Fun with Instant Alpha

As I explore the possibilities of what Google apps has to offer and how using multiple programs and applications working together can achieve awesomeness, I discovered instant alpha.  Now to many of you this may not be anything new but for me and all the students I see day to day it was like gaining a super power. Basically what instant alpha does is enables you to delete backgrounds from images making the background transparent. I found the instant alpha tool on my Mac in the application called Preview.

After opening a picture in preview I can select areas of the picture that I want to make transparent. It will then convert the pic from JPG to PNG (alpha). This PNG picture can be layered in over another picture. The picture layering happens in the Google drawing application and it is an easy drag and drop. To teach this to my students I ask them, " If you could hold a moon or planet which one would you choose and why?" and then we explore the planets and moons of the solar system.  I then model the steps to produce the desired effect of the picture. (Oh and I almost forgot about Photo booth. We use this app to take pictures of ourselves holding out our hands.) Note that pictures that have solid backgrounds are easier to instant alpha than those that have multiple colors. Here are some examples of pictures I have done using this trick. 

I found this to be a great way to enhance student presentations and projects. You can do instant alpha with a picture of yourself also. To make it easier for kids I have them stand in front of a solid background or green screen (if you have one). This enables students to put themselves into historical images like maybe a meeting with Einstein.

 I know that there are many Photo shop type of apps out there that do the same and more, but I found this way to be an easy cheap alternative to pricey photo editing software.  Give it try and teach your students how to use this tool, you will be amazed at what they will create!