Apple Pages Tip: Instant Alpha is Number One

If you're tired of trying to figure out how to make the background of an image transparent in Photoshop (Now, first the magic laso, no, we need a new layer, wait, do I flatten it?), Pages comes to the rescue with one of its most brilliant hidden tools.

Import an image into Pages (the ole' drag n' drop will do), select it, then go Format -> Instant Alpha. Then drag as much or as little of the background away as you want, click return, and Bob's your transparent uncle. You've now got an image you can overlay without having a square block around it. Nothing could be simpler.

Except, possibly, string. Not the theory, just the twine.