trouble with transparent backgrounds for logos, etc.

[vectorgfxqueen]

I am always fiddling around trying to get a transparent background for a jpeg and in illustrator. Can it be done? How? Why did I never learn it? Help....! I need a definite, step by step way to save things in photoshop with no background and also in illustator (I am not even sure it can be done in Illustrator.) I use CS.

THANKS...this always makes me so nervous when this comes up! I need peace....relaxation....Help!
Peace http://graphicdesignforum.com/emoticons/cool.gif

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[DeleteYourself]

What you need to do, when creating a logo in photoshop that you want to have a transparent background is first, make sure you're saving in the right format. I think the only two formats that support transparency are TIFF and EPS (and i'm not even sure about EPS). If you're then going to use the logo in a program like Quark, you need to make an alpha channel. To do this:

1. Select the entire area that you wish to be transparent.
2. Go into the Channels pallete, and make a new channel. (You can name it whatever you want.)
3. Under 'Color indicates:' make sure the Masked selected areas radio button is clicked.
4. Then color anything you want transparent black (this will be the selected area)
5. Then, when you save the file, save as a TIFF and make sure the Alpha Channels box is clicked.
6. In Quark, once you import your graphic, open the Clipping dialog box (opt + apple + T on a MAC).
7. In the 'Type' drop-down box, select the Alpha Channel.
8. Your graphic should now have a transparent bg.

i hope this works, for you, transparency can sometimes be tricky. I'm not sure what you need to do in Illustrator, but in my experience, if you save as an EPS, you can acheive transparency. Not positive, though.

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[D-Frag]

ooohhhh boy, you need to read the 'vector vs rastor thread' anyone want to post the link for our new member here?


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[Ryan8720]

Well, JPG doesn't support transparency. You have to use GIF or PNG-8.

http://edgewebdesign.org/ryan2.gif (http://www.edgewebdesign.org)

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[vectorgfxqueen]

thanks DeleteYourself, never heard that at all. I will try it. Does that mean I have to take the illustration into Photoshop...I guess it does.

Ryan8720....Oh.

Ok, I will find the raster vs. vector thread, think I saw it earlier when I was hunting around.....

I do logos for a friend sometimes and email them to him and he wants them on transparency....I did one this morning, took it into photoshop and put it on a new page with a transparent background. Worked, I think...so convoluted, though.

Peace

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"I've got a Rock N' Roll heart" - Eric Clapton

[PrintDriver]

Oh............
D-Frag, more photoshop logos.
Helllppp meeeeeeee.

Vectorgfx it's in the Resourses section (An Explanation of Raster vs Vector).
I don't know what your friend is using the logo for, but Logos in photoshop for anything other than web, especially if you don't know about resolution issues, can be a really BAD thing. Logos should always be in a vector format so they can be scaled from letterhead size to billboard size if necessary.

Specialization is for insects...

R.H.

[vectorgfxqueen]

PrintDriver, then how can I send him one that has a transparent background? Can it be done in Illustrator? that is where I do my logos...

http://www.betaimages.com/ws.gif
"I've got a Rock N' Roll heart" - Eric Clapton

[PrintDriver]

that's why I'm not sure what he is doing with them.
sounds like web stuff if he wants the transparency. Maybe to lay over website skins.
In that case it's absolutely fine to give him what he wants.
I think you can actually File>export to png from CS and specify you want the background transparent...
give it a try.

Specialization is for insects...

R.H.

[vectorgfxqueen]

I should have made clear, he is working with them on layouts to do his little brochures and stuff, so he wants the logo on a transparent background so he can place it where he wants....for stuff that will be printed, not on web. This happened with a customer, where the husband wanted the logo I created to play around with stuff himself and he wanted it transparent. I finally took it in PS, erased the background and sent it too him. I guess that worked, but it was ungainly, roundabout and I know photoshop images aren't like vector.

Peace

http://www.betaimages.com/ws.gif
"I've got a Rock N' Roll heart" - Eric Clapton

[Debz]

yeah i always have white in my drop shadow or in the image even if i make it a gif w/o a bg

http://uploader.co.uk/images/debz22222.gif

[vectorgfxqueen]

PrintDriver, I will...what exactly is png?

http://www.betaimages.com/ws.gif
"I've got a Rock N' Roll heart" - Eric Clapton

[PrintDriver]

It's a web thing similar to a jpg. I wouldn't want to print it, but I'm not sure you can't.
I thought your guy was doing web stuff.

Specialization is for insects...

R.H.

[vectorgfxqueen]

No....so what's up, any new technilogical discoveries? I just saw alot of logos on another site and I swear bunches of them were made in Photoshop, still looked great, of course that was on the web....some were made in Xara or something like that. I never heard of that before, but I am starting to hear about it all the time. Know anything about it?

I just put up about 33 of my pictures on another site...is it kosher to tell you all that? I would like you to see them....Let me know if that is OK and I will give you address.

This other site seems to concentrate on graphics, there forums aren't very interesting. Love that I could put up all my stuff, though.
Peace

http://www.betaimages.com/ws.gif
"I've got a Rock N' Roll heart" - Eric Clapton

[Ryan8720]

Sure you can post them. We won't banish you for going to other forums.

PNG another file format used on the Web. It allows transparency and alpha transparency which would take care of debz white drop shadow. I have no idea how they would print though.

Someone came in here and told about Xara a little while ago. I think it is a vector program.

http://edgewebdesign.org/ryan2.gif (http://www.edgewebdesign.org)

C:\DOS
C:\DOS\RUN
RUN DOS RUN

[vectorgfxqueen]

Ok, go to www.graphics.com - gallery - illustrator (on page 3) and Patricia Adams...I have two pages.
Thanks
Peace
Ping
Pong

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"I've got a Rock N' Roll heart" - Eric Clapton

[DeleteYourself]

wowzers... good stuff!

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[thelobst]

Just create your logos in illustrator and save as illustrator eps files. This will support the transparency, and is the standard format for logos for print. They can be imported into quark, indesign etc, and the file size is small enough to email to your friend.

Don't use gif or jpeg for print work. If you have to use photoshop you can create a clipping path to outline the logo.

[Mickey]

what thelobst said!

http://home.wi.rr.com/mygraphics/konceptcreative.jpg

[vectorgfxqueen]

Thanks thelobst...and what he said!
Peace

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"I've got a Rock N' Roll heart" - Eric Clapton

[Jason Fraker]

Your vector work is amazing! I use Illustrator every day, but I don't know how to develop that kind of skill. Mainly, I use it to re-create logos when a customer supplies me with a web graphic and I'm under a deadline. Where do you learn to actually Illustrate with Illustrator? Is is just self-taught trial and error, or did you take classes in Illustrator? I'd love to know.

-Jason
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