How can I remove the white background around an imported jpeg?

If it's only one object, use the Pen Tool to draw around the object and select it - then Shift select Object and Background and make a Clipping Mask. This also works if you do it as an Opacity Mask.

Or draw a path around the object with the pen tool and use it as a vector mask in Illustrator.

If you do it in Photoshop, you'll need to save the file in a format that supports transparency (e.g. PSD, PNG, EPS, TIFF).

Robert,

You could use Image/Live Trace, and either tick Ignore White or delete the white outer part after expanding, then select all parts of the image and Pathfinder>Unite and use this path as the Clipping Path, also select the actual/original image and Object>Clipping Mask>Make.

Hi RobertWayne,

I don't think you can do this in Illustrator. Your best bet is probably going to be Photoshop.

You can refer to the following links:

How do I get a transparent background in my Illustrator file?

Make imported jpg in Ai CS5 have transparent background instead of white

http://www.talkgraphics.com/showthread.php?22385-How-do-I-make-jpeg-image-background-transparent

Thanks,

Nikhil Gupta