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dianak87450387
Participant
Apr 20, 2021 4:35 AM UTC
Answered

false transparency image

https://stock.adobe.com/ca/images/realistic-soap-bubbles-with-rainbow-reflection-set-isolated/293148943?prev_url=detail

 

This file displays with a "transparent background" but it's connected into the file, and I am unable to separate it out in illustrator due to how it is set up.

 

[moderator deleted the original stock asset attached to this message. Please do not post the original asset to this public forum]

Abambo
AbamboCorrect answer
Community Expert
Apr 21, 2021 3:31 PM UTC

I do not know what you are intending with your file, but all transparency effects that I've seen so far work only against a background. That background may be someting complex like a drawing or a photo, but the effect cannot exist by itself. 

ABAMBO | Hard- and Software Engineer | Photographer
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10 replies

JUST Water
Known Participant
Aug 12, 2025 1:00 PM UTC

Adobe Stock absolutely DOES have transparent PNG files available! I download them myself on occasion. As an aside, there are several ways to achieve transparency, both in Photoshop and Illustrator. (It does not require using effects against backgrounds.)

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    Abambo
    Community Expert
    AbamboCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    Aug 12, 2025 4:00 PM UTC

    Sure, but 2 things:

    1. PNG files are relatively new, that was no option 2021.
    2. The assets as described here still need a background to show how they work. You see above that without a background the assets would simply look awful.
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    ABAMBO | Hard- and Software Engineer | Photographer
    JUST Water
    Known Participant
    Aug 13, 2025 12:39 PM UTC

    Agreed! I would add that if a checkered background is used to simulate a transparency, best practice is to lock it and/or place it on a separate layer. My guess is that creators use these checkered backgrounds (rather than plain gray) because they want it to be obvious to a user who is looking at the thumbnail image that the artwork uses transparency. Which is a valid marketing tactic! Cheers.

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    Abambo
    Community Expert
    AbamboCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    Apr 20, 2021 8:26 AM UTC

    Transparency with such illustrator files works only against colour backgrounds. 

    You see my red rectangle works fine with the bubbles. To the left and the right of the rectangle I have an empty background (shown in white, but there is no background fill so what you see is the default visual of a 100% transparent artboard. I have switched off the visibility of the chequerboard and a grey background from the original visual. Here is the layers' palette:

     

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    ABAMBO | Hard- and Software Engineer | Photographer
      dianak87450387Author
      Participant
      Apr 20, 2021 4:23 PM UTC

      Unfortunately, I required a fully transparent stock bubble, so having a colour background doesn't help. 

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      Abambo
      Community Expert
      AbamboCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
      Community Expert
      Apr 21, 2021 3:31 PM UTC

      I do not know what you are intending with your file, but all transparency effects that I've seen so far work only against a background. That background may be someting complex like a drawing or a photo, but the effect cannot exist by itself. 

      Translate
      ABAMBO | Hard- and Software Engineer | Photographer
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