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BarbaraLivingston
Participating Frequently
November 10, 2023
Question

Can't get rid of transparent backgrounds/"Flatten Image" as default

  • November 10, 2023
  • 1 reply
  • 4466 views

About two weeks ago, my Photoshop decided that every photo would open in "Flatten Image" mode...a transparent background. Other than in the past two miserable weeks, I have never used transparent backgrounds nor needed to "flatten image." I'm guessing I hit some button by mistake.

I open images through Bridge; this happens whether I'm opening RAW files or files I've already edited.

I thought the glitch happened by maybe clicking on the little rectangle on the toolbar, down near the bottom, with the circle within it? But clicking on it, or not, doesn't change the transparent default. When I look at "Layers," I don't see any way to change the default backgrounds to non-transparent.

Google indicates this, which may always get rid of transparent backgrounds? But I see no "Properties panel" on the right side of my screen (MacBook):


Go to the Properties panel, found on the right side of the screen. Scroll down to Quick Actions. Click "Remove Background."


As each image I open now has a transparent background, I then have to "flatten" every image to make it a regular image.

What button(s) can I use to get rid of non-stop-default transparent backgrounds? Thanks for any helpful info!

    This topic has been closed for replies.

    1 reply

    Conrad_C
    Community Expert
    Conrad_CCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    November 10, 2023

    The picture below is what the Google search means: The Properties panel can show a Remove Background button, when a non-Background layer is selected in the Layers panel. However, that is not the correct answer to your question, because Remove Background looks for a subject (like a person or a car) and will remove the background around it, leaving a transparent background on the layer. That is not what you are asking for.

     

     

    Where are your images coming from, what is their format and how were they made? That might lead to the answer.

     

    Because I think Photoshop simply opens what’s in the file. For example, if I open a JPEG file, it always opens flattened (one opaque Background layer), because JPEG cannot store transparency. But, if I open a macOS screen shot, macOS saves those as PNG with transparency, so they always open in Photoshop as a layer with transparency in a non-flattened document.

     

    Sometimes, like you, I want single-layer images to be flattened, when I don’t need the transparency (because the files are smaller). So I used the Edit > Keyboard Shortcuts command to assign my own keyboard shortcut to Layer > Flatten Image, so whenever I want to do that, I just smash those keys and it’s done.

      B
      BarbaraLivingstonAuthor
      Participating Frequently
      November 12, 2023

      Thanks so much for the response. 

      We shoot with Canon 1DX Mark IIIs and IIs, in RAW mode, but this weird transparent-background thing happens whenever I open any image. I never want to use "Flatten Image." I just want regular background images.

      If I have a saved JPG on a hard drive, for instance, created in 2008, it opens with a transparent background and I have to 'flatten image' to get rid of it. 

      I wouldn't worry so much about it...it's just one more step...but we are often shooting/sending on deadline. Last Saturday, for instance, I sent in maybe 80 edited photos, as JPGs, in less than an hour. As such, having each one open (Photoshop/Bridge, Canon RAW files) as a transparent-background image was torturous. I had to flatten each image....save....then work on the file - and it often changed back to transparent during editing, UGH...so then "Flatten Image" again, then save. I send in JPGs so leaving them with transparent backgrounds doesn't work.

      (Transparent background images don't save as regular JPGs).

      No one at the track could figure the issue out, and I'm definitely not sharp enough to. I'd love to get rid of the "Flatten Image" option for the rest of eternity, if possible. 😉

      Stephen Marsh
      Community Expert
      Stephen MarshCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      November 14, 2023

      Thank you, Stephen! I didn't see how to turn it off so simply hid it instead.

      Again, I really appreciate your help - and (bonus) your answer made sense!


      Yes, sorry, hide/turn off - same thing.

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