Paint 3D

How to Make Background Transparent in Paint 3D

Turn on Transparent canvas and export a PNG that keeps empty areas transparent.

Beginner4 min read
Recreated Paint 3D view · Source video at 6:05

Use Canvas > Transparent canvas to make the empty area behind your artwork transparent. Save the result as a PNG and check the export preview for a checkerboard. If your artwork already contains a white or colored rectangle, remove those pixels before exporting. This guide follows the car illustration in the video so you can see the difference between an empty canvas, a cutout with visible white behind it, and a finished transparent image.

How to make a background transparent in Paint 3D

  1. Check what is behind the artwork

    Recreated Paint 3D view · Source video at 5:44

    Open the project and select your artwork. If you have a photo or drawing that sits on a solid rectangle, zoom in to see whether that color is part of the image. A solid color that moves with the selected object belongs to its pixels. Use Magic select and its refinement controls to separate the subject if needed. Move the cutout away, clear the old image, and position the cutout where you want it. You can skip the selection work for artwork that already has clear space around it.

  2. Turn on Transparent canvas

    Recreated Paint 3D view · Source video at 3:06

    Click Canvas on the top toolbar. In the right-hand panel, find Transparent canvas and switch it on. Check the area around your artwork. The editing workspace can look gray even when the canvas is transparent, so use the export preview for a clearer check. If a solid white rectangle still hugs the subject, return to the artwork and remove the white pixels from the imported image.

  3. Open the image export options

    Recreated Paint 3D view · Source video at 3:21

    Open Menu > Save as and select Image under Save as copy. Choose PNG (image) in the format field. PNG can store transparent pixels. If the export preview shows a solid fill and the Transparency checkbox is available, enable it and inspect the preview again. Keep the aspect ratio locked when changing the output size, and check that the preview shows the entire piece, including any intentional blank border.

  4. Save and test the PNG

    Recreated Paint 3D view · Source video at 6:05

    Look for the checkerboard in the preview where empty space should appear. Click Save, choose a folder, and give the file a different name from the source. Open the result in an editor and place it over a color that differs from your artwork. The new color should show through the empty area. Check small interior gaps as well, such as the space between parts of a drawing, where leftover white can be easy to miss.

Canvas transparency and photo cutouts

For a logo drawn directly on an empty canvas, the toggle and PNG export may be all you need. A flattened photo has its background recorded in the same image as the subject. For that file, use a cutout workflow first. When placing the PNG in a presentation, insert the exported file from disk. Copying a preview from another app can change how transparency is carried over.

Frequently asked questions

Can a JPEG have a transparent background?

JPEG does not store an alpha channel for transparency. Export the artwork as a PNG when you need the page or slide behind it to show through. If you also need a JPEG for a service that only accepts that format, make a separate copy with a deliberate background color.

Why does my PNG look white in the photo viewer?

Some viewers draw transparent pixels over white. Put the saved PNG on a colored slide or open it in an editor that shows transparency to see what the file actually contains. If the white rectangle persists over the new color, return to Paint 3D and check the source pixels and export settings.

Watch the YouTube tutorial

Follow the original demonstration to see the controls in motion.

Watch on YouTube