Remove the white background of a TIFF image

Summary

Some TIFF images have a default white background. The white background is a hindrance if it blocks layers placed beneath the TIFF image, as shown in the image below.

This article provides a workflow to remove the white background of a TIFF image in ArcMap and ArcGIS Pro.

Procedure

ArcMap

1. In Table of Contents, right-click the TIFF layer. Click Properties .
2. In Layer Properties, click the Symbology tab.
3. Check Display Background Value.
4. Set the value for each band to 255.
5. Set the background color to NoColor.

ArcGIS Pro

1. In the Contents pane, right-click the TIFF layer. Click Symbology .
2. In the Symbology pane, click the Mask tab.

3. Check Display background value.
4. Set the value for each band to 255.
5. Set the background color to NoColor.

The image below shows the white background of the TIFF image is transparent, revealing the basemap underneath it.