20 years later and photoshop still can't properly export a transparent PNG

[sacb0y]

Colors without transparency before export

Colors without transparency after export (and modified colors cause that was the need)

Why has this never been fixed? Who needs PNG's to work this way? 

Two decades of people complaining about this problem, and photoshop has never fixed it for what reason? Shouldn't it be considered embarassing that the defacto image program can't export a usable PNG for anything but a twitter post? 

[c.pfaffenbichler]

Please read this (in particular the section titled "Supply pertinent information for more timely and effective answers”) and post meaningful screenshots:
https://community.adobe.com/t5/using-the-community/community-how-to-guide-tips-amp-best-practices/td...

How did you export the pngs exactly? PNG-24 via Save for Web? 

[sacb0y]

I do not know eactly what process i used for those images but the results after saving are kind of random anyway.
Hair texture exported from substance painter

Save for web (png 24, and even if this did work it is astronimically slow, it's insane)

Quick export as png

Export as PNG (ensuring transprency is enabled)

Save a copy 

Save As works SOMETIMES, other times it does this for no reason. Meaning even if it can work i hae to double check the file every time.

This has been a known problem with photoshop amoung game developers for over a decade and it's never been reliably fixed. People used to use SuperPNG but now that seems to be gone or just too old to work. There's multiple threads on this issue spanning years and adobe wonders why people are frustrated with the subscription.

PNG exports break RGB channels - Adobe Community - 10435169 

[rayek.elfin]

This is exactly why I don't bother with Photoshop's PNG export. And the fact that 8bit PNG files cannot be saved with full transparency is just ridiculous.

I use Color Quantizer to open the PSD file (drag it into CQ) and export a correct PNG file. It offers advanced PNG export and editing options that cannot be found in any other visual PNG export software, including full control over how alpha is treated and exported. It is by far the best PNG export and optimization tool out there.

https://www.softpedia.com/get/Multimedia/Graphic/Graphic-Others/Color-quantizer.shtml

The official website only runs via http, so a browser will warn against visiting it. But it is safe otherwise.

http://x128.ho.ua/color-quantizer.html

[c.pfaffenbichler]

@sacb0y , I am not completely sure what your screenshots are intended to illustrate. 

Do you mean that the composite content of (some of the) pixels with 0% opacity is trashed? 

[sacb0y]

Yes which causes a variety of problems with games. And these images are the best case scenario, worst and more common case is the op.

[c.pfaffenbichler]

I am no game designer myself so I fail to see what difference it makes if the composite content of an empty pixel is trashed. (And as that should help keep filesize down it might even be beneficial under certain cistumstances.)

If you feel strongly enough about it you could post a Feature Request (»Idea«) or Bug Report (»Bug«). 

That would make sure that it registers at Adobe. 

[Platin38995924yu28]

Photoshop and Transparent PNGs: A Frustrating Reality

You're absolutely right. It's a common and frustrating issue that many Photoshop users encounter. Despite being a powerful image editing software, exporting transparent PNGs can still be a challenge.

Common Problems and Potential Solutions

Here are some common issues and potential solutions:

• Color Channel Issues:

  • Check color mode:Ensure your image is in RGB mode. Other color modes might cause transparency problems.  
    1. RGB in Photoshop: Digital Color Fundamentals - PRO EDU

    proedu.com
  • Flatten image: Sometimes, flattening the image can resolve unexpected transparency behaviors.

• Background Layer Issues:

  • Delete background layer: Make sure there's no locked background layer. If there is, delete it or convert it to a regular layer.
  • Create new layer: Try creating a new transparent layer and pasting your image onto it.

• Alpha Channel Issues:

  • Check alpha channel: Verify that the alpha channel is present and contains the desired transparency information.
  • Save as PSD: Save your image as a PSD to preserve the alpha channel and then reopen it to see if the issue persists.

• Export Settings:

  • Adjust compression: Experiment with different compression levels to see if it affects transparency.
  • Try different export formats: While PNG is the preferred format for transparency, sometimes saving as a GIF or TIFF and then converting to PNG can yield better results.

• Software Bugs:

  • Update Photoshop: Ensure you're using the latest version of Photoshop, as updates often include bug fixes.
  • Try a different version: If possible, test with a different version of Photoshop to isolate the issue.

Additional Tips

• Use a Layer Mask: Create a layer mask to control transparency precisely.
• Check Image Dimensions: Large image sizes can sometimes cause issues. Try resizing the image before exporting.
• Simplify Complex Images: Removing unnecessary elements or layers can improve export results.
• Consider Other Software: If the problem persists, explore other image editing software with better PNG export capabilities.

Remember: The specific solution often depends on the nature of the image and the exact steps taken before exporting. Experiment with different approaches to find the best solution for your situation.