How to Add Transparency in Photoshop

Co-authored by Richard Marczewski Jr.

Last Updated: April 11, 2023

Photoshop allows you to create images with transparency (transparent backgrounds, layers or portions) using various transparency options through the opacity meter or the background options that appear when you create a new document. Furthermore, you can use the selection or eraser tools to make only some areas of your image transparent. People often add transparency in Photoshop when they are printing on paper with textured design or adding an image to a textured background on a website because the texture shows through in the transparent areas. With a little bit of practice you'll be adding transparency in Photoshop in no time.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Creating a Transparent Background

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Go to File in the top menu and select "New." A new window will pop up where you can assign the properties of your new Photoshop document.
A menu will pop up and under the section which says "Background Contents", where you should choose "Transparent". The button appears at the very bottom of the new document pop-up window.

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Press the OK button.
Look at the Layer Window or the Layers tab in your document properties bar (it should already be open by default). The background layer should look like a checkered gray and white box (indicating that it is transparent).

Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Making Layers Transparent

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Select the layer that you want to make transparent by clicking on it from the list of layers in the Layers tab.
Click on the numeric box that appears next to Opacity at the top of the Layers tab. The default opacity is 100 percent.
Drag the arrow on the opacity meter that appears to change the opacity of the layer. If you want the layer to be completely transparent you should change the opacity to 0 percent.

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Creating Transparent Selections

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Select a layer that is not transparent, but make sure that the layers underneath it including the background layer are transparent.
Create your selection using one of the selection tools.
Click copy.
Press delete. You should now have a hole in the image.
Paste your copied selection onto a new layer.
The area inside the selection that you had made will become transparent.

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Making Transparent Drawings

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Select a layer (must have more than 0 percent opacity, preferably should be 100 percent opaque). All of the underlying layers must be transparent.
Pick the Eraser tool from the tool bar.
Choose the size and shape of the eraser using the Options bar that appears when you have the Eraser tool selected.
Essentially, you will be deleting the areas that you "draw" in, exposing the transparent layers underneath.

Expert Q&A

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Question

How can you change the transparency of an object in Photoshop?

Richard Marczewski Jr.
Digital Media Specialist
Richard Marczewski Jr. is a Digital Media Specialist and owner of Creativity Scientist in Worcester, Massachusetts. With over 10 years of experience, he specializes in marketing, digital media, and content creation. He works with businesses as their outsourced storytelling partner and offers website development, videography, and e-commerce solutions. He started the hipster mustache trend in 2006 and is a classic Nintendo expert. Richard has an MBA in Management from Fitchburg State University.

Richard Marczewski Jr.

Digital Media Specialist

Expert Answer

Trace the object using the poly lasso tool or any other selection tool. Copy the object, delete the selection, and then paste the selection. After this, find the opacity bar and adjust it.

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Question

I cannot understand the use of the grey and white transparency. Can you clarify, please?

Community Answer

That's a transparent background. It's to show what's transparent. Once you upload the image it'll disappear.

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Question

What format do I need to save an image in to keep its transparency?

Community Answer

I tried Method 1 above, and it works perfectly. I saved in .PNG format to maintain transparency in the finished product.

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Click the eye icon next to the layer to make the background of it transparent.

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Warnings

When you add transparency in Photoshop using any of the transparency options, the information is not stored when an image is saved in JPEG format. It is best to save images with transparency in the Photoshop Document (PSD) format.

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