Skip to main content
alwasha
Participant
Jul 2, 2010 12:17 PM UTC
Answered

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

I'm relatively new to Illustrator, (I'm working in CS4) and created a corporate logo for one of my clients.  When I place the logo into Photoshop or InDesign, the logo is in a white box.  How can I make the background transparent in the original Illustrator file?

    This topic is closed to new replies. Start a new post to keep the conversation going.
    Mike_Gondek10189183
    Mike_Gondek10189183Correct answer
    Community Expert
    Oct 27, 2011 5:22 PM UTC

    Illustrator >> View >> Show transparency grid

    You will see a checkerboard pattern showing you where you have tranparency.

    Save your .ai fle with pdf compatible and place into InDesign

    If you placed as .eps in InDesign you need to

    InDesgin>>View >> Display Performace >> High quality Display

    View reply

    78 replies

    Show previous replies
    theCam
    theCam
    Participant
    Sep 27, 2014 9:41 AM UTC

    It's funny how everyone's saying to save it as .eps when really you can simply export it as a png file like on Photoshop. go to File --> Export --> Save As Type '.png' --> Export --> Interlaced [√] --> Background Color [Transparent] --> OK.

    Translate
      Willi Adelberger
      Community Expert
      Willi AdelbergerCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      Sep 29, 2014 2:38 PM UTC
      karatechopninja schrieb:
      

      

      It's funny how everyone's saying to save it as .eps when really you can simply export it as a png file like on Photoshop. go to File --> Export --> Save As Type '.png' --> Export --> Interlaced [√] --> Background Color [Transparent] --> OK.

      When you want to import Illustrator Art work into InDesign, you should never use PNG. Never use EPS.

      Save as AI and place it. Because EPS does not support transparency, PNG supports only reduced opacity but not any other kind of transparency. Using PNG os so a very bad idea.

      PNG is also a raster file type. Why should someone rasterize vector artwork when it can be placed as AI file.

      Please, don't give wrong or terrible advices.

      You should neither do it with Photoshop files, if you place a Photoshop file in other applications, use PSD or if the file contains vectors or text, use PDP or PDF.

      Translate
        TANK___
        TANK___
        Participant
        Sep 23, 2014 1:39 AM UTC
        I have no idea.
        Translate
        Monika Gause
        Community Expert
        Monika GauseCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        Sep 23, 2014 8:33 AM UTC

        By default Illustrator files don't have a background unless you create some rectangle in the back of your artwork.

        Translate
        kevphil
        Participant
        Jun 22, 2014 5:56 PM UTC

        For both questions:

        If your Illy file is not too big/complex, you can try Copy & Paste thru the Clipboard. Going into Photoshop, it will come in transparent. (Of course, the PDF Save is also good, at least when placing in InDesign.)

        For web work, you can Save As either a PNG or PSD, open in Photoshop and then re-size as needed. Export as PNG for use on web.

        Translate
        Fobioid
        Fobioid
        Inspiring
        Aug 17, 2013 5:12 PM UTC

        Create an outline of the logo with the pen tool, select the image and the outline and make a clipping mask (Command +7).

        Translate
        dyemotion
        Participant
        Nov 18, 2013 10:14 AM UTC

        Hello @all,

        I have a similar problem.

        I created the icon in illustrator and saved it via "save for website" as an png-file. Bevor saving the file, I checked that the background is transparent.

        But after uploading the the png-file, I noticed that the edges of the bounding box are still white.

        Please take a look at the attachments.

        Thank you very very much!!!

        Translate
        TREX8905603
        TREX8905603
        Participating Frequently
        Nov 18, 2013 1:44 PM UTC

        You can place native files (Ai, Psd) straight into Indesign, also, you can save the Illustrator file as an .eps file.

        Or from Illustrator save file to Photoshop:- File - Export - Format :  Photoshop PSD

        Hope this makes sense?

        Translate
          pjdv
          pjdv
          Participant
          Apr 6, 2013 9:22 AM UTC

          Make sure to Place the file! (File > Place...) Hope this helps!

          Translate
            richardson_joel
            Participant
            Aug 6, 2013 7:12 PM UTC

            This started happening to my inDesign files and I wanted to pull my hair out.

            @pjdv is right, but you have to select SHOW IMPORT OPTIONS in the dialog box for placing objects to get that dialog box in his screenshot

            Translate
            bfarrelli2
            Participant
            Sep 6, 2012 12:03 AM UTC

            I am not exactly certain of your problem, but when I want to create an image to insert into a word file, or InDesign or whatever, I do a FILE>SAVE FOR WEB.

            Then make it a GIF. Set it to have transparancy and it comes right in with no white background. You have to play with the size of it, as they usually start really small.

            Translate
              msleute
              Participant
              Nov 29, 2012 5:07 PM UTC

              I have designed a menu with overlapping pics screened to 15% n the background. When I sent this to a print shop for copying I am getting black lines that show up. It looks like my artboard and guidleines. When I used my home printer to print these linses are not there. Can you make a suggestion to remedy this or tell me what I might be doing wrong

              Translate
              Anonymous
              Oct 27, 2011 5:08 PM UTC

              Save it as an eps file.

              When you save it, an EPS Options dialog box will open.

              Under "Preview" there is a drop down menu "Format".

              Select "TIFF (8-bit Color)", no matter if it is a one colour or 4 colour file.

              Under the drop down menu there are 2 options, "Transparent" and "Opaque". Choose Transparent.

              When you link this file in InDesign, it will come in without a background.

              If you need a raster file, open it in Photoshop and save it as a .tiff and check off "Transparent".

              Hope this helps everyone!

              Translate
                Monika Gause
                Community Expert
                Monika GauseCommunity Expert
                Community Expert
                Oct 27, 2011 5:20 PM UTC

                If you want to place a file in InDesign, don't use EPS. Use AI or PDF. EPS is kind of dated.

                Translate
                  Anonymous
                  Oct 27, 2011 5:28 PM UTC

                  EPS files are not dated. They may be bigger than .ai files but they are still a common file type especially when dealing with all the different levels of software (CS 5, CS 5.5)....

                  Translate
                    Wade_Zimmerman1
                    Inspiring
                    Jul 2, 2010 1:03 PM UTC

                    Ok so I do not know if you did this or not but if one just saves the after flattening the transparency then this will happen if one saves it as an eps this will happen but if one saves it s an .ai file without flattening the transparency then the art retains its transparency..

                    Like such same art one with the transparency flattened the other as an ai file without flattening the transparency.

                    I want to clarify he issue if you have effects applied to the art  and save as an eps this will occur with no effects then the eps should work fine.

                    Translate
                      alwashaAuthor
                      Participant
                      Jul 2, 2010 1:29 PM UTC

                      Thanks Wade,

                      I appreciate your help on this. Before I posted my question on the

                      forum, I placed both the original ai file and eps file into both

                      InDesign and Photoshop, and got the same results: white box. Maybe

                      it's the way I built the original ai file that's at fault. What can I

                      do to the original file that will enable me to make the background

                      transparent?

                      AL

                      Al Washa

                      Creative Director/Art Director

                      Specializing in Strategic Communications and Advertising

                      703-901-2323, alwasha@mac.com

                      www.alwasha.com

                      Translate
                      Wade_Zimmerman1
                      Inspiring
                      Jul 2, 2010 1:45 PM UTC

                      Without seeing the file it is hard to say. You could try to export it as a psd file.

                      But if you can post the file I can see if not if you can use the camera icon in the message composer to attach screenshots of you art and or layers panel expanded and the appearance panel also expanded that would be helpful.

                      If you can describe what steps you foloewed to create the art that might help.

                      Right now it is a little vague.

                      Translate
                      Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement
                      Using the community Terms of use Privacy Cookie preferences Do not sell or share my personal information ad choicesAdChoices