Making a transparent background

[krazyknuck]

Hi,

New to using Illustrator (ver. 10) and have a .ai file that has a white background. Would like to change this to a transpartent background. Image also includes text. Image will be used for print so need to keep resolution at 300 and color CMYK.

Thanks!!!

 

[Eggles]

Your question implies that the AI file contains a raster image (e.g. from Photoshop) as well as text (created in AI?). Is this the case? Will this combination image be placed in a layout program prior to printing?

 

[krazyknuck]

I'm not sure. I didn't design the image (which is a logo) I just need to make the background transparent to add it to a business card template. From there the printer will handle it.

 

[Eggles]

If the logo contains a raster image from which you want to remove the background, it will have to be taken back into Photoshop so you can create a clipping path. A clipping path is created between the subject in the image and the background, and if this is then imported into a layout program (Pagemaker, Quark, InDesign), the background becomes transparent. I don't think it is possible to create a clipping path to remove the background in AI.

Can you separate the raster image from the text, which has presumably been added in AI? Are they on separate layers? See these tutorials for info on clipping paths:

http://graphicssoft.about.com/library/extra/blrbps_4abfly.htm

and

http://www.sketchpad.net/paths3.htm

Is the template you are using in AI?