How to save an icon as a bitmap file in illustrator with transparency?

[joanna@milkbardesign.com]

Hello I need help,

I don't normally work with bitmap files however I find myself in need to save out a set of icons in this particular format for a client to use with their own software on a pc. this software can only import/use .bmp files.

In my export options .bmp is an option but I am unable to save it out with a transparent background which is a big issue. The result is an icon with white background and I need it to be transparent.

I tried pasting these icons to photoshop but I only is a portable bitmap format in the "save as" menu which I don't think will work as it creates a .PMP file and I don't think it will work with client's software. I am on a mac, with illustrator CC as well as photoshop.

I would very much appreciate help with this, I have been trying to figure this out for 2 hours now. Thank you in advance.

[jdanek]

Try File > Export > BMP > Windows.  If they are Black and White, use Bitmap.  If they are color, use 24-bit RGB.

[joanna@milkbardesign.com]

Thanks jdanek unfortunately there there is a white background with this method. Basically these icons are of different colors and will be placed on solid color background, in some cases dark gray in some cases black - if there is white fill around the icon it will show on those type of backgrounds.

So by transparency I mean no background.

[jdanek]

Why transparent?  BMP does not support transparency.

[stylish_Flair01AC]

BMP files don't support transparency but bitmap ICO files do.  On Windows the OS uses ICO extension files to render icons for the user interface.  There is a plug-in for Photoshop that does this very well but you will have to do a web search for it.  By memory I think it is called TeleStream but I am not entirely sure.  And you have to get the 64-bit plug in for 64-bit Photoshop.  I am not sure if there is a plug-in for Illustrator but there just might be.

[sishamIAGD]

When I have created bitmap icons in the past (used to work for a software company) I used to create them with either a icon creator tool (Axialis) or directly in photoshop.

For color depths 24 BPP or less, the transparency is coded by using a fixed color. Each pixel that have this exact color will be converted as transparent when the image is loaded in the toolbar. Usually, the color used is green RGB(0,255,0) or magenta RGB(255,0,255). The problem of this method is that if you use a pixel of that color in your icon image (not the background), it will be converted as transparent. The other issue is the poor quality of the borders (around the icons) because it does not permit smooth transparency. In other words, a pixel is either 100% transparent or 100% opaque, there is no variable transparency. It results in "aliasing" on borders for icons with rounded shapes.

This is an old technique so you will struggle to get the desired results but worth you having a look for "creating bmp icons with transparency" online.

[Larry G. Schneider]

Look online for an ICO generator program. Here's a free one I used

ConvertICO.com - Convert PNG to ICO and ICO to PNG

[joanna@milkbardesign.com]

Thank you everyone, I ended up providing gifs turned out client can work with those too. I will still try all of your suggestions. Much appreciated.

[supmafakas]

jdanek's suggestion exporting image file to bmp worked. Thanks!

[TheOgBroski]

I had a problem where I was trying to export an Illustrator document with a transparent background, typically I tried to export as a PNG but there was a considerable loss of quality and pixelation when zooming in. Even as a JPG or GIF format there was quality loss. I found that exporting as a BMP gave me the quality I wanted but unable to have a transparent background,

I initially tried to fix this by using Photoshop and the magic/quick select tool to highlight and remove the background. However, due to the image not having complete lines and white colours involved this was near impossible without some lengthy amount of time and effort.

I finally resolved this by opening the Illustrator document file in Photoshop and exporting the image that way, Even as PNG the quality is exactly as i wanted. Dunno how or why, but