Re: Removing checkerboard from transparency

Hi co72,

I don't have access to Shutterstock, so I downloaded # 297912912 from Adobe Stock to examine it. It looks a lot like yours, and this may or may not solve your issue.

https://stock.adobe.com/images/christmas-lights-isolated-glowing-garlands-on-transparent-dark-background-realistic-luminous-elements-bright-light-bulbs-for-poster-card-brochure-or-web-vector-illustration/297912912?asset_id=297912912

1.  I released the Clip Group to make it easier to work with. This created a top level Group and I ungrouped that. I left the other groups and renamed them.
   
2. Here I've named the objects in Layer 1 so you can follow them. I hid the checkerboard pattern. The clipping mask is off, and the lights look weird on the pastedboard. Against the dark background, though, they look good.
   
   The dark gradient rectangle has a 91% opacity, as does the white rectangle at the bottom. We will discard all three rectangles in the next step.
   
3. I did a search in Adobe Stock for a dark house and used 271956342. You already have an image, so use that. If it needs to be darker, use a Hue/Sat Adjustment layer. The lights need a dark background.
   https://stock.adobe.com/images/round-led-flare-ball-in-the-garden-in-front-of-house/271956342
   
   I've hidden the group of three rectangles and also the rectangle for the Clipping group. I've placed the embedded image into Illustrator and turned on the three strings of lights.
   
   I was unhappy to see that the lines are not yellow paths that can be modified with the Direct Selection tool. They are filled shapes. You'll have to see what yours are. I can move each group, but can't reshape the path.
   
   
   
   
4. I decided to draw my own path — in this case a straight line — and I made it the same color as their filled object. I went into Isolation mode to get one orb (or ungroup), got out of isolation mode, and attached five orbs to my path. I will keep the objects in the red rectangle and discard the others.
   
   
   
   
5. And then I put one orb in the sky and I like it, so now I have two moons. 😊
   
   
6. I suspect your Shutterstock image is similar in the way it's made up. I was startled by how much the two images look alike with different vendors. If you have never used Adobe Stock, you can get a free month with ten images. Be sure to cancel. Otherwise, I think it's $9.99 for this type of image. There are different rates for different types.
   https://stock.adobe.com/promo/firstmonthfree
7. Let me know if this helps, and show your Layers panel if it doesn't.

~ Jane

What file type is the image?

1. If it contains a genuine transparent background as does this transparent GIF, you should be able to select it by clicking the checkerboard with your Magic Wand tool. See screenshot.

2. Invert the selection by going to Select > Inverse (Ctrl + Shift + I).  The marching ants will surround the foreground elements only.

3. Hit Ctrl/Cmd + C to Copy. 

4. Open your other document and use Ctrl/Cmd + V to paste.