enhance a design effect.
Make PIcture Backgrounds Transparent
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Step 1
Click on the picture you wish to make transparent. A square or rectangle of tiny dashes will surround the picture. This indicates that you have selected it for manipulation and editing.
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Step 2
Locate the MS Paint toolbar on the left side of the window. Identify the icon that gives you the option to choose a transparent background. The icon has three shapes—a blue cylinder, a red sphere and a green cube.
Step 3
Click on the Transparent Background icon. This action edits the picture to allow the background color of the image to be dropped, allowing whatever is "behind" the picture to show through. The outline of the picture remains solid.
Step 4
Click on an empty space anywhere in the window to de-select the picture. The dashed border should disappear and the picture should show plainly with the background transparent.
Make Text Background Transparent
Step 1
Choose the text icon from the toolbar at the left of the window. The icon features a capital letter "A."
Step 2
Watch some new icons appear when you select the text icon. They are similar, with a blue cylinder, a red sphere and a green cube. One icon leaves a transparent background with text, while the other puts a color behind the text. Select the transparent background icon.
Step 3
Use your cursor to draw a text box where you want the text to appear. Make sure it is large enough to contain all your desired lettering. Note that you won't be able to resize anything once the text box is set.
Step 4
Select the text font, color and size from the text toolbar that appears when you release the cursor. Type out the text.
Step 5
Confirm that the text looks the way you want it to. Continue to change and manipulate the elements until you are satisfied. Click outside the text box to set the style. The text will show solid but anything behind it will show through as the background because you've set the text background to be transparent.