I'm sorry in advance if this seems like a stupid question, but I'm new to Inkscape and need help. So i recently downloaded this in hopes of creating a YouTube profile picture for a friend of mine. After some learning, I managed to make a picture we are both happy with. I then exported the logo as a png and sent it over. I figured since it was a png it would have that checkered background, but it automatically gave it a black one, even though in Inkscape I never gave it a background, just left it white. Also, it didn't fit the borders on YouTube. I don't know if that is just an issue of having to crop it or if I actually have to change the proportions somewhere on the image before I export. Basically I'm just wondering how to export a finished image or logo, so that if I wanted to send it to someone or a company or something like that they would be able to use it on whatever they want. Thanks in advance for any responses and anyone who tries to help. Have a good one!

Care to share an example svg and png file? Originals are best. Attach or provide link in a reply.

Hi.

As png-s can have a transparent background, how it appears is mostly up to the renderer. Inkscape doesn't have a checkerboard background, nor browsers.
My guess is that the problem is on youtube/browser of choice (?) side.

That being said there was a recent change in inkscape's renderer -exporter- from 0.48 to 0.91 so now the transparent is not transparent white but transparent black. (Suv mentioned it somewhere around, you may find it with better luck.)

I would suggest using a non-transparent png for a profile picture in general.

(i.e. put a white (or whichever color) rectangle behind it as background )
I guess youtube turns your png into a jpg image to save some space, and those don't support transparency.
For the size - try to find out which size youtube requires for its profile images. I'm sure there's a Help page for that somewhere telling you the required format.

Yes, it just depends on the website where you put the image (or the program you use to view it). When I used ImageShack for an image host, it often turned transparent backgrounds black.

Thanks a lot guys! I wasn't sure if anyone would get back to me but everyone was right on it. I think I figured it out. The program I was using to view was turning the transparent background black. One more question, if I placed a colored square or something like that behind the image would it act as a background color? Thanks again

Yes.

Another workaround is raising the background's alpha value to 255 in the documen't settings (Shift+Ctrl+D).

Thanks everybody! I'll be sure to keep up with this site on my inkscape journey. Have a good night or day, depending on where you are.