-Fake Transparency-
(level: beginner)

Don't have the ability to take screen-shots?
But need to show transparency?
Then read on...

This is a slightly painstaking way to get a fake transparent background... but it works great!

Carefully follow the instructions below and you'll be able to show transparency whenever you want!

 (note: all measurements are in pixels.)

Step 1:

Create a new document... any size will do.
Resolution doesn't matter.

(For the purpose of this tutorial i used a 300 x 300 canvas.)

 

(Factoid: Result shown at right is not a screen shot, its' actually a good example of what you'll be creating with this tutorial.)

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Step 2:

Now grab the Rectangular Marquee tool and select an area precisely four background squares in size.

Select: Image > Crop.

Don't bother to Zoom in on this, the squares do not increase in size, just in number.

Step 3:

Here comes the tricky part...

Change your Foreground color to #C7C7C7

Now get your Pencil Tool
Size: 3px
Hardness: 100%

Color ONLY the grey squares.

Press: Ctrl+Shift+I (select inverse), then...
Select: Edit > Fill: White