Strange issue with transparency with vector effects

[GameViewPoint]

I've purchased a bunch of illustrator vector effects files from a stock image website. I want to be able to have the effects as .pngs (at a large size) so I can use them easily in photoshop, but whenever I try to get rid of the background behind the effects they appear to lose their transparancy (as you can see in the image). The only way I found to be able to keep the effects looking as they should look, is it I export as .psd file, but then you end up with a folder in photoship with hundreds of subfolders and even my new Mac Mini has issues with just moving the effect across the screen. If I could just flatten the vector effect as a .png file I could manipulate it in photoship no problem, but I've not found anyway to do that. Any ideas? I feel like I'm missing something obvious.

[Monika Gause]

Please find an explantion here: https://youtu.be/Tiqm5hdQA5A

In order to solve this you could try and: delete that background checkerboard.

Then export it as a PNG-24 with transparency and import into Photoshop. In the layer panel apply the layer blend mode "Screen" or "Overlay" to it.

[GameViewPoint]

The video is interesting, but she basically say's that there's not much you can do with those affects outside of illustrator. I tried what you descirbed but it didn't work. I still think there must be some way to have these effects as .pngs.

[Danny Whitehead.]

What happens when you try what Monika suggested?

The problem is that most stock vector graphics of this style, seem to rely on blending modes more than might be necessary. Usually it's gradients to black, when a gradient to 0% opacity of the main colour would have done the job and been more versatile.

[Monika Gause]

Why do you think that there *must* be?

It should work to just apply the blend mode to the layer in Photoshop, but due to the nature of these artworks they are usually only for Illustrator.

This is mainly because most clipart companies insist on using the completely outdated EPS. On top of that for reasons that are completely beyond me they also insist in using the Illustrator 10 file format, which is equally outdated. They claim that this is for compatiblity resons, which is bs, because Illustrator 10 is incompatible with all modern operating systems. You can use these cliparts in no other graphics application than Illustrator, because in the EPS part of the file the artwork is flattened and the editable part can only be opened by Illustrator. And CorelDRAW of course, but CorelDRAW would be able to open Illustrator CC files just fine.

So you might want to complain to whatever stock comapny sold you this unusable artwork.

[GameViewPoint]

That's strange that the files are like that. You can have the effect in photoshop if you export it as a photoshop file. So I'm going to see what I can do to make that file more manageable inside photoshop, by having less elements either in photoshop of first within illustrator. It's not the ideal solution but it's something.

[GameViewPoint]

Also you mentioned the company that I bought these images from. Do you know of any stock effect companies that I can get these kinds of effects from that don't have this issue?

[Monika Gause]

Adobe Stock doesn't insist on EPS 10. But in the end that doesn't mean anything. You still don't know what you get, because people make these images in the way they choose to. And many people market their images through different stock companies, so they prepare them for what is most widely accepted.

And as I already wrote: eport the whole thing as a transparent PNG-24 and then applying the blend mode "Screen" or "Overlay" to its layer doesn't do anything? Of course you need a layer below that. Can you please finally test that?

[GameViewPoint]

I did test that 🙂 As soon as you turn off the checkered background in illustrator, the effects mess up and it doesn't matter what you do after that point. Exporting as a .png or not. But I tested it anyway and of course it didn't work.

That's why exporting as a .psd file (with layers intact) does work, because you are bringing everything into photoshop, including the checkered background, and then inside photoshop you can turn off that background and replace it whatever background you want and the effects look fine. (It's essentially the reverse of just loading in a new background into Illusttrator, behind the vector effects). The only issues is that Photoshop doesn't handle the large amount of folders and subfolders well. So I'll have to work inside illustrator as much as possible and then move to photoshop when I need too.

I saw some files on the Adobe Stock, but they had the checkered background and like you say I don't want to get them and they have the same issue anyway.

[Monika Gause]

WHen using it in Photoshop did you apply the blend mode to the layer?

[GameViewPoint]

Please see attached screen shot from inside photoshop. You can see the .png and the green background beyond it, and also that it doesn't make any difference. The .png looks all wrong. Like I say as soon as you turn the checkered background off wihin illustrator it messes up the effect.

[Monika Gause]

OK, thanks.

So you want to overlay this over other images in Photoshop? Can't you import them into Illustrator?

BTW: if you don't like how this works, complain to the clipart companies. Without anyone complaining they won't feel a need to change their file requirements.

[GameViewPoint]

Below is a screenshot of one of the effects converted to .psd. As you can see it looks fine, but when you try and move it (drag it), there's so many parts to it, my Mac Mini basically wants to crash. I presumed (hoped) you could just convert the effect in illustrator to a .png but evidently that's not possible. Flattening it inside photoshop gives you the same problems as doing it inside Illustrator.

Yeah I'll try and so what I can within illustrator and move things over to photoshop are a later stage in the process.