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Leffagus Author

Level 1

8 points

How do I import a photo with a transparent background to macOS Photos and keep the transparency?

I have a photo I've edited in Preview to make the background transparent. When I import the photo into macOS Photos (using Big Sur), Photos automatically replaces the transparency with a white background. It's not just an image viewing error either, as the white background stays with the photo when I export out of Photos.

I've tried saving the file as HEIC and PNG from Previews, but macOS Photos replaces the background with both.

How do I import a photo with a transparent background to macOS Photos and keep the transparency?

MacBook Pro 13″, macOS 11.3

Posted on May 28, 2021 7:21 AM

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Top-ranking reply

Level 7

23,897 points

Posted on May 28, 2021 2:19 PM

Try "export unmodified original"

That should export the file exactly as it was when you imported it. Standard export re-renders the file, complete with edits (if any). Since photos doesn't understand transparency, the re-rendered image doesn't include it.

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4 replies

Top-ranking reply

Level 7

23,897 points

May 28, 2021 2:19 PM in response to Leffagus

Try "export unmodified original"

That should export the file exactly as it was when you imported it. Standard export re-renders the file, complete with edits (if any). Since photos doesn't understand transparency, the re-rendered image doesn't include it.

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Leffagus Author

Level 1

8 points

May 29, 2021 8:56 AM in response to TonyCollinet

"Export Unmodified Original" is the solution. Upon importing the photo, Photos automatically "modifies" the file to replace the transparent background with a white background. When you view the photo in Photos, you see the white background, and there is no way of knowing which photos originally have a transparent background (I'm adding notes/captions to denote this now).

If you "Export 1 Photo...", you get the file with the white background.

If you "Export Unmodified Original...", you get the original file in the original file format with the transparency.

The challenge will be if you need to actually edit the photo in Photos, you will lose the transparency with those edits. The workaround would be to ensure you edit the photo outside of Photos before importing it.

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May 29, 2021 1:46 PM in response to Leffagus

Your workaround is correct. Though even if you edit the file in the photos app, you can still export the unmodified original with the transparency - but you won't get the edits.

Photos app just doesn't support transparency - normally only used by editors which support layers.

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Level 10

210,123 points

May 28, 2021 8:57 AM in response to Leffagus

Just import it. Photos is not able to show the transparency like Preview or other image editing apps do. They will show with a solid white background (screenshot is in Dark Mode):

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How do I import a photo with a transparent background to macOS Photos and keep the transparency?

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