Make png format transparent
Pictures and graphics in png format have the advantages, among other things, that they can be saved compressed without loss and can also be set transparently. If you want to do the same for your pictures and graphics, you need a good image editing program like the free software "Gimp". You can find out how to use it to set the transparency and save the image correctly here.
A file with the extension .png is a losslessly compressed image. The abbreviation png stands for "Portable Network Graphics". The png format is the successor to the gif graphics that were often used in the past and has the decisive advantage that it supports transparency via the alpha channel. To set the transparency, you need a graphics program that supports the png format and can create transparent layers. We recommend the free image editing program "Gimp", which in addition to a simple editing interface also includes all the necessary image editing tools and additional filters for a professional image editing or creation offers.
Making an image transparent with Gimp - instructions
If you haven't used Gimp before, download the free one software from Gimp.org download and install the program. During the installation you should make sure that you either do a full installation perform or at least install the translations ("Translations") in order to use Gimp in German as well can.
- Once Gimp is successful on your computer is installed, start the program.
- Press the keyboard shortcut CTRL + O to open a new file.
- Go to the folder where your png file is located. Load the png file with a double click in the edit mode of Gimp.
- Then right-click on your loaded image and select "Layer" from the menu item ("Layer") under "Transparency" the option "Add Alpha Channel" the end.
- Now mark the area that you want to make transparent. For example, you can use the "Magic Wand" tool. This automatically recognizes certain areas based on edges so that you can quickly select certain areas. You can find this tool at the top of your toolbox and recognize it by the magic wand symbol. You can also press the "U" key to activate the magic wand.
- Once you've selected the area, hit the DELETE key on your keyboard. Your selection will then be removed and shown as transparent from now on. You can recognize this by the fact that you can now see a background with light and dark gray squares.
- Keep selecting and removing areas until you have made all the desired areas transparent.
If you have large image files on your computer, it is a good idea to ...
Save in png format - that's how it works
So that an image in which you have created transparent areas is then also displayed transparently, you now have to save it correctly.
- To do this, first press the key combination CTRL + SHIFT + S.
- Then enter a name for the file and make sure that the file extension is "png". You can either write "Testname.png" for the name or click on "png" under "Select File Type".
- If you want, you can optionally change the storage location of the file below the file name.
- Then click on "Save".
- Another window then appears. You can accept the set values and click "Save" again.
The image will then be saved in transparent png format and you can then close Gimp.
