How to create a png with transparent background in inkscape?

Question

Is it possible? A PNG usually consumes less storage space compared to an SVG. Sometimes I need small sized images in sites like Launchpad.

When I simply save as PNG, the background remains white, not transparent.

score 105 · Accepted Answer · edited Nov 17 '24 at 23:35

105

That's actually Inkscape's default.

For Inkscape 1.2 or later,

Open File → Document Properties. Click on "Border" under "Display" and set the alpha channel to 0.

For Inkscape 1.1 and earlier,

Open File → Document Properties and click the Background colour option. Make sure the alpha channel is 0 as so:
Go to File → Export Bitmap (Shift+Ctrl+E) and save the file with a .png extension.

You're done.

edited Nov 17 '24 at 23:35

answered Aug 23 '13 at 08:46

Oli

17

I always tried to "save as" .png and it didn't work. Thanks. – Archisman Panigrahi Aug 24 '13 at 13:10
2

Yep, "save as" did not apply the Alpha 0 settings as all we guess... – m3nda Aug 03 '15 at 05:13
2

If you are exporting something that clearly has no background, for example one or more paths, but your export still has a background color, make sure to check "hide all except selected" in the export options – chiliNUT Jul 13 '17 at 16:40

score 5 · Answer 2 · answered Feb 06 '15 at 03:56

5

Shortcut, at least in MS Windows, is (Shift+Ctrl+E).

enter image description here

Inkscape 0.91

answered Feb 06 '15 at 03:56

Kevin

1

It adds the view of a specific version, and the keyboard shortcut. I would have just appended it to the accepted answer, but I have been denied with similar amounts of info in the past. In which case, I was told that it warranted its own answer. Also, I did bump the accepted answer for pointing me in the correct direction, but it wasn't exactly right for the version I am using. – Kevin Feb 07 '15 at 16:35
It works on windows – zhaofeng-shu33 Nov 16 '19 at 13:22

score 0 · Answer 3 · answered Nov 19 '24 at 00:40

0

In version 1.4, there is a "Background Color" option available in the Export window:

When you select "Background Color", you can then set the background alpha:

answered Nov 19 '24 at 00:40

Daniel Neel

3 Answers3