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This might be a dumb question, but is it possible to make a .png file that isn't square?

If so, how can one do this in Gimp?

Ideally I'd like one in the shape of an X.

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You mean, "isn't a rectangle"? ;) Nope, not possible. – slhck Aug 24 '11 at 16:05
Interesting question. The vast majority of today's display devices are rectangular (a notable exception being the Motorola Aura) so I doubt non-rectangular images would be particularly useful. – Jon Purdy Aug 24 '11 at 23:19
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You can't make an image of an arbitrary shape - it needs to have a defined and rectangular resolution. You can, however, use the transparent properties of PNG images to simulate the appearance of a non-square image.

Just create your image/shape, ensure the background is transparent, and save the file in the PNG format. Make sure you include the alpha channel so there is a transparent background saved with the image.

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