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nickharambee
Participant
October 19, 2010
Answered

Converting white areas of image to transparent

  • October 19, 2010
  • 1 reply
  • 121807 views

Hi

I am wondering how to convert all the white areas of the following image to transparent:

Essentially I just created a black rectangle and on top of this the white text and star shape. I would like all the areas that are white to be transparent (including the black areas beneath the white) so that when I save the artboard as a png file the areas that are white will be transparent.

Would someone be able to help me achieve this in Illustrator CS5?

Thanks

Nick

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer Kurt Gold

A simple Knockout Group example:

1. Draw a black filled circle
2. Draw a smaller white filled circle, centred on top of the black circle
3. Select both and group
4. In the Transparency Panel, select the Knockout Group option
5. Direct select the white circle with the Direct selection tool (white arrow)
6. In the Transparency Panel, set its opacity to zero percent
7. File > Save for Web: Choose .png as the file format and turn on the transparency option

Depending on the kind of objects you are using, there are faster ways like using Pathfinder commands or Compound paths. You might want to check these keywords in the Illustrator help files.

1 reply

Kurt Gold
Community Expert
Kurt GoldCommunity Expert
Community Expert
October 19, 2010

Several ways, for example:

  • Pathfinder (see Pathfinder panel)
  • Knockout group (see Transparency panel)
  • Live paint
  • Compound path
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nickharambeeAuthor
Participant
October 19, 2010

Thanks.  I've had a look through these options but it's not clear to me how I achieve the result I am looking for.  Would you be able to specify the procedure for one of these methods, or point me in the direction of a tutorial if you know of one?

Nick

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nickharambeeAuthor
Participant
October 19, 2010

Nick,

Is the image raster or vector/what appears if you select it?

It is one thing if it is raster(ized) and is termed an image in the Layers palette/panel, and quite another thing if it consists of paths.

The initial line where Kurt stated his assumption that it was not raster was left out by the forum software, which is known to do that, more oftern than you would imagine.


I presume it's vector/paths.  Here's a snapshot:

The 'star' is just a path I drew with a pen tool.  The text is just text distorted using an envelope distort (with mesh).

Nick

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