How to Add Transparency in Photoshop

Last Updated: February 22, 2022

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

1
Click "File"→"New". 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.
2
Select "Transparent". 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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3
Click OK. Press the OK button.
4
Check the layers. 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

1
Select the layer. Select the layer that you want to make transparent by clicking on it from the list of layers in the Layers tab.
2
Select the opacity. Click on the numeric box that appears next to Opacity at the top of the Layers tab. The default opacity is 100 percent.
3
Lower the opacity. 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

1
Select your layer. Select a layer that is not transparent, but make sure that the layers underneath it including the background layer are transparent.
2
Select the area to alter. Create your selection using one of the selection tools.
3
Copy the selection. Click copy.
4
Delete the selection. Press delete. You should now have a hole in the image.
5
Create a new layer. Paste your copied selection onto a new layer.
6
Lower the opacity. The area inside the selection that you had made will become transparent.

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Making Transparent Drawings

1
Create or select your layer. Select a layer (must have more than 0 percent opacity, preferably should be 100 percent opaque). All of the underlying layers must be transparent.
2
Click the Eraser tool. Pick the Eraser tool from the tool bar.
3
Change the settings. Choose the size and shape of the eraser using the Options bar that appears when you have the Eraser tool selected.
4
Draw using the Eraser tool. Essentially, you will be deleting the areas that you "draw" in, exposing the transparent layers underneath.

Community Q&A

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.
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.

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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