What are images with a transparent backround called?

Question

I am searching for images that specifically have no background so they will blend in perfectly when I place them over any image in Photoshop.

What are these type of images called?

Here is an example:

http://www.geniusdv.com/weblog/archives/2007/01/29/motion_graphic_without_background.png

Answer 1

They're called "transparent GIFs" or "transparent PNGs". GIF and PNG are the two main types of image files that support transparency. GIF only allows pixels to be totally transparent or totally opaque, but PNG allows pixels to blend with the background (but not all transparent PNGs take advantage of that).

Answer 2

I respectfully disagree with Pearls Before Swine regarding transparent gifs. Photoshop doesn't do transparent gifs. You would have to convert a transparent gif to a .pdf file. When you open the file, you have to change the color space from Index color to rgb. That will make it transparent. You can then select its layer and paste it into a new layer in your layered .psd file. Also keep in mind that gif only supports 256 colors which is ok for one color files but 24-bit .png is what you really want to work with rather than gif. Pngs don't compress and degrade everytime you save them like gifs and .jpgs do. In addition, you can open .pngs in just about any app that supports images: Illustrator, PaintshopPro, Flash, Photoshop, Word, PowerPoint, and many others.

Answer 3

Translucent singulars x

Answer 4

the file type is called .PGN (portable Network graphics) but you might be looking for the term Vectors or PS Shapes.