transparent background on a .bmp

so I am trying to save a image as a .bmp so it can go on the desktop as an icon. However when i save it as a .bmp it fills in the transparent area instead of keeping it transparent so that i don't end up getting nice clean round edges. So my question is how to i get a transparent background when saving as a .bmp? Thanks ahead of time.

Jay,

You do know that converting a BMP to ICO via a renaming is a very dirty trick, yes? A true .ICO contains a library of different sizes as well as a defined transparency color. BMP does not, and will fail big time if you try to distribute as an .ICO.

Instead, use a ICO program such as Microangelo.

Mathias

I have used C++ that can save .ICO files...but how to i do it so I can make the background transparent?

does anyone know how to use photoshop or C++ to make a transparent background on a bitmap or ico file...can u do it with a bitmap and how...and can u do it with a ico file and how...i would like to know how to use both...thanks

Use the resource editor in your C++ programming environment. Import the BMP (you may have to use MS Paintbrush to open the BMP, and import via the Clipboard), erase the background, maybe add some more sizes or color depths, and save your newly-beautiful ICO.

harvey when doing this "resource editor" in my C++ when making a new file u can choose bitmap....icon....and a few editors what editor should i use ...sorry i am kinda dumb at C++ i have only used it breifly...thanks again this transparency thing is driving me nuts!

If you're using MSVC, start a new empty project, add a new resource, choose ICON, and open it in the editor. You can import bitmaps of regular icon sizes. Use the resource editor to paint the pixels you want to be blank--they will appear in a reserved color. In the resource editor, you can add new 16x16, 32x32, and other sizes, in multiple color depths; the OS will select the most appropriate for the display driver.

If you're creating ICO for use on the Internet, keep it simple. Have a look at a simple Internet icon < http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/r_harvey/asciicat.i co> as a starting point (you can't use that one!). Then put a tag on your HTML page something like this:

<LINK REL="SHORTCUT ICON" TYPE="image/x-icon" href="my.ico">

Technically, BMP doesn't support transparency.

But it can support a single alpha channel.