get rid of white background of tif

[EmerginT]

Hi I am importing images into Quark - I've decided to possiby put a color in the background but have a few images in white boxes - how do i get rid ofthe white so the color shows through - it doesn't want to just delete in Photoshop

[seamas]

Are you working in four color?
Then you can add the background color in Photoshop.
(To "delete" the white, you'll need to copy the layer, then delete the background layer, then you can delete the white parts, and create a new background layer with the color you want).

If working with less than 4 color or with spots, you will probably need to make some kind of clipping paths in Photoshop

[SpugNothuson]

Try Item Menu > Clipping and then mess with the settings in there.
It can give some unexpected results though.

For more acurate results do it in PhotoShop, open the file and double click on the Background Layer in the Layers pallet. It should now be called Layer 0.

Now the eraser tool will delete the image to a transparent layer.

Make sure you save it as a layered tiff though.

[SpugNothuson]

Hang on a sec, hit the brakes! Are you using Quark 4? Am I right in thinking you are?

[urstwile]

I think that's the version being used Spug, yes, if I recall from another post.

I think clipping paths are one way you might need to go, if the images are appropriate for clipping paths. If they're not, you might need to do the background color in Photoshop and import them that way.

[SpugNothuson]

What urstwile said if it is Quark 4, it doesn't support layered tiffs.

You'll need to make a path around the object you want to keep using the pen tool, then save the path, then clip the path and finally save it as an eps.

Or the other method as Urst said is to colour the background of your tiff as exactly the same colour as the background you're trying to put them onto.

[EmerginT]

I copied the background layer. Deleted the white background from the other layer so i can see the checker board - saved it - It looks like a transparent

background in photoshop - but when i save to tif and then open it in Quark - white background. Item>Modify is set to none.
Whats the deal man!?

[urstwile]

Quark 4 doesn't support transparency at all, if I recall correctly, so you'll need to do one of the two recommendations above.

[seamas]

I copied the background layer. Deleted the white background from the other layer so i can see the checker board - saved it - It looks like a transparent

background in photoshop - but when i save to tif and then open it in Quark - white background. Item>Modify is set to none.
Whats the deal man!?

Quark 4 won't recognise transparency.

You will need to put the new background color in there with Photoshop.

Quark 4 doesn't regonise layers in tiffs either, so you'll need to flatten that Tiff.

[EmerginT]

Wow, i can't believe how fast you people answer! Do you ever get any work done! haha -
Yes it's Quark 4 and the item>clipping thing worked!

If something is a layered Tif - does that just mean you don't flatten the image in Photoshop and save it as Tif/

[SpugNothuson]

If something is a layered Tif - does that just mean you don't flatten the image in Photoshop and save it as Tif/
Basically yeah.

If the tiff has layers in it, that can be any layer (anything except background with a lock in the corner in the layers pallette) then it is considered a layered tiff.

You'll need to go to Layers > Flatten Image then save it as a tiff or Quark 4 will not be happy with you.

When Quark 4 was released I believe we were working on PhotoShop 7, 7 didn't allow you to save as a tiff if you had layers in your document, as PhotoShops capabilities got better other programmes, such as Quark, had to catch up.

And no I'm not working at the moment, I'm sat here getting paid but I'm waiting on the proofer to finish, slow ass machine!

[EmerginT]

well doing the clipping thing in quark worked for one of the images.
But now i am working on another and it did not work.
So I am trying to do the clipping path in photoshop. I took the pen and drew the path around the picture ( it's playing cards)
Now what do i do - do i do something in the paths pallette?
I'm stuck

[urstwile]

In the paths palette, click on the flyout triangle, select clipping path, and make your path a clipping path. Then save the file as an EPS and bring that into Quark.

Or you could keep it as a TIFF, but for some reason I remember reading that clipping paths used with EPS files produced better results than clipping paths used with TIFFs. Mighta just been a rumor, however.

[SpugNothuson]

Yep, in the paths pallet you should see the work path.

You need to save this path, from the little menu attached to the pallett.

It'll now be called Path 1.

Now from the mini menu in the pallette choose Clipping Path.

Now save as an .eps

Call this into Quark and hey presto the image has no background.

I think I have all the terminology correct, its been a while.

[SpugNothuson]

Not sure if Quark 4 will see the tiffs path either, I trained on Quark 3 & 4 way back when and I cn always remember that there were iron clad rules of when and when not to use tiffs and eps.

If the word jpeg was ever used you'd have been shot, somehow that file type has sneaked its way into the workflow, we need to enforce the tresspassers will be shot rule and kill jpegs for print!

Sorry about that, a little off topic there.

[urstwile]

Quark 4 will see the path, I'm pretty sure. I just avoided doing it that way because of what I'd read about the quality.

[EmerginT]

wow thanks guys! i found the answer in the photoshop help guide - probably while you guys were furiously writing your answers - It worked! i learned something new today, but i saved it as a tif instead of an eps. Brought it into Quark. It was fine but in front of some type so i moved back - there is only the option to bring to front or bring to back and it needs to be in the middle.
My new problem is that it is stuck below a few other layers and i can't bring it to front! - I should say i can't "select' it - is there some handy shorcut to do that in Quark 4

[EmerginT]

I just reimported it - it's all good - Thanks peeps

[SpugNothuson]

To click through the layers hold down,

Mac= Option + Alt + Shift and click on top of where you want to be, keep clicking and you should select it.

PC= Ctrl + Alt + Shift

When you have the item you're after keep the mouse button down to move it about, or adjkust the settings in the x and y values.