Skip to main content
mattias@gordon.se
mattias@gordon.se
Inspiring
May 9, 2019
Answered

export png with clipping mask but no transparency

  • May 9, 2019
  • 6 replies
  • 8452 views

Hi,

When I export an png -file from illustrator and have a clippingmask that will not work so there is not transparency.

Anyone know if there´s a  way to export png with clipping mask transparency ?

/ Mattias

    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Correct answer Jacob Bugge

    Mattias,

    Are you saying that if you make a Clipping Mask, in the PNG the parts clipped (away) are white or something instead of transparent, or are we talking about an Opacity Mask using grey to get partlal transparency/reduced opacity?

    In the former case I believe the parts clipped (away) should indeed become transparent in the PNG, but in the latter case I believe you can copy the knockout path (Group) and give the copy the desired appearance (colour and degree of transparency/opacity) then select the original and the background to knockout from and Pathfinder>Minus front as suggested by John; or you can turn the original black and select it with the background and make an Opacity Mask thereby keeping everything reversible.

    6 replies

    E
    erlksdfhqp
    Participating Frequently
    August 14, 2020

    Hey, the software has only been out for 33 years.  They can't be expected to have ironed out all the kinks.  Check back in 2050.

    I
    intelligent_neighborsFA21
    Inspiring
    May 10, 2019

    What is your workflow: you start with Ai then you go to? ID, Word? Can you give me more info?

    Thanks.

    Patrick

    mattias@gordon.se
    mattias@gordon.seAuthor
    Inspiring
    May 10, 2019

    This is already solved.
    Thanks

    I needed to export a png with transparency to be used as a icon in a software.

    / Mattias

    John Mensinger
    Community Expert
    John MensingerCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    May 10, 2019

    mattias@gordon.se  wrote

    This is already solved.

    That's great Mattias, please take a moment and mark it Answered.

      I
      intelligent_neighborsFA21
      Inspiring
      May 10, 2019

      Hi,

      When you use the asset export pallet to export your artwork to PNG, it's useful to check before exporting, if you made the correct export settings. PNG and maintain the transparency.

      Good luck

      Patrick Toebosch

      mattias@gordon.se
      mattias@gordon.seAuthor
      Inspiring
      May 10, 2019

      I always do that but in this case it did not work.
      /Mattias

      Jacob Bugge
      Community Expert
      Jacob BuggeCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
      Community Expert
      May 9, 2019

      Mattias,

      Are you saying that if you make a Clipping Mask, in the PNG the parts clipped (away) are white or something instead of transparent, or are we talking about an Opacity Mask using grey to get partlal transparency/reduced opacity?

      In the former case I believe the parts clipped (away) should indeed become transparent in the PNG, but in the latter case I believe you can copy the knockout path (Group) and give the copy the desired appearance (colour and degree of transparency/opacity) then select the original and the background to knockout from and Pathfinder>Minus front as suggested by John; or you can turn the original black and select it with the background and make an Opacity Mask thereby keeping everything reversible.

        mattias@gordon.se
        mattias@gordon.seAuthor
        Inspiring
        May 10, 2019

        Thank you all fot getting involved in this.

        I had to use the pathfinder to make it work. It worked fine. I dont use this kind of export so much but in this case it was a for icon for a software.

        best regards
        Mattias

        Jacob Bugge
        Community Expert
        Jacob BuggeCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        May 10, 2019

        You are welcome, Mattias.

        Was my guess right, that it was a partial transparency, and you had tried with an (Opacity) Mask through the Transform palette?

        John Mensinger
        Community Expert
        John MensingerCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        May 9, 2019

        Maly_1 has it right; PNG does not support the Illustrator clipping mask. You 'll have to use crop, trim, divide, or whatever applicable functions it takes to destructively clip the contents permanently, then export to PNG. If you post a screenshot of what you're doing, you'll get more specific instructions.

          M
          Maly_1
          Inspiring
          May 9, 2019

          I don't think PNG supports clipping paths - only alpha channel transparency.

            G
            Greg Harbour
            Inspiring
            October 25, 2021

            I don't think PNG format capability is the question: there seems to be a bug in which Illustrator fails to respect layer clipping paths (and perhaps other clipping functions) when interpeting (flattening) Illustrator artwork into PNG raster format.

             

            It'd be great to hear if anyone is aware of a fix for this.

              Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement
              Using the community Terms of use Privacy Cookie preferences Do not sell or share my personal information ad choicesAdChoices