Transparent backgrounds

One of the things I am frequently asked to do is to make logos with transparent backgrounds, so that when they are placed in a DTP program (PageMaker) they do not have a white box around them, I have been using PhotoShop’s transparent export functions but inevitably this leave the image looking bitmapped, especially with text, or just plain bad. Is there anyway one can make logos with transparent backgrounds and have them look good?

The best way to do this is use Adobe Illustrator, but it can also be done in photoshop. When you create a new image select the background as transparent, create your image and save as gif. You should be alright.

If you're gonna use Photoshop and export to a raster image format then I'd suggest going with PNG-24 (assuming your DTP will not have issues with it).

PNG is far superior to GIF in many ways. PNG offers the ability to do a true transparency gradient due to it's use of an alpha channel. A GIF with transparency will either be jaggy or must use a matte color (fringe color) that matches the underlying background.

To produce a PNG file from your Photoshop work, just goto FILE / SAVE FOR WEB... then choose PNG-24 and check the transparency box, then save.

As mentioned, a vector format of the logo produced in Illustrator would probably be the most preferred method. Otherwise, I'd go with PNG w/transparency.

Surly (and anyone else who might be interested):

Read here, at Adobe's PageMaker User-to-User Forum:
PageMaker FAQ's: Imported Graphics Issues

[QUOTE=Geassel]The best way to do this is use Adobe Illustrator, but it can also be done in photoshop. When you create a new image select the background as transparent, create your image and save as gif. You should be alright.[/QUOTE]

I have been redrawing the logos in FreeHand, saving them as tif images and then opening them up in PhotoShop and using the export transparancy function. the problem is that then become bitmapped and if there are any fine lines they turn out with white around them. Wil I not have the problem of jaggy images if I create the logos in PhotoShop?

Surly...

Read at the link I've provided, and don't reply until you have done so.