Expert: Candice Anderson - 5/4/2006

Question
I'm wondering if you can tell me if the alpha channel selection I
make in my Photoshop CS document will be saved when I export
the photo for use in Quark.  I have one image for which I created
an alpha channel and as far as I know, it was saved and exported
correctly, but I wasn't able to import it into either Quark or
InDesign.

Also, is it better to use a clipping path when exporting an image
for use in a page layout software program or is an alpha channel
better?  Which would you use and why?

I'd also like to know some tips for improving the alpha channel
creation process.   I've found masking tedious in the past and
am wondering how I can simplify it.

Thank you in advance.

Answer
Hey there,

when you save your file with either clipping path or channel, you need to save it as a .psd for a .tiff, or they won't go over. Once its over in Indesign:
go to object on the menu bar
clipping path
the first scroll down button choose either photoshop path or alpha channel.  
vola!

In quark, you have to save as an .eps (maybe .tiff too now - in quark 5 and below it woulden't let you) and then take the background off.  This is above the swatches.

I don't like alpha channels becuase sometimes they work, sometimes they don't. As tedious as it is, I like making clipping paths better.  I tried to bring in a file that had both clipping and alpha, and when I chose for the clipped path to be the alpha channel, it did not work. To me Alpha is really good for making specific edits to work in photoshop.


The only other useful way I know how do a channel, other than mask, is to just create your channel first, and then work from there.  other than that, masking is what has always been the best for me.

good luck :)
Candice