If you’ve tried to search for a transparent image on Google, you might have run across “fakes.” You save the image only to realize that the checked background is solid. Luckily, there really is a simple trick in Google Images to avoid that. Pictures with transparency are always shown using a grey and white checked pattern. The concept is that you can see which parts of your image will then be transparent before you save it.
The background behind Microsoft logo appears to be transparent when you save the image, but here’s what it actually looks like (black border added):
Here’s how to prevent this from happening:
- Get on Google Images on your web browser
- Look for something with transparency. Unfortunately, this doesn’t work on Google’s mobile site.
- Click the “Tools” button below the search bar.
- The toolbar will expand with a few additional options. Select the “Color” button.
- Choose “Transparent” from the drop-down menu.
- All the results will now be images with at least partial transparency.
Now, this photo is a truly transparent picture.
