How to remove the white background from a TIFF image

[StanleyMax]

Hi everyone,

I am overlaying a TIFF image onto the World Topographic Map that I downloaded from ESRI ArcGIS Online.

Now, using Photoshop I have already removed the white background in the original TIFF image.  (This was a quick and easy thing to do using the magic-wand tool.)  Thus, the TIFF file contains only black showing a map outline, symbols, and words.

The problem is that when I add this TIFF file to my map in ArcGIS a white background shows up again.  Is there a way to make that white background disappear?

Thank you very much.

Stanley

[WadeLobb · Accepted solution]

Go to the layer properties for the Tiff image, under symbology tab check the Display Background Value and change the value to 255 255 255, under "display as" select no color

[StanleyMax]

Hi Wade,

Thank you so much.

This was great information, and it solved the entire problem.

In fact, I experimented a bit, and I learned that I did not even have to go through the effort of clearing out the white background by means of Photoshop when I did what you advised.  Applying the steps that you explained eliminated the white background even when it existed in the original TIFF file.

Thanks again.  Great work.

Stanley

[ShellyMorgan]

I had a similar situation, I wanted a white background. I went to Properties, Symbology and checked the Invert box. Now, I have a white background, but I zoom in, the image is black. It works.