How come when I save a .gif or .png image FROM a web page to my PC it does not preserve the transparency?

Question

How come when I save a .gif or .png image file from a web page to my PC, the background transparency is not preserved? On my sons school issued MAC, he can save .gif and .png files directly from web pages and the transparency of the background IS preserved. But transparency is NOT preserved when saving the EXACT SAME .gif image file to a PC. Why?

I'm running IE7 and WinXP Pro (SP3). Is there some kind of setting in the advanced IE7 Internet Options menu? Or some kind of setting in windows? When I try to save a .gif or .png image file, the background comes out opaque, no transparency is preserved. This is really bugging me.

Answer 1

As long as you are saving the images in their native format, the transparency will be preserved. Many of the Windows viewers automatically place a white background on these images when viewing them. To view them properly, you have to use an image or graphics program that will load the images without putting in a default white background. You also can just drag and drop the images into any open browser window. If you think the white background is still part of the images, then change your browser's background color.



When you view the images using Windows supplied programs or have open Windows Explorer to browse to where these images are, you are viewing the thumbnails made by these programs. They are NOT the original gif/png images with the transparency. Try using a good graphics editor like the following...



FREE software (No Animation):



http://www.getpaint.net/ (Very user friendly)

GetPaint Plug-ins: http://paintdotnet.forumer.com/viewforum.php?f=16

GetPaint Help File: http://www.getpaint.net/doc/latest/en/index.html

POS FREE PHOTO EDITOR (v1.27): http://www.photopos.com/Pos-Free-Photo-Editor.asp



BTW, Internet Explorer has a problem with displaying PNG images with transparency.



Ron

Answer 2

Updated response as all old answers (from everyone) failed:



Try using Firefox to see if its an Internet Explorer setting.

http://www.mozilla-europe.org/en/firefox/



When installing firefox, use custom settings and DO NOT copy settings from Internet Explorer.



I am looking into the reason IE7 is dropping transparencies for you - but try Firefox for the meantime to confirm its an IE7 problem or not? Also, try testing the transparency of the same image as me and compare your results?



Firefox is a superior browser and much safer for your computer than IE anyway ;)







*testing for you*

Image used: http://www.infocellar.com/networks/graphics/images/globe1-transparent.gif

(IE7) RightClick image > Copy > Paste into Photoshop : White background

(Firefox) RightClick image > Copy > Paste into Photoshop : Black background

(IE7) RightClick image > Save picture as... > Open in Photoshop : Image keeps transparency

(Firefox) RightClick image > Save Image as... > Open in Photoshop : Image keeps transparency

(IE7) File > Save as... > Open in Photoshop : Image keeps transparency

(Firefox) File > Save Page as... > Open in Photoshop : Image keeps transparency



IE7 settings checked. Can not find anywhere to turn off transparency. Still searching... (Try Firefox for now, without IE settings being copied on install / first run)

Answer 3

Assuming you are saving a direct copy of the image (right click the image, save image as) then any information in the image, including the transparency, is definitely preserved.



How are you checking the image transparency?

Answer 4

Maybe it is and your picture viewer is fixing the visual for you.. Why dont u try the picasa viewer and if you see black/white checks in the image those are transparent pixels..

Answer 5

are you right clicking save as, or are you copy and paste. Also your picture viewer may be the issue, try the one below or GIMP (its free)