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Dawn093179
Participant
April 15, 2022
Question

Imported transparent PNG-8 is not transparent

  • April 15, 2022
  • 2 replies
  • 1421 views

Recently, whenever I try to import a transparent PNG-8 file, it displays with a white background and is not transparent. The file is transparent in all other apps I've tried (PowerPoint, Google Docs, and a few others), but for some reason it doesn't keep transparency in Illustrator.  Older files I have saved this same way worked fine and still continue to keep transparency in Illustrator. At first I thought it was a Photoshop issue because I can go back to a previous install of Photoshop and get it to work. Since the file is transparent in other apps, I think it might be an issue with something in Illustrator or the combination of the two. When I save as PNG, but not PNG-8, it keeps transparency in Illustrator.

 

Any ideas about how to fix this? I would really like to be able to save transparent images with the smaller file size of PNG-8. I will attach a few screenshots.

 

In the screenshots, notice that the transparent image says "transparent RGB" and the other one says "RGB".

This topic has been closed for replies.

2 replies

Mike_Gondek10189183
Community Expert
Mike_Gondek10189183Community Expert
Community Expert
April 15, 2022

It seems in Photoshop using file >> export >> export as gives you an index png. Use  file >> save or save dor web  to get an 8-bit png. Open the image in photoshop and change Image >> mode >> RGB should fix your issue on existing pngs.

 

This appears to be a bug that it is going to indexed. Thankyou Dawn for the screenshots and setting an example of how to post. I was therefore able to replicate your issue. So many people post without the effort to show screenshots, but in the end takes much longer to help them.

 

    D
    Dawn093179Author
    Participant
    April 15, 2022

    Thank you! Yes, it was the PNG-8 being switched to indexed. I had read some previous discussions about indexing being an issue, but when I checked my file I was always looking at the original Photoshop file which is RGB. I didn't notice that it was being switched to index on export.

     

    I tried save as and the legacy one also. For save as, I don't see a way to switch it to a smaller file. For legacy save, it still switches to index. As you mentioned, there are quite a few options, so I might need to find the right setting with legacy save.

     

    It will be tedious to add the extra step to change it back, but at least it is a way I can move forward. Hopefully this can be fixed soon in an update. Thanks again for your help.

    Ton Frederiks
    Community Expert
    Ton FrederiksCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    April 15, 2022

    Does it really save that much space? Is it worth the lesser quality?

    I can imagine worrying about file size for web use, but not when placed in an Illustrator file.

    lambiloon
    Community Expert
    lambiloonCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    April 15, 2022

    Hi, maybe this is the reason color profile is the problem here...regards

    Ali Sajjad / Graphic Design Trainer / Freelancer / Adobe Certified Professional
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