Expert: Bob - 9/5/2006

Question
Bob,

I am working with a client on a brochure for a condominium offering. They would like me to include 3 renderings of the interior layout in the brochure. The example they have and want to copy has images of the room layouts, about 3 x 3 inches, with the backgrounds transparent so the gradient on the brochure page shows through.

They seem puzzled why I need to talk to the engineering company about providing the images - I don't know what program they are using and this is one of my questions.

Can I take their line drawing as a tiff file into Photoshop or Illustrator and make the white background of this image transparent? I am working in CS, using INDesign for the layout.

What do you suggest in this situation? I have seen some other questions about this in the forum, but they seemed more complicated then mine. I'll be contacting the architect/engineer today, but don't want to sound like an idiot in front of the client.

Thank you -
Dowgirl

Answer
Hi --
I am having trouble seeing this as an AutoCAD question, rather than as a question about graphic design, which is another field. (Although used in Architecture and Interiors after the CAD work.) InDesign and the other programs are not the ones I mention as my expertise
Renderings?  It sounds like you mean "colored floor plans" -- renderings are normally 3D or elevation colored views.
I have no concept of why an engineering company does floor plans, if that is what you are saying. Normally that is an Architect.  (probably low-budget developer??)
I am surmising that they are making images of the plans for you, and you are to make the brochure.
My best suggestion is that you go to an InDesign forum, and post a question "Condo brochure: need to show floor plan tiffs with transparent background" -- or similar.  That way, you will get replies from people who have done the exact thing you need.
My guess is that this is pretty easy to do, but it is way out of what I can help better with.
Good luck, and thanks for asking me.

BOB