Expert: Amy - 12/3/2007

Question
The Logo (which is a graphic inside an oval)we use was created years ago before graphics on the computer.  I need to pull the graphic out of the white background so I don't get a white rectangle when I put it on a colored background.  I would be happy with either the whole logo or just the inside graphic.  I have illustrator and photoshop, how should I proceed?  I have looked for transparent background information without much luck.

Thank you so much!

Answer
Hi Serena.

You will have to place the logo into Illustrator, then carefully draw a path around the shape you want to extract using either the pencil tool, the pen tool, or a combination.  

The path must completely surround the shape and must be very tight and true to the image's edge. It must also be a closed path (starting point meets ending point).

Once you've done this, select the path and the image and Choose Object > Clipping Mask > Make.

You must then save the document as an EPS file and you can now place it into any layout program and it will appear to have a transparent background.

You can also create clipping paths in PhotoShop the same way and save as EPS, by the way. I just find the tools in Illustrator easier to use for detailed tracing of image edges.

Good luck!
Amy Pace