How to Make a Shape or Picture Transparent in Excel

This tutorial shows how to make a shape or picture transparent in Excel.

Make a Shape Transparent

In Excel, you can make a shape transparent using the Format Shape options.

1. Select the shape you want to make transparent. Then, right-click it and choose Format Shape.

2. On the right side of the screen, you get the Format Shape menu. Here, set the Transparency to a certain percentage (70%).

The shape is now more transparent.

Make a Picture Transparent

You can also make a picture transparent using Format Shape.

1. Select the picture, right-click it, and choose Format Picture.

2. The Format Picture menu appears on the right side of the screen. Click on Picture, then set Transparency to the value you want (70%).

Picture Transparency Options

There’s another way to make pictures transparent and allows for side-by-side previews of the level of transparency.

Select the picture you want to make transparent. Then in the Ribbon, go to Picture Format > Transparency and choose a level of transparency from the previewed options.

See also…

• Insert a Background Image in Excel and Google Sheets
• How to Insert Pictures in Excel and Google Sheets
• Add Gradient Fill to Shapes in Excel and Google Sheets