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Participant
December 15, 2016
Question

How do I remove black background from a vector graphic?

  • December 15, 2016
  • 4 replies
  • 14113 views

Hi I am new to Illustrator.

I have a logo for a T-Shirt, which is white but it still has a black background.

I turned it into a vector graphic but I still need this logo and only the logo without black background.

Is there any way to remove this? Can I even export a vector graphic with a transparent background?

    4 replies

    Jeff Witchel, ACI
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    April 20, 2019

    If you Expand the Image Trace object, it's easy to fix.

    1. Select the object and you'll see an Expand button in the Control panel, or in the new Properties panel.
    2. Switch to your Direct Selection tool (A), and deselect all by clicking off to the expanded object.
    3. Click on one of the shapes that's filled with the color your wish to delete.
    4. Under the Select meant, choose Same > Fill Color.
    5. Press Delete.

    If you wish to delete just a white or black background, click on just that shape with the Direct Selection tool and delete.

    Jacob Bugge
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    April 20, 2019

    PalavenLost, themcalghamdi,

    As I (mis)understand it, you (both) have an actual background object, whether vector artwork or raster image, and you can simply hide it or delete it (preferably doing it on a duplicate Layer).

    PalavenLost, for a logo you may wish to redraw rather than Image Trace.

    Participant
    April 20, 2019

    I have same problem...

    how to take this black background...

    should be like this...

    Monika Gause
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    April 20, 2019

    How did you get there?

    This doesn't look like Image Trace, but rather some clip art that you downloaded and then edited, but how? There are gradient meshes in it.

    Mike_Gondek10189183
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    December 15, 2016

    Yes illustrator by default has a transparent background. The white canvas is just there to be a less annoying view and what is preferred by most users.

    Use Shift Command D to toggle the view. The checkerboard pattern denotes what is transparent.

    If you have any more questions, can you please include a screenshot so we can better understand/decipher/discuss what you asking.