My vector file has a dual personality
July 14, 2011 8:07 AM Subscribe
I have a logo in both .ai and .eps formats. It looks mostly right when placed into a comp, but part of it has a solid white background behind it.
However, when I directly open either of the files in Illustrator, a large portion of the image is missing. It seems like the portion that's missing may well be the section with the white background.
There's obviously some kind of issue with the file. I believe it was created several years ago, and I don't know and don't have the time to find out by whom.
If I edit and save the file, then it looks the same placed as it does directly opened.
There are quite a few other things I'd like to clean up in this file, but killing the white background is the most important. I'm currently painstakingly trying to draw a clipping mask for it, but it's not going to be 100% perfect. If anyone can give me any advice about how to deal with this file, it would be greatly appreciated.
There's obviously some kind of issue with the file. I believe it was created several years ago, and I don't know and don't have the time to find out by whom.
If I edit and save the file, then it looks the same placed as it does directly opened.
There are quite a few other things I'd like to clean up in this file, but killing the white background is the most important. I'm currently painstakingly trying to draw a clipping mask for it, but it's not going to be 100% perfect. If anyone can give me any advice about how to deal with this file, it would be greatly appreciated.
As a total shot in the dark, how about importing it into another program and then exporting it again and see if the output is any easier to work with? Scribus and Inkscape are both FOSS applications that can handle .eps IIRC.
posted by XMLicious at 8:22 AM on July 14, 2011
posted by XMLicious at 8:22 AM on July 14, 2011
Response by poster: Thanks travis - I've emailed you.
The file is also remarkably big for a vector file (5.8MB) but much smaller when I save it (800KB). Is it possible that the original author had embedded a bitmap image somehow? I'm not an Illustrator expert, but I can usually handle myself okay. This is all very confusing to me.
posted by Magnakai at 8:25 AM on July 14, 2011
The file is also remarkably big for a vector file (5.8MB) but much smaller when I save it (800KB). Is it possible that the original author had embedded a bitmap image somehow? I'm not an Illustrator expert, but I can usually handle myself okay. This is all very confusing to me.
posted by Magnakai at 8:25 AM on July 14, 2011
Response by poster: I've tried the other CS programs -
Fireworks opens the EPS file looking similar to Illustrator, but with massive, thick black lines.
Photoshop rasterizes it fine, but it's obviously not editable.
I'm downloading Inkscape now. Scribus is a layout package
I've made a rather clunky clipping mask in Illustrator to remove the background, but it's a bit of a bodged fix and leaves me feeling a bit uncomfortable. If anyone has any ideas, I'd still be eager to hear them.
posted by Magnakai at 8:40 AM on July 14, 2011
Fireworks opens the EPS file looking similar to Illustrator, but with massive, thick black lines.
Photoshop rasterizes it fine, but it's obviously not editable.
I'm downloading Inkscape now. Scribus is a layout package
I've made a rather clunky clipping mask in Illustrator to remove the background, but it's a bit of a bodged fix and leaves me feeling a bit uncomfortable. If anyone has any ideas, I'd still be eager to hear them.
posted by Magnakai at 8:40 AM on July 14, 2011
Response by poster: Travis managed to open it fine in CS3. My problem emerged in CS5. He then re-saved it and it's now fine. There's obviously a strange version issue here.
Anyway, many thanks and a big round of applause to Travis for being so damn helpful!
posted by Magnakai at 8:52 AM on July 14, 2011
Anyway, many thanks and a big round of applause to Travis for being so damn helpful!
posted by Magnakai at 8:52 AM on July 14, 2011
This is a pretty common issue when effects such as dropshadow are used. Is the file 100% flattened vectors, or are there other things going on as well?
posted by lekvar at 12:12 PM on July 14, 2011
posted by lekvar at 12:12 PM on July 14, 2011
Response by poster: Lekvar, that sounds pretty much the case. There's a circle with a sort of effect on the stroke, which appears to be a bitmap image embedded in there. I'd love to confidently replace it, but my current fiddling has not be successful.
So, piggyback question: if anyone can figure out how to make a vector version of this, I would be very happy: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/824493/circle.jpg
posted by Magnakai at 11:31 PM on July 15, 2011
So, piggyback question: if anyone can figure out how to make a vector version of this, I would be very happy: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/824493/circle.jpg
posted by Magnakai at 11:31 PM on July 15, 2011
It shouldn't be too hard to recreate that with the gradient tool and some elbow grease. The gradient tool will let you create off-center gradients, and it's commonly used for "lozenge" logos.
posted by lekvar at 11:14 PM on July 16, 2011
posted by lekvar at 11:14 PM on July 16, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by travis08 at 8:15 AM on July 14, 2011