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elena.fx
elena.fx
Participating Frequently
August 13, 2021
Question

Remove black from complex stock art lens flare gradients for use on white backgrounds

  • August 13, 2021
  • 2 replies
  • 5197 views

Hello! First time poster here.

I have a logo that has used stock art of lens flares which have the gradients set to fade into black. 

Is there a quick way to change all the blacks to white and change their opacity to 0 so there's no muddyness? 

Thanks for any suggestions in advance. 





    2 replies

    Monika Gause
    Community Expert
    Monika GauseCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    August 13, 2021

    If they are in fact gradients (and not blends) you could use "Recolor artwork" to change the color from black to white. But you cannot change the opacity with that.

      elena.fx
      elena.fxAuthor
      Participating Frequently
      August 15, 2021

      Thank you! 

      I tried this and then used the select similar fill colour to adjust the transparency to 0% of multiple white points at once just with the transparency menu. Some of this I had to do manually but I definitely saved some time and sanity. 

        Brad @ Roaring Mouse
        Community Expert
        Brad @ Roaring MouseCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        August 13, 2021

        These stock illustrations are built with a transparency effect that requires something behind it to work properly. Try that.

          elena.fx
          elena.fxAuthor
          Participating Frequently
          August 15, 2021

          Thank you! I didn't even think to try this. This worked but the colours in the art did vary with the colour of the background and blending modes. I need to build out assets that will remain true no matter the colour of the background so will get in there and ajust the art as best I can.

          Brad @ Roaring Mouse
          Community Expert
          Brad @ Roaring MouseCommunity Expert
          Community Expert
          August 15, 2021

          "the colours in the art did vary"

          and they will.

          The main transparency effect that they utilizie is either Screen or Lighten, so the background colour totally affects the result.

          You can see why the outside has to be black, then, as if it was white, it would be Lighter than the background causing the exact reverse problem.

          So, yes, working with opacity gradients is your best best. Personally, I would have brought this into Photoshop and rendered a mask to do the work and left it as a PSD file.

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