I'm having a similar problem re transparencies etc...

I have a Cº logo set as a background image on their site. What I'm trying to do is load a transparent *.gif file, write (annotate: user input) a message to the *.gif file, and eventually display the annotated *.gif over the logo image in order for it to be clickable (put within DIV and HREF it). If I get this sussed, I'll also be looking into morphing it or animating it - so something... (probably just leave it as is!).

I too have visited ImageMagick.org and have found it confusing - http://shawn.apocabilly.org/PGP/ (O'Reilley) slightly less confusing as there are examples (which I've been pulling apart with only moderate success!!) and there's little else I've managed to find out.

Hopefully someone out there has the know-how...

Eagerly awaiting,
Richard.