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Need help adding a background color to PNG image


^Photographer

^Photographer

Active Member
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Ugh. I can't get my head around this.

I have a .png file with a transparent background. (attached)

I want to add a background color say red and have the image overlayed.

Can anybody walk me through the process?

Thank you.

png-clipart-fedexfield-washington-redskins-nfl-san-francisco-49ers-cincinnati-bengals-washingt...png
 
Lots going on here.

First, your file is currently set to Indexed Color, which disables many Photoshop features. Open your PNG file and go to Image>Mode>RGB Color. This changes it to RGB mode.

1737565442071.png


Next, your logo layer defaults to a locked Background layer, so you need to convert it to a normal layer. Two ways:
  1. Duplicate your layer and then delete the bottom Background layer.
  2. Or, go to Layer>New>Layer from Background.

1737565665768.png


Lastly, the image you attached does not, in fact, have a transparent background. It has the checkerboard background that makes it appear as if it's transparent, but it isn't. It's possible that your image is transparent but what you've attached here is a screenshot with a background, so first try this (once you've done the steps above):
  • Open a new layer and move it below your logo layer.
  • Fill this new layer with any color you like. This new color should now show through.
  • If it does not, then you'll need a layer mask on your logo layer to carefully erase the checkerboard background and establish true transparency.
 
Rich54 said:
Lots going on here.

First, your file is currently set to Indexed Color, which disables many Photoshop features. Open your PNG file and go to Image>Mode>RGB Color. This changes it to RGB mode.

View attachment 149205


Next, your logo layer defaults to a locked Background layer, so you need to convert it to a normal layer. Two ways:
  1. Duplicate your layer and then delete the bottom Background layer.
  2. Or, go to Layer>New>Layer from Background.

View attachment 149206


Lastly, the image you attached does not, in fact, have a transparent background. It has the checkerboard background that makes it appear as if it's transparent, but it isn't. It's possible that your image is transparent but what you've attached here is a screenshot with a background, so first try this (once you've done the steps above):
  • Open a new layer and move it below your logo layer.
  • Fill this new layer with any color you like. This new color should now show through.
  • If it does not, then you'll need a layer mask on your logo layer to carefully erase the checkerboard background and establish true transparency.
Click to expand...
Well that was the problem. It wasn't a transparent background. :oops:

I found another image that was transparent and following your directions and it worked perfectly .:inlove:

Last question, how did you determine the background was "checkered" and not transparent?

Thank you so much for your help. I was pulling my hair out!
 
^Photographer said:
Last question, how did you determine the background was "checkered" and not transparent?
Click to expand...

Because I followed my own directions and it didn't work! I started pulling my own hair out and then it occurred to me that I've seen this before—a screenshot of the checkerboard background that tricks you into thinking you have transparency. I tried the eraser tool on the logo layer and erased a section of checkerboard. Sure enough, my background color appeared.
 
Rich54 said:
Because I followed my own directions and it didn't work! I started pulling my own hair out and then it occurred to me that I've seen this before—a screenshot of the checkerboard background that tricks you into thinking you have transparency. I tried the eraser tool on the logo layer and erased a section of checkerboard. Sure enough, my background color appeared.
Click to expand...
Same here -- hair pulling! :D.

I've done this before and had no problems...pretty simple actually but I had no idea that the image wasn't transparent.

Thanks again for the help!
 
I'm glad you found a solution an while I can appreciate the problems you have experienced with the PNG file you posted as an example, I do have a question. I saw that your logo PNG was tiny, 348px x 348px. I'm wondering why you didn't just use another PNG that was much larger? You can always make them smaller!

A very quick image search yielded the logo below. It was very large and already had a "true" transparent background. This logo is now 1000px x 982px at 300 DPI. You can make it smaller if needed.

Just curious!

WashingtonRedskinsLogoSmall.png
 
I was just for an avatar. The size really doesn’t matter the much cuz the final image is pretty tiny. Now that I know “why” I couldn’t change the background color I’m good to go in the future. Thanks for the input!
 
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