Saving transparent image

As jpeg in Photoshop

[pmac]

I am a complete newbie to Photoshop and need a touch of help. If I make an image transparent, I can't seem to save the image as a jpeg, as it defaults to a photoshop type file. Can I save it as a jpeg in Photoshop, or do I need to somehow convert the file?

Thanks in advance!

[deejay]

I don't think jpgs have transparency ability.

Usually a GIF is used.

<add> *(#%&$(%^ flaky damn mouse!

Was going to say if you did save it as a jpg you would lose your transparent area (would file with some default color probably).

Photoshop is trying to save you from losing your hard work by making you save it in a format that will hold the properties you set. :)

[defanjos]

Try:

File > Export > Gif89a Export

It exports it as a transparent GIF

[Paully]

Any Photoshop gurus, want to explain why this is?

When first starting out, I spent a week, figuring out I couldn’t have transparency in a jpg. Poking around other peoples sites, I noticed alot of .gif's used where transparency was used, saved my file as gif and been doing it ever since. Still I wonder why no transparency in jpg's.

[shanz]

Jpegs don't have an alpha channel. The algorithm that compresses the image does not support this.

Shanz

[korkus2000]

As shanz says jpgs do not support alpha channels. Only gifs and pngs can have transparency on the web. An easier way to save your file for the web in photoshop if you use 5.5 or higher is save for the web. It will not make you flatten images or even effect the source picture. You have a lot more control over conversion and compression in this dialogue.