We need transparent background for complex compositions

[azure dagger]

Reported by @shy socket

Bug Report: We need transparent background for complex compositions

`Steps to Reproduce`

Today the only way to have a transparent background (and output in a png file) is to specify it in the prompt. Yet Dall-e does this very inconsistently, as if it was an option. Cutting out images manually is a waste of time, especially when we need many sprites like i, a crowd. For this to always work, the AI must "think" with an alpha layer.

`Expected Result`

The indication "transparent background" must be imperative and unconditional in the prompt.

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=25043867738608355 each piece of this scene had to be created and placed separately, as Dall-E was unable to figure out the place of each of them, even with a detailed prompt. Only the transparent background allowed to create, resize and position each separately.

`Actual Result`

The support to transparent background has been inconsistent. Even specifying "solid blue background" does not work. This makes some complex scenes impossible.
-Opaque "transparency" grid is not a transparent background.
-smearing the color of the object around it makes cutting out with a mask impossible.

`Environment`

Dall-E

Jan 12, 2026, 12:41 PM

Additional Information

Please provide relevant details to help resolve the issue, such as:

• ChatGPT Shared Link (if applicable).
• Screenshots or videos demonstrating the problem.

-# ➜ Need to contact support? Visit the OpenAI Help Center.

[shy socket]

(Sorry for the theme, I am presently working on an historical reconstitution)
For the first image, the prompt said:
Fond transparent, image png (Transparent background, png image)
As you see, the robot issued a "transparency grid" not a real transparency. In more the image had lot of partially transparent materials, making it veryy difficult to recover.

For the second image, the prompt said: "Pouvez-vous refaire cette image avec un vrai fond transparent et une image de format png, pas juste un quadrillage?" (Can you redo this image with a real transparent background and a png format image, not just a grid?)
Not only the robot did not produced a transparent background, but in more it generated a kind of smear background, the worse possible case for removing it in a graphic software.

(This image is more representative of what I do) Transparent backgrounds are indispensable for creating complex images, with characters and objects disposed after an accurate narrative. For instance this image used some 25 prompts, each with a transparent background, and arranged manually as sprites, to fit the narration and the numerous descriptions in the text, especially the descriptions of the mountains at the horizon (5 prompts just for those, each mountain has a name).

In a general way professional illustrators or movie makers need this degree of accuracy. and control.

Please note that this issue started to manifest some weeks ago, when the format passed at 800px, and seemingly the .png was no longer issued. Jpeg files are unable of transparency.

[shy socket]

Today I had my 1024x1536 images and png files with a transparency layer. Are these changes:
-modifications of Dall-E? In this case we need them to be stable
-the result of a peculiar prompt? like: "wide panoramic view, landscape orientation, matte painting style"

It is understandable that the default images are small, because large images (and transparency layers) need more calculus time. So, default format 800px, this is ok... in most cases. But real artists, or people making technical illustration (or people with a paid subscription, like me) Need to be able to override this limit. Thanks to see 🙂