Transparency gradient

[Newstrator]

Hi, I have Illustrator 8.

What I'd like to know is this: I'd like to make a rasterized jpeg solid on one edge, transforming to transparent on the other, allowing the color I've applied in the background of the page to show through.

Forgive me if this is in any way a ridiculous question; I am definitely not trained in Illustrator, nor could I find my answer in Help.

Thanks a lot for your assistance.

Newstrator

 

[Newstrator]

By the way, I'm using Windows, not Mac.....

Thanks.

 

[jimoblak]

If this is for a web page, JPG format does not support transparency, regardless of Mac or Windows. You would need to design the background color of your page within Illustrator, overlay the transparent gradient, and export that flattened artwork as JPG.

 

[Newstrator]

No, this isn't for export to a webpage, so could you give me step by step instructions?

Thanks!

 

[jimoblak]

Sorry - I was thinking that you were expecting a JPG with transparency as output. Instead of using JPG as the placed image format, open the image file in Photoshop, apply the gradient transparency and save as a PSD file. Illustrator will respect the transparency with a placed PSD file.

 

[Newstrator]

My turn to apologize. I didn't mention that I don't have Photoshop. Sorry.

 

[itchybug]

Newstrator:

All bets are off, Illustrator 8 does not support transparency. You will either have to download a trial version of either PS or Illustrator, or buy an upgrade.

As to the original question, in a newer version of Illustrator you could do this easily by using an opacity mask.

Bert

http://www.itchybug.com

 

[Newstrator]

Thank you very much for the help. Guess it's time to shop some programs....

 

[jimoblak]

You can do this without shopping. GIMP.org (free) can save PSD files with transparency. Then place that transparent PSD file in your current version of Illustrator.

 

[Newstrator]

Thanks! I downloaded it.

Do you know it well? It looks like my learning curve will be longer than the time I have today. Could you give me a tutorial on editing a jpeg using transparency?

Newstrator

 

[jimoblak]

http://library.n0i.net/linux-unix/a...ach yourself gimp in 24 hours/ch10/10-02.html

...then save your image as PSD format and place in Illustrator.

 

[Newstrator]

Thanks a lot! I used the help link you gave me. While it seemed to be slightly off from the version of Gimp I downloaded, it definitely got me going on the right track. I ended up using a "Hard Light" gradient to get the effect I wanted. Thanks again everyone.

Newstrator

 

[eclo]

Try .tif which support transparent background.

 

[eclo]

Sorry, I mean .gif

 

[jimoblak]

Actually, you had it right at first. Newer versions of the TIF format support 8 bit transparency needed for a gradient fade. GIF only supports 1-bit transparency - so there is no gradient or steps of transparency: its opacity for any given pixel is either on or off.