Why transparent backgrounds disappear
Key points
- PNG, WEBP and SVG can be transparent
- Converting to JPG or EPS makes it white
- Keep transparent originals as PNG or SVG
You convert a logo and suddenly the background is white. Many people have run into this. Not every format supports transparency, so it can vanish the moment you change format.
Formats that support transparency
| Format | Transparent background |
|---|---|
| PNG | Yes (including partial) |
| WEBP | Yes (including partial) |
| SVG | Yes |
| GIF | Fully transparent only (no partial) |
| ICO | Yes |
| JPG | No |
| BMP | Usually no |
| EPS | No |
Why it turns white
Formats like JPG have nowhere to store transparency, so every pixel must have a color. Converting means filling transparent areas with something, and most apps choose white, like paper. Some choose black, which is why a background sometimes turns black after converting.
Partially transparent areas, such as shadows or soft edges, become the color they show over white. That looks natural on white, but on a dark background you'll see a white fringe around the image.
Keeping the transparency
- Save images for the web as PNG or WEBP. WEBP conversion keeps transparency and makes the file lighter.
- Keep an SVG master of your logo. You can always export a fresh transparent PNG from it.
- If you need a print EPS but transparency effects matter, ask the printer whether PDF is acceptable. PDF can hold transparency.
What about images that already went white?
A background that turned white in a JPG doesn't become transparent again when you convert back to PNG. It has to be removed. If the background is a single color, remove a solid background does it right away. Photos with busy backgrounds need an image editor with a background removal feature. That's why it pays to keep transparent originals as PNG or SVG.