---
title: "Fixing black backgrounds in transparent images"
slug: "fix-for-black-background-in-transparent-images"
description: "A transparent PNG saved at 8 bits can show a black background in email. Re-save it at 16 bits in GIMP or Photoshop. Opensense now fixes this automatically."
updated: 2024-01-12T06:13:44.000Z
canonical: "https://help.opensense.com/docs/fix-for-black-background-in-transparent-images"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.opensense.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Fixing black backgrounds in transparent images

:::note[Fixed automatically since July 2023]
Opensense deployed an automatic fix for this issue in July 2023. If you still have this issue, contact [help@opensense.com](mailto:help@opensense.com).
:::

## Problem

The image is a PNG with a transparent background (you can check this by opening it in a photo editing program), but it shows up with a black background in emails, and when sent as an attachment.

## Examples

**A headshot:**

<img src="https://help.opensense.com/media/blackbackground1-29bf19b5c98c.png" alt="A signature whose transparent headshot shows a black background behind the person" width="557" height="172" loading="lazy" decoding="async">

**Icons:**

<img src="https://help.opensense.com/media/blackbackground2-e499b18b7b82.png" alt="Three round emoji icons, each on a black square instead of a transparent background" width="315" height="124" loading="lazy" decoding="async">

## Solution

Open the image in a photo editing program, such as Photoshop or GIMP, and check whether the precision (or channel) is set to 8 bits. If it is, change it to 16 bits, and save the image again.

## GIMP

Go to **Image** > **Precision**, and change from 8-bit to 16-bit.

<div class="kb-media-carousel" data-kb-media-carousel aria-label="Changing image precision in GIMP">
  <div class="kb-media-carousel__viewport">
    <figure class="kb-media-frame"><div class="kb-media-frame__visual"><img src="https://help.opensense.com/media/blackbackground3-7c76cdc8dba5.png" alt="GIMP's Image > Precision menu, with 8 bit integer selected, for a transparent headshot" width="1920" height="1080" loading="lazy" decoding="async"></div><figcaption><strong>8 bits</strong> · Image &gt; Precision &gt; 8 bit integer</figcaption></figure>
    <figure class="kb-media-frame"><div class="kb-media-frame__visual"><img src="https://help.opensense.com/media/blackbackground4-4dacb35df9cc.png" alt="GIMP's Image > Precision menu, with 16 bit integer selected" width="1920" height="1080" loading="lazy" decoding="async"></div><figcaption><strong>16 bits</strong> · Image &gt; Precision &gt; 16 bit integer</figcaption></figure>
  </div>
</div>

## Photoshop

Go to **Image** > **Mode**, and change from 8 bits to 16 bits.

<div class="kb-media-carousel" data-kb-media-carousel aria-label="Changing bit depth in Photoshop">
  <div class="kb-media-carousel__viewport">
    <figure class="kb-media-frame"><div class="kb-media-frame__visual"><img src="https://help.opensense.com/media/blackbackground5-d3c66705c0fe.png" alt="Photoshop's Image > Mode menu, with 8 Bits/Channel checked, for a transparent headshot" width="1920" height="1080" loading="lazy" decoding="async"></div><figcaption><strong>8 bits</strong> · Image &gt; Mode &gt; 8 Bits/Channel</figcaption></figure>
    <figure class="kb-media-frame"><div class="kb-media-frame__visual"><img src="https://help.opensense.com/media/blackbackground6-5e201907bb99.png" alt="Photoshop's Image > Mode menu, with 16 Bits/Channel checked" width="1920" height="1080" loading="lazy" decoding="async"></div><figcaption><strong>16 bits</strong> · Image &gt; Mode &gt; 16 Bits/Channel</figcaption></figure>
  </div>
</div>

## What's next

- [Optimizing logos for dark mode email signatures](https://help.opensense.com/docs/optimizing-logos-for-dark-mode-email-signatures-1)
- [Troubleshooting signature images](https://help.opensense.com/docs/images-help-guide)

For further help, contact Opensense Support at [help@opensense.com](mailto:help@opensense.com).