Expert: Tom Rouze - 2/21/2006

Question
Hi Tom-
Thanks for the quick response.
I tried your second idea since creating a clipping path and then knowing how to
import that to Illustrator seemed problematic.
So I went into the photoshop document that has the art I want to import into illustrator. I duplicated the layer and then selected the white area around the
graphic I wish to use in illustrator. I erased the white area out.
I then attempted to click and drag the remaining image from photoshop to illustrator. Nothing happened. So I did EDIT/COPY and went into the illustrator document and attempted to paste in there. That didn't work either.

What did i do wrong?
Thanks.
Rich




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Followup To
Question -
Hi Tom-
Here's my question:
I have an image in photoshop (CS) that I wish to import
for use into an illustrator (CS) document. The problem is, when I import the image I also import the white space around it. I'm new to illustrator and need to know how to either:
1) make the white area around the subject image become transparent, or
2) get illustrator to import just the subject image and not the white space around it.

Can you advise me how to procede?
PS- once done, how can I then creat a drop shadow in Illustrator?
Thanks.
Rich
Answer -
Hi Rich,

The white space you see is the background that you placed your image on in Photoshop.  When you bring an image into Photshop and create a new file you have the option of specifying background color (white, transparent).
There are a couple ways to make this work.  
1. Create a clipping path.  Basically this is a mask that you make to outline the area that you want to print.  In your case you are eliminating the background.
2.  Select your image (all parts you want to keep) then use the background eraser tool in the toolbar and erase the background.
3.  If you can import your original image in to Photoshop and specify transparent background.  This option is if you originally imported the file into Photoshop and haven't done too much manipulation to the file in Photoshop.
The easiest to do without seeing what your working with is option #2.  There are a few ways to select your image.  If it's a relatively simple shape without a lot of feathered edges you can use either the magic wand or magnetic lasso tools.  
If you're still stuck after this let me know and I'll give you my email and I can take a look at the image and better explain and advise.
Now for the drop shadow... What do you want to make a drop shadow of?  select what you want to make a drop shadow of then go to filter>stylize>drop shadow and make your adustments for how much and the location of the drop shadow.
I hope this helped.  

Thank you,

Tom


Answer
Hi Rich,
Just a quick thought, since I'll be in meetings the rest of today and tomorrow then a crammed weekend, I probably won't be able to get back to you until Monday, but try the second idea without duplicating the layer.  Make sure you have the original file saved somewhere then work on a copy of the original.  This way if anything happens while your working on it you can go back to where you were.  If this doesn't work I'll take a look at the file and I'll see what else we can do.
Thank you,

Tom