Convert Jpeg image with solid background

[Henda]

Hallo, I'm new to this, so please be patient ! I'm trying to place jpeg image in Ind CS3. It's a handdrawn map (black on white, no colour), I need the background to be transparent so that I can put it on a colour background. How do I do that? Is it possible, seeing that it's a jpeg? Any help/advice much appreciated, thanks !:confused:

[CkretAjint]

As a JPEG, no. Convert it to an EPS and draw a clipping mask.

[Henda]

Thanks, it's a very complicated image - map of the world ! Do you think it's worth it? maybe not... !

[Pointyhat]

In Photoshop convert the image to grayscale then to bitmap and save as a tif.

[Henda]

Thanks a 1000000! :):)

[jimking]

If the image has much detail and gradations you may not want to convert it to bitmap. However, if it is line work your best results would be to convert to bitmap at a res of 1200, or scan the image at 1200, grayscale then convert to bitmap and save as a eps with transparent whites.
So many ways to skin a cat! ;)

[Henda]

Thanks so much, will try it next time. :)

["Technical" Terry]

Depending on the background of your InDesign document, you could simply add the "multiply" effect (next to "opacity") to the jpg.

[Broacher]

If it's a greyscale JPG (not an RGB or CMYK-- you have to check that with an image editor such as Photoshop), you can simply place it directly into InDesign and then with the picture FRAME selected (solid arrow tool) click on a fill colour. That sets your background colour -- no transparency or multipy needed. Works the same when you cut and paste-into a vector shape within ID.

[emucru]

If it's a greyscale JPG (not an RGB or CMYK-- you have to check that with an image editor such as Photoshop), you can simply place it directly into InDesign and then with the picture FRAME selected (solid arrow tool) click on a fill colour. That sets your background colour -- no transparency or multipy needed. Works the same when you cut and paste-into a vector shape within ID.

And here I thought that only worked with greyscale TIFFs. I guess I don't work with jpgs enough.