GIMP Version: 2.6.11
Operating System: Windows
OS Version: XP - SP3
GIMP Experience: Beginner Level

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Very many thanks in advance, gang, for entertaining a question from a clueless noobee (and how!).

Just grabbed a copy of GIMP yesterday and am still wading in the shallow end of the pool. I have a photograph image on which I'm trying to achieve the feathered edge effect, after which it'll be pasted onto a dark background.

I've followed a number of feathering instruction sets I've found on this forum, as well as some YouTube vids, etc., but I can't figure out how to achieve one final step in the process.

After I shrink the image a bit and do the feathering, a white border remains, showing the space where the original, pre-shrunk image was. I did the Select Invert to select this outer unwanted frame, and then Deleted it, but a white border remains.

When the image is saved and then pasted onto a dark background, the feathering looks good, but that white border outside of the feathering is still there.

If deleting doesn't remove that outer portion, what does??

Again, many thanks, guys! (And the chuckles you're having at my expense...well, that's my Christmas gift )

So you are saying when you delete that bit you are left with white instead?
If so go to layers>add alpha channel then press delete again assuming that area is selected this should make it transparent.

Oh and Welcome to GIMP chat

to Gimp Chat, LochWulf.

by Jamie 990

No question is trivial in here. We were all noobees at one time or another and we asked lots of questions that centered around our newness to GIMP. Ask anything.

Your image is probably a jpg image which means that it is "alpha-locked," as demonstrated by a bolded name on the layer. Right-click the layer the image is on and choose, Add Alpha Channel, then the layer name will no longer be bold type. Then when you delete the feathering selection, you will have transparency.

Alpha means transparency by the way. If you save your image as a jpg, it will fill in the background again, so you will want to save your image as a png image if you want to keep that transparency.

There is a script that is preinstalled with gimp called fuzzy border. Look under filters>map>fuzzy border. Unless I am misunderstanding, it should do what you want in one step.

Welcome to GC! We didn't laugh, promise!

I agree with Jamie on this one. It sounds like you don't have transparency on your layer, so when you delete the selection, it makes the deleted portion white (similar to how MS paint does.) if you added an alpha channel to this layer, that will tell Gimp to instead turn the deleted portion into transparency, thus showing the layer underneath.

As said above, simply right-click on the layer and click "add alpha channel" before you try to delete your selection to make your fuzzy look.

Also, there is a less destructive way of doing this. If you would like, I will happily explain it as well.

Wow, the patient hand-holding is sincerely appreciated, all, as are the tips and advice.

It is indeed a jpg image I'm working with. Taking a cue from your posts, I'm gonna invest a bit o' time learning something about Alpha Channel and layers, and have a go at the advice you've provided.

I'll let you know what comes of it. Herewith, a toast to all for a joyous and blessed Christmas and holiday season.

Same to you enjoy this time of year. Honestly I was worse when I started and well I still am. The wonder of GIMMP being that you never stop learning.

Welcome to Gimp Chat!

Welcome LochWulf, you landed in the right place. Any questions, just ask.

You can say that again, and thanks. Before I bolted for a bit o' holiday festivities, I had to ring in with a coz your tips got me from to on this problem in record time.

The end result is just what I was shooting for.

I look forward to more chats; GIMP looks like one cool piece of work!

Well, the sleigh's warmed up and a celebratory dram of single-malt awaits. Have an excellent weekend, all!