Import png(without background) images into inventor

[Anonymous]

Hi,
When I import png images( without background) to inventor, it shows some background, but I want only the image to import without any background, how can I import images without background, my image is a already png file, there is no any background, can you solve this?

[-niels- · Accepted solution]

This is a bit of a weird one and it has to do with the way inventor defines the transparency mask.

In order to get an image to use transparency you have to make sure the lower-right pixel is transparent.

Inventor will then use this color and apply it as the transparency mask for the rest of the image.

You have to enable the mask by right-clicking on the image and selecting "properties", there's a checkbox for "use mask".

Hope that helps.

[Anonymous]

It's working, thank you so much

[Anonymous]

Oh, I get it. So, actually, if the image has already been set up to have a transparent back ground through Photo Shop, then, you can skip that step. Great! Then for step 2, AFTER you have inserted the image onto your 3D drawing, THEN right click,  .... properties.... use Mask. I got it now. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

My PNG went transparent as you thankfully advised, but I'm left with a white border around the image I can't get rid of. 

[-niels-]

Is it part of the image or is it the actual border of the file?

Inventor has a dashed border around images in a sketch so you can define it's size and orientation.
If it's that border you're talking about, you can get "rid" of it by using the "decal" function and actually applying the image to a face.

If it's part of the image, then you'll have to use an image editor to make sure there are no color differences in your desired transparent color.

Hope it helps.

[Anonymous]

Thank you for your reply,  the image is a logo and definitely does not have a border around it, it's a png on a transparent background. It is not dashed and plus when I hover my mouse over that white border line it highlights and I am able to change its color, linewheight, and linestyle... I didn't understand what this 'DECAL function and applying this to a face'

Please explain if you can.

[Anonymous]

FYI: Mine will only work as a BMP File. PNG still has background and distorts pic. Try BMP.

[-niels-]

@Anonymous See the help on how to use the decal function:

http://help.autodesk.com/view/INVNTOR/2018/ENU/?guid=GUID-E6848555-B274-4858-8401-84E260771E84

It does sound like it's the object border Inventor needs to define the size and orientation, so once you make a decal that should dissapear.

@Anonymous , BMP is not a format that has an alpha channel, PNG does.

Both are lossless formats (no compression like JPG) so there shouldn't be any real difference.

Inventor will load png's that have transparency with a white color for the alpha until you activate the mask option.

[Anonymous · Accepted solution]

Actually, I've tried all three  several times to make sure that I wasn't going crazy. BMP is the only one that works. I even worked with our marketing team to attempt to solve this issue and, again BMP is the only one that worked. I've used it several times now with no hiccups. 

[Anonymous]

With that said (BMP working by clicking "use mask"), the image will not show up in a MFG Drawing or rendering. It only shows up correctly in a 3D drawing in Inventor. A PNG will show up correctly if I click "Use Image Alpha (right click on image and click properties and click "Use Image Alpha"). But, again, it only shows up in Inventor 3D drawings. It does not show up in a manufacturing template or rendering software. What's left? JPG? It doesn't work at all. Does anyone have some good advice that they can explain accurately that actually works?