Lasso Tool not working

[karynas30433366]

i just downloaded illustrator and i have a jpeg image that was sent to me and when i try to delete the background with the lasso tool or wand tool it doesn't do anything, i made it into a vector image by image tracing but I'm not sure if that deleted the background, I'm trying to make an icon for a website, i need to know what I'm doing wrong.

[Monika Gause]

Expand the trace, then ungroup and select the background object(s) with the select tool. Then delete.

Please read the documentation.

[karynas30433366]

It worked, now that i have finished do i just need to merge it so that when i go to move it it moves altogether because now when i move it it moves that specific piece that is being touched.

[Monika Gause · Accepted solution]

How many colors are there?

You can just group it or use the pathfinder panel and "Add"

[karynas30433366]

just black and white

[Monika Gause]

Did the pathfinder work?

If it does not work, please show a screenshot.

[karynas30433366]

Yes, i wind up using image trace, expanding the picture ungrouped it deleted the background and grouped it back together just as you said, it worked perfectly. One more thing, if i make it a vector image does that also delete the background ?

[Monika Gause]

Go to View > Show transparency grid.

If everything has the checkered backgraound, then there is no background.

Then when you save a vector file format there won't be a background.