Problems with Transparency

[Inzannatee]

Hi there,

I'm having a problem with the transparency.
I have cut out my image, selected it with the magic wand, deleted the background and saved as a PNG.
But when I open up the saved image it still appears on a checkered background, but it isn't transparent if I try to layer it on top of a new image, it carries the square of check around with it.

I have had problems with it before, and managed to solve it with the forum, but can I hell remember how to solve it, and I forgot to save said post.

Many thanks in advance

[Pixey]

Hi @innzanatee and welcome to the forum .

 

It's just possible it's the background that is still activated, which makes it look like it's not transparent - un-check the box on the background layer or delete it.

 

If you save it as .png it will retain the transparency - which is denoted by the checkerboard background.

 

 

I hope this helps .

[Inzannatee]

Hi Pixey, 

 

thanks for the help, but that's not it.
The checkered background is there, so it appears transparent, I even deleted it on that layer and removed all of the other layers, then saved as PNG. 

But it still keeps the checkered pattern as if it was a background layer.
 

I'd post a pic, but it won't let me

I want to be able to use the image without a background on another site but it always comes up with either a white or black background.

[Pixey]

Checkerboard means it IS transparent, that's the way it's supposed to look.

 

To post a pic of your trouble on here, first upload it to somewhere like Imgur or Photo bucket, then copy the URL code and add it to your post on here .

 

The other thing is that if it is transparent (.png) and then you add it to another site, it's going to 'take on' the same color of that site's background.  I hope that makes sense .

[BoltBait]

Here's one thing to try:

On the Save As screen, select PNG format, specify a filename, and click Save.

On the "Save Configuration" screen that comes up next, be sure the Bit Depth "Auto-detect" is selected before clicking OK.

[Eli]

When I want transparency I save it as a PNG file (just as Boltbait adviced). I usually choose 32-bit  and that works for me. I do not know if Auto-detect is better (I just do not know  ), but I think the file size is smaller.

[BoltBait]

Eli, "Auto-detect" will select 32-bit if your image has any transparent areas. It will choose 24-bit or 8-bit if your image has no transparent areas.

[Eli]

Thanks BoltBait, I learned something today. 

Edited July 23, 2016 by Eli

[Inzannatee]

Ok here is the image of what is happening if I try to copy and paste,

Sorry about the nature of the picture though, a little cheeky I know.
But I want to capture the bottom in various positions so I can make it into an animated gif.

http://imgur.com/a/Z81sw

[BoltBait]

OK, I know what your problem is.

When pasting the smaller image onto the larger image, you need to use Ctrl-Shift-V instead of Ctrl-V.

This will paste the smaller image into it's own layer.

[Darty]

Or, if you copy that content from another layer, make sure to only select/copy the "object" itself.
If you copy everything (rectangle), then it also copies the transparent area with it and it'll cover your image when pasting on the same/a higher layer.

[MJW]

That doesn't sound quite right, Darty. Pasting the transparent area into a new, higher layer is fine, and is essentially what happens if you paste only the selection into a new layer: the area outside the selection is filled with transparency. The problem occurs, as BoltBait said, when you paste it into an existing layer instead of a new layer.

[IRON67]

...but it isn't transparent if I try to layer it on top of a new image, it carries the square of check around with it.

 

 

That's happen, because you don't really put it ON TOP of a new image but replaced the space around your cutted figure in the "background"-image with the transparency around the cutted figure/object.

You have to choose "Paste into New Layer" instead.

 

 

Edit: sorry for explaining again. I have overlooked some of the previous answers.

Edited July 24, 2016 by IRON67

[Darty]

Pasting the transparent area into a new, higher layer is fine

 

Oh yea, my bad.

It's only a problem when the image did actually have the checkered background (like a printscreen of the transparent project) which was not the case here.

[Inzannatee]

AH right, that's where I was going wrong. Makes total sense now, that I was forgetting to create a new layer. Hopefully I will remember it now!

Much thanks guys

 

[Rick Brewster]

Eli, "Auto-detect" will select 32-bit if your image has any transparent areas. It will choose 24-bit or 8-bit if your image has no transparent areas.

 

Small correction: "Auto" will first determine which bit depths can save the image without any loss of information or clarity. Then it will internally save at all of those bit depths and select the one that results in the lowest file size.

 

If your image has any transparency then 24-bit will be immediately disqualified. 8-bit can be used if the image only uses 1 completely transparent color, and up to 255 other fully opaque colors (or, if no transparency is used, up to 256 fully opaque colors). 32-bit always works, and is always "safe."