Google Images is a great resource for finding transparent images, but be careful not to fall victim to fake transparent images. Here are four tips to help you avoid fake transparent images:

  1. Verify the source. Always check the source of a transparent image before using it. If you can’t find the original source, be suspicious. There’s a good chance that the image is fake.
  2. Be careful of watermarks and other identifying features. Many fake transparent images include watermarks or other identifying features that can clue you in to their authenticity. If an image includes any of these features, be sure to verify its authenticity before using it.
  3. Be aware of Photoshopping techniques. Many fake transparent images are edited with Photoshop or another photo editing program in order to make them look more realistic. Be especially wary of images that have been heavily edited – if an image looks too good to be true, it probably is!
  4. Check for transparency settings on the image itself. Transparency settings can also give you clues about an image’s authenticity – if an image has a high transparency setting, it’s likely authentic; if it has a low transparency setting, it’s more likely to be fake (although this isn’t always the case). ..

If you’ve ever searched for a transparent image on Google, you’ve probably run across “fakes.” You save an image only to realize the checkered background is solid. Thankfully, there’s a simple little trick in Google Images to avoid this.

For those unfamiliar with this phenomenon, allow me to explain. Images that have transparency often illustrate it by using a gray and white checkered pattern. The idea is that you can see which parts of the image will be transparent before you save it.

Here’s how it plays out: You search for an image, maybe a logo with a transparent background, and you see a result like this:

It appears that the background behind the Microsoft logo will be transparent when you save the image, but here’s what it actually looks like (black border added):

The checkered pattern is the background. There’s no transparency. Here’s how to prevent that from happening.

Go to Google Images in your desktop web browser (such as Chrome or Microsoft Edge) and search for something with transparency. Unfortunately, this doesn’t work on the Google mobile site.

Next, click “Tools” underneath the search bar.

A toolbar will expand with a few extra options. Select “Color.”

From the drop-down menu, choose “Transparent.”

That’s it. All of the results will now be images that contain at least partial transparency.

Now, this photo is a truly transparent image.

As someone who dabbles in design, this “problem” has always bothered me. I’ve learned how to spot the fakes, but with this trick, you don’t even have to. It’s a real game-changer.