Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for obtaining an image file including an alpha channel using a photographic camera. The method comprises the steps of placing an object on a platform, illuminating a background of an object placed on the platform in a first color, taking a first image of an object, illuminating a background of an object placed on the platform in a second color, taking a second image of an object, creating transparency values between a first transparency value for a transparent pixel and a second transparency value for a non-transparent pixel from the first and second images, and taking a separate image with the photographic camera of an object placed on the platform different from the first and the second image. The image file includes an alpha channel based on the separate image and the transparency values obtained from the first and second images.