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Gustavo S.
Gustavo S.
Known Participant
March 18, 2011
Answered

Photoshop to Illustrator: background not transparent

  • March 18, 2011
  • 7 replies
  • 93566 views

Hello everyone,

Can someone tell me why this happens and how to fix or get around or tell me the proper method?  When transferring from Photoshop to Illustrator by copy/paste or directly dragging an image, object, etc., the background in not transparent.  My workaround is to save as .psd and place in Illustrator, which is a pain.  I thought there was "seamless" integration.

Thanks a bunch,

Gustavo

Santa Fe, NM

Owl Design Studios

      This topic has been closed for replies.
      Correct answer WildThing42

      Save the layer your trying to transfer to a "library" you can open the same library on AI and drop it, it stays transparent. 

       

      7 replies

      W
      WildThing42Correct answer
      New Participant
      November 18, 2022

      Save the layer your trying to transfer to a "library" you can open the same library on AI and drop it, it stays transparent. 

       

        K
        Katherine28174256ule6
        New Participant
        January 30, 2023

        Thank you! This was the only thing that worked for me!

         

        V
        vincewilcox
        New Participant
        October 24, 2022

        Adding on to this for anyone Illustrator 27.0 aka 2023, macOS 12.6 Monterey:

         

        I tried placing .psd, .png, added a Layer 0 of transparency so the .psd had 2 layers (even though you should never have to do this)—none of this solved my issue.

         

        MY SOLUTION:

        Window > Transparency > Opacity & Mask Define Knockout Shape (check it)

        AND 

        Illustrator > Preferences > Performance > GPU Performance (check it—I turn mine off for battery life).

         

        I feel I've never had to check the knockout group setting in Transparency window until the recent update of Adobe 27.0.

          Monika Gause
          Monika Gause
          Community Expert
          October 25, 2022
          quote

          Adding on to this for anyone Illustrator 27.0 aka 2023, macOS 12.6 Monterey:


          By @vincewilcox

           

          This thread started in 2011 and probably discusses several problems.

           

          Have you tried just turning off the GPU acceleration without the knockout setting? The knockout setting is made for knockout groups. And if you want your post to be just slightly helpful, please upload a demo PSD file.

           

          This is what the knockout setting does:

          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IG1lcZqhwoY

          V
          vincewilcox
          New Participant
          October 25, 2022

          The knockout setting was unchecked by default; so yes I have tried with GPU acceleration off and without knockout setting—see screenshot.

           

          Upon further testing, a new document works as expected: GPU off, knockout settings unchecked, transparency from dragged or placed files shows transparency as expected.

           

          Looks to be my file that is having the issue.

          Mohit Goyal
          Community Manager
          Mohit GoyalCommunity Manager
          Community Manager
          May 27, 2022

          Hi all,

           

          Take a look at the following article to move designs between Photoshop and Illustrator for a different workflow that suits your design objectives: https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/using/move-designs-between-photoshop-illustrator.html

           

          Also, if you are looking to work with Illustrator design in Photoshop? See this: https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/using/use-illustrator-artwork-in-photoshop.html

           

          Hope it helps.

          Thanks,

          Mohit

          E
          Earl_of_Philomath
          New Participant
          May 2, 2015

          I am currently trying to create an .svg using Photoshop .psd file (with layers in tact).  I'm new to these products so it may be obvious to others that the above intention was to eventually place the .svg in some sort of website creation software such as Muse.  Which is precisely what I am attempting. However, I am getting a white background once I place or copy and paste into Muse.  My starting .psd has a transparent background without any hidden layers causing this problem.  To test this I placed the .psd file into Muse and it still has a transparent background.  However when opening or placing this file into illustrator, it picks up a white background. If I do exactly as described above, I still get the same result.  So far I have tried:

          1) Simple copy and paste from Photoshop .svg to illustrator to Muse.  Result - white background.

          2) Placing the .psd in illustrator, then placing the .svg file in muse.  Result - white background.

          4) I have also tried the every combination of 1 and 2. - Result - white background.

          3) I have now created a path in Photoshop from the text layer to yet again attempt the above methods.  Result - white background.

          I'm including an image of the object I am trying to place with transparent background, but I have both a flattened rasterized version, a version complete with layers and a third (.svg) with the corresponding objects.  I am completely new to Illustrator as of today so any help would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks.

          Link to .psd file "Welcome text"

            J
            Jutas™
            New Participant
            October 22, 2014

            No one is really answering your question really here, they just jumping it.

              Mike_Gondek10189183
              Mike_Gondek10189183
              Community Expert
              October 23, 2014

              Everyone, previous to your response, has contributed to answering this question.

              Mike_Gondek10189183
              Mike_Gondek10189183
              Community Expert
              March 18, 2011

              Your original workaround of placing .psd files is the way to work. If you work with hi res images, then you want to link to the files, so that your computer does not slow down. You also have better control over color profiles that way, so each printer can swap in their profiles, for each time you use that image.

              _scott__
              _scott__
              Brainiac
              March 18, 2011

              Drag and drop from the document window in Photoshop to Illustrator always works for me.

              I'd consider using the Place command seamless integration as well.

              Gustavo S.
              Gustavo S.Author
              Known Participant
              March 18, 2011

              But do you get a transparent object?  Is the object on a flatten, transparent layer while in PS?

              Larry G. Schneider
              Larry G. Schneider
              Community Expert
              March 18, 2011

              The .psd file must contain layers with the object on an upper layer and a transparent background layer. I wrong about multiple layers It can have only a single layer but that cannot be listed as a background layer nor can it be flattened.

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