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Exporting as PNG in Illustrator won't export as transparent

New Here ,
Mar 22, 2019 Mar 22, 2019

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Hello Everyone, I was hoping to get some assistance.

Right now I'm in the process of editing some company logos and I need to export them as PNG's with different backgrounds.

I make my edits with the logo and make sure that there is no background by showing the transparency grid:Adobe Issue 3.PNG

As shown above there is no background behind the logo, so when I go to export the AI file, I select export as -> then select PNG from the file list -> I don't select anything from the artboards option:

Adobe Issue 1.PNG

Then I get the preview in Adobe Illustrator for my export, I select transparent from the drop down and it shows in the preview that it will show up transparent:

adobe issue 2.PNG

But when I go to the file, no matter what I open it with, it has a white background only. This also happens when I select black background. Adobe Issue 4.PNG

Any help would be hugely appreciated because this is very frustrating.

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correct answers 2 Correct answers

Community Expert , Mar 31, 2022 Mar 31, 2022

It's working on my system--however, it didn't work the first time even though the settings were set to "Transparent". The second time, I changed the background to white and then back to transparent, which worked. 

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New Here , Apr 25, 2022 Apr 25, 2022

Hi, if you have still this issue - disable an Overprint Preview (Alt + Shift + Ctrl + Y) in View tab before you export png with transparency.

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Community Expert ,
Mar 22, 2019 Mar 22, 2019

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kyler,

For crisp and clear artwork, it is important that you create the PNG at exactly the final pixel x pixel size, and the safest way to do that is to use the Legacy Save for Web because you can see the Image Size.

And that may rid you of the issue as a pleasant side effect.

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New Here ,
Mar 22, 2019 Mar 22, 2019

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the white background even appears when I do the save for web option when transparent is selected and the preview shows it.

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Community Expert ,
Mar 22, 2019 Mar 22, 2019

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  schrieb

the white background even appears when I do the save for web option when transparent is selected and the preview shows it.

Which application do you use to view your PNGs?

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Community Beginner ,
Aug 11, 2021 Aug 11, 2021

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i have the same issue, tried all exports, same as you the transparancy shows on the preview but white backround when exported. Other things ive tried include opening in photoshop which shows as transparent and yet when saved as is a white backround. Have tried all illustrators exports, use the gear wheel to select transparent but no luck. Opened the PNG in all sorts of different software but still a white backround, i even opened In design and dropped it on a photo but its still white, going for a drink now , good luck kroy2393 .

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Community Expert ,
Mar 22, 2019 Mar 22, 2019

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What do you open it with? Did you try Photoshop?

Did you try to place the PNG in Illustrator on a colored background?

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Community Beginner ,
Mar 31, 2022 Mar 31, 2022

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Hi there, did you ever figure out a solution? I'm having the same issue now and it's super frustrating.

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Community Expert ,
Mar 31, 2022 Mar 31, 2022

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It's working on my system--however, it didn't work the first time even though the settings were set to "Transparent". The second time, I changed the background to white and then back to transparent, which worked. 

David Creamer: Community Expert (ACI and ACE 1995-2023)

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New Here ,
Apr 25, 2022 Apr 25, 2022

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Hi, if you have still this issue - disable an Overprint Preview (Alt + Shift + Ctrl + Y) in View tab before you export png with transparency.

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New Here ,
Aug 11, 2022 Aug 11, 2022

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Yes, set it in Pixel Preview instead.

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New Here ,
Feb 03, 2023 Feb 03, 2023

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LATEST

I had this same problem too. When I exported from Illustrator, the preview was fine but when I opened the file, the background was black not transparent. So I opened in photoshop, background transparent, beautiful!! But resaved as a  out of Photoshop? Black background again. So I ran a basic test print, no black background printed, which tells me...the problem is NOT the Adobe software, but the Apple Preview software we use to view the PNG file.

Easy fix!!

Go to Preview->Preferences->General tab, you'll see background color, click the rectangle of the background color swatch so it has a white box around it, and when the color changer pops up? Slide that opacity slider all the way to the left. Make sure you have the black background PNG file open when you do this and it will end up changing in tandem with you adjusting the slider and you'll see a white background, but its actually transparent. I hope this helps everyone experiencing issues. Sure is a lot easier than some of the solutions posted here. Good luck!

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