Transparent PNG
A PNG image file that contains an alpha channel, allowing parts of the image to be fully or partially see-through.
A transparent PNG is a raster image saved in the Portable Network Graphics format with an alpha channel enabled. Unlike JPEG, PNG supports lossless compression and per-pixel transparency, which is why designers use it for logos, icons, and product cutouts that need to sit on top of any background.
Loading upload service...
A transparent PNG is a raster image saved in the Portable Network Graphics format with an alpha channel enabled. Unlike JPEG, PNG supports lossless compression and per-pixel transparency, which is why designers use it for logos, icons, and product cutouts that need to sit on top of any background.
Read on
PNG supports a full alpha channel (8 bits per pixel, 0–255) which is what makes transparency possible. JPG does not — it is a lossy format designed for photographs without transparency. If you need transparency, you need PNG.
Read on
A 32-bit PNG includes the alpha channel; a 24-bit PNG does not. Most background-removal tools (including BGRemover) output 32-bit by default. If your cutout has no transparency, you have a 24-bit PNG and need to re-export.
Read on
Saving with 'save for web' that flattens the alpha, re-encoding a transparent PNG as a JPEG, and uploading to a platform that does not support alpha are the three most common ways to lose transparency after the cutout.
Read on
Keep a master transparent PNG. Export JPG or WebP for specific destinations. Verify the transparency by opening the file in a modern browser — the background should display as a checkerboard pattern.
Alpha channel depth in a standard 32-bit PNG — 256 levels of transparency per pixel (0 = fully transparent, 255 = fully opaque).
Continue learning
What is an Alpha Channel?
The technical deep-dive on the alpha channel that makes a PNG transparent.
What is RGBA?
The four-channel colour model — RGB plus the alpha channel.
How to Create a Transparent PNG
Step-by-step guide to producing a clean transparent PNG in BGRemover.
Apply this to your workflow
BGRemover turns the technical parts of background removal into a single click. Open the workspace and see the difference.