when making a png transparent image the background is black

[Buddy123]

I have been using PSP for many years and am at present using PSP X9 but for some unknown reason I cannot save as or export a png transparent image as when it is saved and I look at it say in an email it has a black background .... Maybe I have changed something and not known it as I am truly stumped on how to fix the problem.... your help will be appreciated.

[LostNow]

The problem may lie with the export of the image to the .png format. Can you post the transparency settings you are using?

[LostNow]

Some further thoughts, is the black background evident only with your email program? Does the problem persist if you insert the file into a document you create or attempt to display it on your desktop background?

[JoeB]

Start by going to the PNG Save As dialogue, click the Options button, then the Run Optimizer button. Click the Transparency tab on that last dialogue and make sure that both Alpha Channel Transparency and Existing Image or Layer Transparency are selected with the radio buttons. Then do your save and see if that gives you an image with transparency.

[Buddy123]

This problem seems to only happen in my email programme, I can see it works ok if I put it on my desktop..... I have tried all ways and settings , using the save as and save as png file then go to options .... non interlaced.... optermized pallete.... run optimizer ...... colours 16.7 mil....... transparency .... alpha transparency ... and existing image ..

[Buddy123]

also which one of these should I be using ... or does it not make a difference...

[JoeB]

also which one of these should I be using ... or does it not make a difference...

First, what program is that dialogue from that you attached? Is it part of your email program?

Regardless, if you have already tried the first option (which has the radio button active in your image) then obviously you should try again with the other option.

And why are you importing the image somewhere? My email program doesn't do Import. It does Attach or Add Attachment. So I'm a bit confused.

And last, if you are attaching the image to an email to send it somewhere, then try zipping it first then sending the zipped file. Then, when you or the recipient downloads the zip file they can unzip it and see if the image works properly.

[LeviFiction]

@JoeB
That dialog is from PSP. It's found in File -> Preferences -> File Format Preferences

Some email clients allow embedding images directly into the body of the email. What language they use for attaching or embedding is different client to client. They may even be using the term "import" to refer to embedding or attaching. Let's not get hung up on that.

@Buddy123
The first one is the most common. If you Load/Save to alpha channel you'll find that opening a PNG will not show a transparent layer. And, for the most part, it shouldn't matter to any email program.

What email program are you using?
Does the black box persist after an email has been sent? If it does, then the program is doing something to it and not rendering the transparency. If the black box is gone in the final email, then it's simply a matter of how the program presents the PNG in the editor.

[Buddy123]

Yes the File preferences is in my PSPX9 programme.... and as for the email I just go to insert photo / single photo and it puts the image straight into the body of the email. My email programme is Windows live mail .

I am sorry I do not understand what you mean by does the black box persist after i have sent the email..

I will attach a picture of the png file that I inserted into my email programme and you can see it has a black background and is not transparent .

[JoeB]

Yes the File preferences is in my PSPX9 programme.... and as for the email I just go to insert photo / single photo and it puts the image straight into the body of the email. My email programme is Windows live mail .

Can you not add the photo as an attachment rather than having it embodied as an image in your email message? I don't use Live Mail so perhaps it doesn't have that option, but you can clarify it for me. If it does, then perhaps you should try it and see what the result is.

[JoeB]

@JoeB
That dialog is from PSP. It's found in File -> Preferences -> File Format Preferences

Thanks for that info. It wasn't apparent from the OP's post, so it was easy to wonder if it was a dialogue from his email program that had to be selected while "importing" - or whatever - his image.

Some email clients allow embedding images directly into the body of the email. What language they use for attaching or embedding is different client to client. They may even be using the term "import" to refer to embedding or attaching. Let's not get hung up on that.

As you can see from my new reply to the OP, I agree that the language used may be different with different email programs, but I wonder if the algorithm/method used to interpret the image might be different depending on whether the image is embedded in the email message or added as a separate attachment. His answer to my question will help to clarify that for me.

All things considered, it might have made it easier for any of us to respond to the original post if much more detail about the email program, procedure to save the image originally, and procedure to add it to an email had been provided at the outset. And particularly the information as to whether or not it was just in the email where the problem existed or regardless of which program in which the image was viewed. JMHO, of course.

[Buddy123]

Thank you all for helping, and this is what comes out if I save it in my emails programme as an attachment ... the black background has gone , and it now seems to have a white background with a thin black border....

Maybe I am not meant to use png in my email programme anymore, and just stick to using a gif if needed to send by email.... I can still use png in my graphics so I guess that is what I will stick to doing...

[JoeB]

Thank you all for helping, and this is what comes out if I save it in my emails programme as an attachment ... the black background has gone , and it now seems to have a white background with a thin black border......

First, did you do as I suggested and first zip the png image before attaching it? If not, try that and, once the email is received, save the zip file then unzip it and see if the transparency is available.

Second, about the black border. How did you achieve the background transparency around the main image in the first place? What was the background around the image to start with? If it was one single color that you selected with a tool like the magic wand for example, if there was a feather or anti-alias also selected in the selection Tool Options then that could account for the border. And because it looks as if you were saving with image with a drop shadow, that does make me suspect either a small feather or at least Anti-alias. Just a thought.

[patara]

Thank you all for helping, and this is what comes out if I save it in my emails programme as an attachment ... the black background has gone , and it now seems to have a white background with a thin black border....

Maybe I am not meant to use png in my email programme anymore, and just stick to using a gif if needed to send by email.... I can still use png in my graphics so I guess that is what I will stick to doing...

Buddy, now I know what email client you are using I can probably help you as I have come across others with this issue when doing Stationery.
What you need to do is turn off Photo effects in WLM.

First, open a new email and then paste an image into the email.
Once the image is there, select it so it has the handles around it.
Now look at the ribbon toolbar at the top and you should see Picture Tools and a new Format Tab.
Select Format Tab.
You will see Picture Styles. By default WLM applies a shadow to all images.
You need to select the first option which is no effects.
Set it as the default, further along the toolbar.
After that, all images should insert without effects in WLM.

image format in wlm

[Buddy123]

My WLM was already set to that .... so nothing to change .... must have gremlins ..lol