6 Replies Latest reply: Oct 21, 2010 3:48 PM by Wade_Zimmerman RSS

    Transparency not working in Illustrator

    Arrow'd Community Member

      I'm running CS4 on my Mac (10.6.4) and hit a snag with a logo.

       

      The logo consists of a heavy text with a Photoshop texture as the fill. The texture is augmented with vector elements from Illustrator, then exported out as an EPS to be placed in InDesign and other applications.

       

      The texture contains a clipping path, and though the entire image area can be seen in keyline while in Illustrator, the area outside of the texture is still transparent.

       

      Once the EPS is exported, then placed in another app (or opened in Photoshop) the white box of nothingness shows up around the texture.

       

      Here's what I've tried so far:

      • Saved the texture as a clipped EPS—White box
      • Saved the texure as a free floating PSD (texture only, the rest transparent)—White box
      • Saved the texture as a clipped TIFF—White box
      • Added a clipping mask in Illustrator—White box
      • Exported the AI logo as an EPS—White box
      • Exported the AI logo as a PDF—Works but the file size is 66% larger (goes from 12mb to 18mb)
      • Place the AI logo file into a test document—Works sort of, the logo comes in but the frame around it is larger than any of the other formats and the logo isn't centered

      The last two export formats aren't really an option since the logo must be functional not only to designers, who tend to

      know what they're doing with logos, but also to "that guy" who just wants to drop it into a Powerpoint presentation.

       

      Am I missing something here?

        • 1. Re: Transparency not working in Illustrator
          rcraighead Community Member

          I would recommend placing a native .ai file. InDesign and Photoshop read an AI file and it will be much smaller.

           

          Are you saving the EPS with "transparent" TIFF preview option turned on?

          • 2. Re: Transparency not working in Illustrator
            Arrow'd Community Member

            I tested placing the ai file itself but didn't like the extra space the frame occupied.

            Additionally, the logo must work in MS Word docs, Powerpoint slides, and the occasional Excel worksheet, none of which plays nice with ai format.

             

            Yes I tried the transparent TIFF preview.

            • 3. Re: Transparency not working in Illustrator
              Mylenium CommunityMVP
              Additionally, the logo must work in MS Word docs, Powerpoint slides, and the occasional Excel worksheet

               

              Then use PNG or WMF files! You are going about this completely the wrong way with your current choice of format. Everything else is bound to end in failure. Office apps just are not layout tools and their choice of supported formats is severely limited... And as for ID - well, just use native AIs as already mentioned. You are using an equalyl unsuitable workflow there. Can't even remeber the lastr tiem I used a clipping path and EPS...

               

              Mylenium

              • 4. Re: Transparency not working in Illustrator
                Wade_Zimmerman Community Member

                Arrow'd wrote:

                 

                I tested placing the ai file itself but didn't like the extra space the frame occupied.

                Additionally, the logo must work in MS Word docs, Powerpoint slides, and the occasional Excel worksheet, none of which plays nice with ai format.

                 

                Yes I tried the transparent TIFF preview.

                Nonsense ai files play fine with MS word Excel and power point and I would say are the format of choice. EPS would not be the desirable format choice to use.

                 

                Here see for yourself…get t see for yourself?!

                 

                Screen shot 2010-10-20 at 6.55.18 AM.png

                 

                Screen shot 2010-10-20 at 6.56.33 AM.png

                word

                Screen shot 2010-10-20 at 6.59.30 AM.png

                recolored in word

                Screen shot 2010-10-20 at 6.59.39 AM.png

                 

                I should have made this more apparent that it overlays another shape very well in word.

                 

                This one is better (edited)

                 

                Screen shot 2010-10-20 at 7.05.50 AM.png

                 

                What i am trying to say is seeing is believing…

                • 5. Re: Transparency not working in Illustrator
                  Arrow'd Community Member

                  OK, here's the deal.

                  Placing the logo as an ai file is the way to go.

                  It turns out the uninitiated users in other departments aren't trying to place the logos in their documents, they are trying to open them so they can copy and paste them into their documents, worksheets and powerpoint slides (just proves the point that you can never "idiot-proof" anything).

                   

                  So I just need to distribute the logos as needed then give a class on how not to place logos in one's documents.

                   

                  And as it turns out there was a drop shadow applied in the ai file that wouldn't play nice with the placed photoshop texture, so when the logo was saved as an EPS it generated the white rectangle. Turn off the drop shadow and —presto— there's no white rectangle even though nothing else changed.

                   

                  Thanks everyone.

                  • 6. Re: Transparency not working in Illustrator
                    Wade_Zimmerman Community Member

                    I think we are all pleased we were able to help and it is working for you.

                     

                    You might mark the other user here as helpful.

                     

                    Thank you for marking the thread it is an important issue and your own experience with the shadow is very very helpful.