How Transparency Works in a PNG
Transparency lets an image sit over any background without a white box around it.
What is the Transparent PNG Generator?
A PNG can store transparency, while formats like JPEG cannot, so this tool produces a transparent canvas in the browser for download. The checkerboard in the preview is only a visual stand-in for transparency, not part of the saved image. This version creates a new transparent canvas with a shape on it, rather than removing a colour from your own photo.
How to use it
- Enter the canvas size
- Pick the colour to keep transparent
- Generate the PNG and download it
Worked example
A 400 by 300 transparent canvas has 120,000 pixels, with 475 checkerboard squares of 16 pixels shown in the preview.
Why use PNG for transparency instead of JPEG?
Because PNG supports an alpha channel for transparency, while JPEG does not, so a JPEG always fills the background with a solid colour.
Frequently asked questions
Why does the preview show a checkerboard?
Because transparency has no colour of its own, editors show it as a grey-and-white checkerboard so you can see which parts are clear.
Will the checkerboard be in my download?
No. The saved PNG keeps the background transparent, and the checkerboard is only in the preview.