Making Transparent Images (inexperienced)

[Jean-luc]

Software used:
CorelDraw 9
Adobe Photoshop 6.0

My story:
I have a picture that was given to me in .cdr formate (CorelDraw). In CorelDraw, I changed the colors to all white and saved it as a .psd (for Aphotoshop). In Photoshop, I then made the background transparent (with the wizard that, I think, makes a clipping path or something). The image in .psd format is transparent.

My printer contact wants the image in .tif. So I saved the image as a .tif. An alert appeared at the bottom of the "save as" dialog box in Photoshop, informing me that there were certain elements of the image that could not be saved in the current file format. I did not notice this until I went back.

Opening the .tif I find a white background. I want it transparent. Is there a way to make .tif images transparent? I am still learning/messing up with Photoshop.

Thanks from a learner,
Jean-luc

[Mark (theKeeper)]

Jean-luc...

This is taken verbatum from the PS6 Help files:

"Select Save Image Pyramid to create a pyramid data structure that contains multiresolution information. The highest resolution is the image's resolution when you save it."

I personally have no use at this time for a feature like this. Therefore, all i know of it is what i've read. [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]

"The lessons to be learned, are found along the path of your journey, not at your final destination. That is only where you will rest, between lessons"

[Mark (theKeeper)]

haha no i agree with your points in your first reply Ataki. No problem here. Makes good sense really. [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img]

"The lessons to be learned, are found along the path of your journey, not at your final destination. That is only where you will rest, between lessons"

[Mark (theKeeper)]

Hi Jean-luc...

Welcome to the board, hope you get something out of it. [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img]

Ok first off... even when you do save an Alpha Channel with a tif, you will not see any obvious transparency when just viewing the image with a normal viewer program.

The alpha channel info is embedded in the file and only used by programs that can read & understand how to use it. Otherwise... it's just a normal image like any other.

Try this and see if it changes anything for you when you go to save out your Tif:

Open the EDIT menu and then the Prefs menu. In there, flip through the tabs, you'll see an option to "Save Tifs with advanced options". Make sure that is ticked ON.

See if that helps in any way. Then let us know ok.

PS: When your print house goes to print the image, their graphics software should be able to detect and use the embedded Alpha Channel info. If not, they need to get better software. [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif[/img]

[Ataki]

After thinking a few moments, I just have to write another post [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]

Jean-Luc, have you talked to your printing service about your problem? If not, ask what they have to say.

If your picture is to be used in some page layout program, they mast be able to use generic EPS file saved from CorelDraw, or Photoshop EPS file with clipping path saved with it. With FreeHand 9 and 10, TIF-file with clipping path in it may also be used.

[Ataki]

Jean-Luc, I hope that the printers RIP (the computer that does the final printing) accepts your file.

If someone is willing to hear my opinion, here it is: If you are planning to send your files to some printing service, just keep your raster images (tif or eps) clean and simple. No extra layers, channels or paths.

[Jean-luc]

Software used:
CorelDraw 9
Adobe Photoshop 6.0

My story:
I have a picture that was given to me in .cdr formate (CorelDraw). In CorelDraw, I changed the colors to all white and saved it as a .psd (for Aphotoshop). In Photoshop, I then made the background transparent (with the wizard that, I think, makes a clipping path or something). The image in .psd format is transparent.

My printer contact wants the image in .tif. So I saved the image as a .tif. An alert appeared at the bottom of the "save as" dialog box in Photoshop, informing me that there were certain elements of the image that could not be saved in the current file format. I did not notice this until I went back.

Opening the .tif I find a white background. I want it transparent. Is there a way to make .tif images transparent? I am still learning/messing up with Photoshop.

Thanks from a learner,
Jean-luc

[Lewes]

Carrying on the theme...I'm having trouble placing graphics I've saved in PS with transparent background, into Illustrator,(saved as psd or tif) They inevitably end up with a solid white retanglular background which obscures everything underneath.....has anyone experienced this with Illustrator?
........Lewes

[Ataki]

That´s just what I´m talking about. My advice is that you make a clipping path to the picture in Photoshop and save the file as Photoshop EPS. The problem with this is that you need a PostScript printer to print it correctly.

[Lewes]

Would your comment about postscript printing still apply, even after placing the PS-EPS in Illustrator, editing it with other graphics, and saving the result as an ordinary Illustrator file?.....Lewes