I have seen a lot of similar questions but not found exactly what I'm looking for. The svg files I create in inkscape, and the png files to which they are exported or saved have no checkerboard background. How do I know if the backgrounds are transparent ? It is very necessary for what I'm doing that the PNG backgrounds are transparent. To be enable seeing the checkerboard this method is generally recommended: file > document properties > Page > General > Background > Checkerboard background, but it (inkscape, my computer, who knows) will not allow me to go into document properties. Is it only possible to access document properties when creating the file, and it cannot be altered afterwards ?
You can edit Document Properties at any time. However, after exporting a PNG, you've made a new file, a raster file. And Inkscape generally can't edit it anymore.
Are you saying that you actually want the checkerboard visible in the finished file? I think that would make for a pretty ugly image, personally.
Here's the story. The Inkscape background is transparent by default, whether you have a checkerboard background enabled or not. If you use File menu > Export PNG, it will create a transparent background in that new PNG file. If you doubt whether it's transparent, you could import it back into Inkscape. If you have the checkerboard background enabled, you'll see it through the image, if it's transparent. If it's not, you'll see the white background.
Or if you don't have the checkerboard enabled, you could draw some random object on the canvas. Then import the image, and see if you can see the object behind it.
But if your project demands a transparent background, you should be able to see whether it's transparent, in whatever place you're putting it - whether it's some other program or on the internet. It seems like you would know immediately if it wasn't transparent.
Beginners' Questions transparent background marked with checkerboard
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I have seen a lot of similar questions but not found exactly what I'm looking for. The svg files I create in inkscape, and the png files to which they are exported or saved have no checkerboard background. How do I know if the backgrounds are transparent ? It is very necessary for what I'm doing that the PNG backgrounds are transparent. To be enable seeing the checkerboard this method is generally recommended: file > document properties > Page > General > Background > Checkerboard background, but it (inkscape, my computer, who knows) will not allow me to go into document properties. Is it only possible to access document properties when creating the file, and it cannot be altered afterwards ?
Welcome to the forum!
You can edit Document Properties at any time. However, after exporting a PNG, you've made a new file, a raster file. And Inkscape generally can't edit it anymore.
Are you saying that you actually want the checkerboard visible in the finished file? I think that would make for a pretty ugly image, personally.
Here's the story. The Inkscape background is transparent by default, whether you have a checkerboard background enabled or not. If you use File menu > Export PNG, it will create a transparent background in that new PNG file. If you doubt whether it's transparent, you could import it back into Inkscape. If you have the checkerboard background enabled, you'll see it through the image, if it's transparent. If it's not, you'll see the white background.
Or if you don't have the checkerboard enabled, you could draw some random object on the canvas. Then import the image, and see if you can see the object behind it.
But if your project demands a transparent background, you should be able to see whether it's transparent, in whatever place you're putting it - whether it's some other program or on the internet. It seems like you would know immediately if it wasn't transparent.
Thank you Brynn for your friendly and thoroughgoing reply. I have followed your advice and I'm satisfied that the background is transparent.
Document properties > Checkerboard background :) You are welcome.
or you can just change it in welcome screen(or welcome page)