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Forum Discussion
Molly m.4
11 years agoExplorer | Level 4
Why are my PNG backgrounds not transparent when I upload them to Dropbox?
I had several files (mostly logos) that had a transparent background and they all have white solid backgrounds now. I have no clue what happened but it is causing me serious issues.
- 9 years ago
Dropbox is not editing your files... it is generating a copy of the file that does not include transparency and displaying that as a "preview" of your file to improve load times on their website.
Dropbox creates the image shown in the center which includes a white background. This means that dragging and dropping this image, or right-clicking and selecting "save image as..." will result in you downloading the Dropbox preview version. HOWEVER, if you use the "Download" button on the top right of the page, you will download the un-edited version of your file.
The problem is that while this change may have shaved a fraction of a second off page load time, it seems to have screwed up a lot of people's workflows as a result. I think Dropbox needs to consider changing it back or at least find ways to ensure these common workflows result in the desired outcome.
Mark
Super User II
9 years agoAs has been said Dropbox simply cannot edit files, so you may wish to look at how they are being edited and uploaded. What applications are you using for that?
NoahB
9 years agoNew member | Level 2
I too am having a similar issue. While on my computer, the backgrounds of the png files I created through mac powerpoint are transparent. When I upload them to google drive or other image hosting websites, the background remains transparent, but when I upload them to dropbox, the background turns white. Below is an example of an image before I uploaded it to dropbox and after I re-downloaded it from dropbox (The problem begins as soon as I upload it, apparent from the background appearing white on all dropbox-generated image links, displays, etc.).
If it is not dropbox causing the problem, what else do you think it could be?
- londonuser9 years agoNew member | Level 2
I have just realised the same problem!
Checked many scenarios and it happens only inside Dropbox.
Before uploading, and after I download the same file from Dropbox, it has a transparent background as intended.
However, while in Dropbox it is always showing up ith white background, both in the Dropbox Preview and if I open a shared Dropbox link with another application such as Chrome Browser.
- jsmusiker9 years agoNew member | Level 2Same for me. It's obviously the Preview in Dropbox. But I would think the Preview is just as important as the downloaded image, right? Any answers?
- Rich9 years ago
Super User II
The previewed image is not the same as the original. It's just a preview, and is optimized as needed for display on the preview page. If you need the original, unaltered file, you need to download it.
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