Inspiring

Answered

Why is it so difficult to select PNGs

Forum|Forum|1 year ago
February 10, 2025
6 replies
1054 views

I have a PNG with a transparent BG and it is very difficult to select / move / scale etc. I've found that if i zoom in and select the very centre of the image works as a workaround but it is very time consuming going this everytime.

Anyone got any adeas?

Correct answer Ed.allanby

Hi All,

For anyone who needs a workaround to this problem - I've found a decent solution. If you draw a vector shape underneath your transparent image and then group the two objects. Selection should work. (Image help explain this)

*Obs this isn't perfect for file management / print etc. but in my case it saved me throwing my laptop out the window

K

Kristen30664327thxy

Participant

I was struggling with this on an extra large canvas. After moving my artboards to a non-large file, it seems to have resolved itself.

E

Ed.allanbyAuthorCorrect answer

Inspiring

Hi All,

For anyone who needs a workaround to this problem - I've found a decent solution. If you draw a vector shape underneath your transparent image and then group the two objects. Selection should work. (Image help explain this)

*Obs this isn't perfect for file management / print etc. but in my case it saved me throwing my laptop out the window

Mike_Gondek10189183

Community Expert

Try using the nonlossy .psd format for transparency instead. Does that work better?

Makerman111111

Participating Frequently

I was having the issue specifically with psd files yesterday, didnt even try png like OP did

Ton Frederiks

Community Expert

Actually I can replicate it, did not think it would affect images.

Turn Off in Preferences > Selection & Anchor Display: Object Selection by Path Only

E

Ed.allanbyAuthor

Inspiring

Thanks Tom,

Unfortunately this did not help for me (It was already unchecked)

Ton Frederiks

Community Expert

Looks like my system, difference is I use Sonoma 14.7.3

Restarting the machine is the first thing I would do

Then after exporting settings: Edit > My Settings > Export Settings

and saving a copy of the preferences; Reset the Preferences:

https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/using/setting-preferences.html

Ton Frederiks

Community Expert

I cannot replicate this on a Mac.

What System are you using?

What Illustrator version?

Is your Document Color Mode CMYK or RGB?

E

Ed.allanbyAuthor

Inspiring

I am using

Ai 29.2.1
Sonoma 14.4

Makerman111111

Participating Frequently

Bump. Also happens here. Either have to select the very edge of the bounding box around the image (which is INVISIBLE mind you because its got a transparent background) or the center. Adobe needs to rewrite the entire program from scratch this is absolutely embarassing to have this and the other new crashing issues that just appear for no reason every couple months. The software is actually unusable and the only reason we still use it is because all of our previous packaging files are saved in it.

E

Ed.allanbyAuthor

Inspiring

The pain is real

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