how do i make a transparent background in Photoshop Elements 13

[dang91605835]

how do i make a transparent background in Photoshop Elements 13

[hatstead]

1. Open the picture file
2. Use one of the selection tools to select the foreground
3. Place the selection on its own layer (Layer>New>Layer via copy or CTRL+J) - this will be Layer 1
4. Delete the background layer
5. If you want to save it, use a file format which supports transparency, e.g.PNG

[fynearts]

i have tried this in elements 13 and a couple of other ways found on utube - but my images are not carrying the transparency over.  when i open it in editor it shows as transparent background.  i have saved as png and also tried saving for web ensuring transparency is checked but to no avail.

any ideas?  thanks

[hatstead]

but my images are not carrying the transparency over.

Not sure what this means

i open it in editor it shows as transparent background.

Here you state that the background is transparent.

Please provide  step-by-step details of your work-flow so that we may trouble-shoot this. Also, please provide a print screen of the layers palette.

[fynearts]

YES the background IS transparent ... but when i open it up or drag/drop into a document it shows a white background.

my workflow was as follows:

first time i went with the suggestion by hastead (above)

1. Open the picture file
2. Use one of the selection tools to select the foreground
3. Place the selection on its own layer (Layer>New>Layer via copy or CTRL+J) - this will be Layer 1
4. Delete the background layer
5. If you want to save it, use a file format which supports transparency, e.g.PNG

it showed transparent layer as i said, but white background is there when i try to copy/paste or drag/drop the image onto something else.

second time i did this:

*  open up the file with background - flower on white background.

*  unlock the layer

*  created a new layer and dragged it below

*  with magic wand tool selected all around the image.

*  deleted the background layer

*  checkered background shows on file.

saved for web/devices and chose .png with transparency checked

however ... the image shows the saved file (which has no transparent background) and when i copy/paste or drag/drop the image onto something it has a white background, not transparent.

thanks for your attention to my problem.

[hatstead · Accepted solution]

I opened a picture of a flower and did the following:

1. Open the picture file
2. Used the magnetic lasso tool to select the the foreground
3. Place the selection on its own layer (Layer>New>Layer via copy or CTRL+J) - this will be Layer 1
4. Delete the background layer
5. Went to File>save for web. File format PNG-24, checked constrain proportion & transparency boxes
6. Saved file in a folder on desktop.

Opened file with flower in PSE.

Opened b/w picture in PSE

Dragged flower from Photo bin up to work area

If these steps do not work for you, try to copy/paste the flower to the new destination

[fynearts]

perfect thank you ! ... it worked a treat ... i have followed the steps you suggested and picked out half a dozen separate images all of which worked.  To create a copy in a smaller size for example i have to go through the same steps again - i cannot copy the image to another folder or external drive as that creates a white background (no transparency) ....

THANK YOU very much!

[hatstead]

fynearts wrote:
perfect thank you ! ... it worked a treat ... i have followed the steps you suggested and picked out half a dozen separate images all of which worked. To create a copy in a smaller size for example i have to go through the same steps again - i cannot copy the image to another folder or external drive as that creates a white background (no transparency) .... 
THANK YOU very much!

You're very welcome.

I cannot copy the image to another folder or external drive as that creates a white background (no transparency) ....

If you save it as a JPEG file, you will get the white background.

Consider saving (File>save as ) in PSD file format. This will preserve all the layers. Then, you can reopen the file in a subsequent session for additional editing.

[fynearts]

CORRECT.   thanks again!

[hatstead]

You're welcome.

Sent from my iPad

[startingtopuff]

Hatstead, I cannot thank you enough for this advice. Previously I had searched the internet, You Tube etc and nothing appeared to make sense or was overly complicated. This has worked a treat. 

[hatstead]

This thread goes back to 2016 !!. Glad that you found it and that it works for you.