Expert: Kevin Stohlmeyer - 4/29/2010

Question
QUESTION: I have our logo in AI.  I usually work in InDesign (and am a beginner at that as well!)I need to use the logo on different color backgrounds and want the background to show through the letters. I have read "jennifer's answer to this, and it seems to be "save for web and devices".  That worked well, but I need to have high resolution logos for printing.  Is there another way?

ANSWER: Hi Janelle,

Without seeing how the logo looks now, this is really hard to answer. Normally in Illustrator if there is no image behind your logo, it will automatically be transparent when you save out as either an .ai or .eps. Say you have letters created in Illustrator with a small box behind them, as long as you don't put a white background behind that logo, everything around it is transparent. If you are trying to create a cut out where the letters are transparent inside a shape, let me know and I can walk you through how to create that.

Also, if you can attach a sample of the logo with your response, that would be the best.

You are right that Save for Web is not the solution, that is intended for lo-res web images only.

Thanks

Kevin


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Kevin, I have attached the logo.  My goal is to be able to change the color and resize to what ever I need at the time.  I guess my problem occurs when I try to save it as a jpeg for use in different applications. Should I be saving it as something else in order to keep the background transparent?

Thank you for your time!

Cheers!

(I was going to attach an .ai, but I see I can only attach .gif, jpg to .png.  I will try png.).....Wow!  I had never saved as .png, and that allowed it to have a transparent background.  Is that the answer?
Also, is it correct that once it is a png, you no longer can change the color?

Answer
Hi Janelle,

When you export out of AI, save it as a PNG graphic. That will maintain your transparency. You are correct that PNG is a flattened graphic and you cannot edit it in AI. I always keep my original file to edit those components and then re-export out.

Kevin