Tattoo Help

I know how to make tattoos but only if the image that I'm using is already transparent.. When I try to make a simple image (black image on a white background) transparent, I keep getting that damn white halo around it when I bring it into one of the clothing templates...

How can I make the image transparent without the white halo around it? What I'm using is a free Celtic style knot image that is black on a white background..

I've also tried to use some of the tutorials found on this page without luck..

any tips will be great.. I'm using PS CS2

thx

Copy and paste the black and white image onto a new alpha channel. Make sure the knot part is totally white, and the background is totally black. Create a new layer and load a selection using the new "knot" channel you just created. Fill the area with white, black, or whatever color you like. You should have a clean transparent knot image on your new layer.

Now, if you have antialiased edges or any shading and highlights on the knot, those may appear partially transparent. To fix that, you will need to do some editing of the alpha channel.

thank you so much for the reply but I was hoping you might be able to go into alittle more step by step detail? I'm still not really good with photoshop and am still learning..

thankyou

Edit: Never mind.. I worked it out.. thank you so much for the help

The sure way to get all black is make your alpha channel and just flood fill the image layer with black. Since it will be black anyway.

Excellent advice. The white area in your alpha map acts as a mask to "cut out" the tatoo perfectly from the black layer that Atom is suggesting, with no white halo. There can't be a halo, because there are no "edges" of the tatoo in that black layer, therefore nothing that needs bleeding or the Flaming Pear to repair it. That's the standard method I use for most clothing I make, and I never have a halo problem.