AI file background

[Dtalkingtech]

so I have downloaded a flare AI image. It says it has a trabnsparent background, but it actually has balck chequers. I just need to place the flare on a solid colour background. How do I save the asset to place on top of a colour?

[Ged_Traynor]

Moved to the Illustrator forum from Using the Community

[jane-e]

@Dtalkingtech 

Open the Layers panel in Illustrator. You will see the object (probably a group) with the checkered boxes. Hide or delete it, then draw a rectangle with a solid color background and put it at the bottom of the stack (probably in the same location where the boxes were.)

If you have questions or need better details, expand your layers and show a screenshot of your Layers panel, not just the image. Resize it taller and wider so we can see all of it

If you got the image from Adobe Stock you can give us the number and we can look at it.

Jane

[Dtalkingtech]

hi Jane - this one has me stumped. I tired looking in the layers...but as you can see, there are 100's of layers. I can't find which is the correct one to turn off...this is your image no 204383929

cheers

d

[jane-e]

@Dtalkingtech 

Hi

In your first screenshot those are the layers. In the 2nd and 3rd, those are the checkered squares in the group. Click the eyeball to hide the group (or you can delete the group of checkered squares.)

Note that the group of checkered squares is made up of two shades of dark squares. What I've found in working with these images is that blending modes have been applied to the image itself that make the flare only work on a dark background. When you select a solid color, you might start with one of those two shades to see that it works, then try other colors. If you try to put the image on a pale background, it is likely to fail. 

Jane

[Dtalkingtech]

thank you - that kind of works.  I did give you the Adobe Stock ref - its 204383929. Thanks again

[jane-e · Accepted solution]

Hi @Dtalkingtech 

When you simply turn off the group for the checkered squares, it looks like this:

Here I have drawn a new background rectangle with one of the two colors. Try other colors.

Here the selected rectangle is a light gray with a 63% opacity

This rectangle has no fill or stroke. I'm not sure why it is there.

Inside the clipping group is the core info. At the top is the rectangle (underlined) that everything else in the clipping group is clipped into. Each path that I looked at was set to the Screen blending mode with varying opacities. This one is 43%. It's probably best to leave this clipping group alone for your purposes.

Do you have other questions or does this help?

Jane

[Dtalkingtech]

thanks Jane - thats great - really appreciate it

d

[jane-e]

You're welcome @Dtalkingtech 😊

Jane

[Monika Gause · Accepted solution]

I've made a video about this kind of files: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tiqm5hdQA5A

[Dtalkingtech]

thanks for this Monika - a fellow YouTuber!!

[Monika Gause]

You're welcome!