How to fill image and have transparent edges

[Oliver30262419lyzi]

Hi all,

I have an image (attached) that is currently transparent, which I'd like to have a white background and that bit is fine to do but because the image has curved edged and is within a rectangular box when selecting it, I also get a white background outside of the curved edges and it doesn't look great on any non-white backgrounds.

Is there a way I can have the solid white background within the image (drawn lines) without any solid colour outside

thanks

[Monika Gause]

Is that a placed pixel image?

You could apply a clipping mask.

[Jacob Bugge]

Oliver,

If the raster image (presumably created in Photoshop) originally had a white background both inside and outside the frame, and if you can still go back to that, you can just delete the contiguous white background outside in Photoshop.

[Oliver30262419lyzi]

Hi, 

I have the eps and AI files, so I can edit as needed. I want to set the background white but only to the black border line, which gives the impression of being hand drawn. The issue is that when selecting the image I have a rectangular selection box and the white background fills this too

[Monika Gause]

Please show a screenshot that includes the Layers panel with everything visible in it.

Please show the outline view.

Please Show what you have tried and in which way it doesn't work (I'm not sure I understand what you are trying to do)

[Oliver30262419lyzi]

I've attached the layers and an example of the export where the white is exported outside the black border. I'd like the export just with a white background within the black border and the outside either clipped off or transparent

[Oliver30262419lyzi]

am I able to just fill this black border layer with a white background, I don't want outside the black border filled (in attached image) and then place that behind the drawing on the right? 

[Jacob Bugge]

Oliver,

As far as I can see, you have a large white rectangle or other path behind the tarot artwork consisting of black, grey, and brown, paths, the crucial one being the black outer frame, which seems to be a Compound Path.

In that case, regardless of stacking order of the tarot artwork, the way(s) with the fewest steps could be this, Smart Guides being your friends as always:

1) Deselect everything, then with the Direct Selection Tool Alt/OpionClick (hold Alt/Option and Click) exactly at the outer border of the outer frame (Smart Guides say path or anchor when you are within snapping distance, and if you succeed you can see the Anchor Points (only) round the outer border), then Ctrl/Cmd+C+F+X+B (hold Ctrl/Cmd and Click C then F then X then B); this black fill path will be invisible because it is behind everything else, but not for long;

2) Click somewhere on the white path, then Ctrl/Cmd+C+F+X+B; this ought to reveal the black path within the tarot artwork so only the outer parts of the white path are visible, but not for long;

Then either:

3A) ShiftClick first within the black background at a suitable spot without tarot artwork such as the upper part a bit within the (invisible) frame (if you succeed, you can see the Anchor Points (only) round the outer border), then within the white path, and then Ctrl/Cmd+7.

Or:

3B) ShiftClick first within the black background at a suitable spot without tarot artwork such as the upper part a bit within the (invisible) frame (if you succeed, you can see the Anchor Points (only) round the outer border), then within the white path, and in the Pathfinder panel Click Minus front/Subtract from shape area (the top left one);

This ought to give you the right apperance either way, the Clipping Mask of 3A being reversible, the Minus front being irreversible but giving you a simple white path.

I always (try to remember to) back up artwork before some crucial change, such as the Minus front before it gets beyond Undo, so if you choose 3B) you can go back and switch to 3A).

You can use the Direct Selection Tool throughout, or switch to the (normal) Selection Tool after 1).

If this fails to work, you will need to get rid of something unnesessary, which can be revealed by the screenshot Monika has asked for.

Edit: a few corredtions and additions made 4 hours later

[Oliver30262419lyzi]

thanks I'll take a look into this

[Jacob Bugge]

Oliver,

As far as I can see, the outer frame I mentioned in 1) is the Compound Path at the very top in you ... layers.png, and I believe the white background path I mentioned in 2).

Those are the two objects I suggest you work with.

I have just made a frew improvement in my previous post.