HOW TO - Remove the background on photos in Gimp

To delete that undesired background from photos and other graphic content. Can easily be done with any type of graphic file.

STEP 1.  Open the image you wish to delete the background on.

STEP 2.  Using the menus, click View_Zoom, and zoom in as much as you need until you can see the detail. (I use about 400%)

 STEP 3.  Make sure your image has a transparent background. click in the layers dialog and scroll down to select transparency

STEP 4.  Then Add Alpha Channel.
STEP 5.  With the Paths Tool selected, left click along the edges of the subject you want rendered 

STEP 6.  Once you have highlighted the areas you want to be transparent click on Selection from Path icon in the toolbox dialog.

STEP 7.  Once that is done properly, you will see what looks like marching ants around the selection you just made with the Paths Tool. You may now zoom back down to 100 percent and delete the path you just made in your paths dialog.  Your selection will stay.

STEP 8.  Use the delete key on the keyboard to delete the background.
STEP 9.  You should now see what looks like a chequered pattern around the image which tells you that you now have a transparent background.

STEP 10.  To soften the edges of the newly rendered image, right click the image in the Layers Tab and choose 'Alpha to Selection', this will ensure that everything that is not transparent is selected.

STEP 11.  Save the image by clicking File/Save As and give it a file name.