clipping path/alpha channels (tiff) question

R
Posted By
robrob
May 12, 2004
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859
Replies
7
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Closed
How do I (not using quick mask mode) create a compound clipping path with the pen tool in a tiff file that knocks out the background… and loads the clipping path in InDesign. I don’t want to create a new file without a background as suggested in the quick mask mode.
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alpha channel clip path question tiff

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L
LenHewitt
May 12, 2004
Rob,

First question is why would you want to use a clipping path with ID? It will accept native PSD’s and respect transparency. By the time you’ve created the clipping path you could have delete the unwanted content.

You can create a non-contiguous selection area using the ALT (for minus selection) and Shift (for adding to selection) using any of the selection tools and convert to path, or you can just draw non-joined sub-paths with the pen tool. Just close one path and then start a new one.

Finally save your work-path as Path1 and nominate it as a clipping path from the Paths palette.
R
robrob
May 12, 2004
Len,
Thanks for the help.
To answer your question, the magazines I advertise in say that their rip software cannot accept native PSD files, even in an embedded PDF file, although they may just be used to quark. They can’t use native InDesign files either. Please advise if I’m wrong.

Also, should I be using an EPS file which accepts both vector and bitmap, so PSD doesn’t rasterize the file? Or, is the tiff file with a mask the way to go? And, how can this mask still be editable with the pen tool if I am working quickly and want to come back and tweak at a later date? Is possible?

Finally, the clipping path function in the paths palette is grayed out when I use the pen tool. Please help.
L
LenHewitt
May 13, 2004
Rob,

They can’t use native InDesign files either.<<

Luddites! <g>

Check with them re-PDF’s – They should certainly be able to use those.

should I be using an EPS file which accepts both vector and bitmap<<

Not all applications can use clipped TIFFs (Illustrator for example) and so clipped EPS’s do tend to be a little more ‘universal’.

how can this mask still be editable with the pen tool if I am working
quickly and want to come back and tweak at a later date? Is possible?<<

Sure you can. Just click on the path ‘layer’ in the paths palette and select the sub-path with the selection tool or direct-selection tool.

the clipping path function in the paths palette is grayed out when I use
the pen tool. <<

That sounds as though you are creating a shape layer rather than a path – check which option you have selected in the Options Bar. You need the middle one of the three symbols.
B
BobLevine
May 13, 2004
What version of InDesign? If you’ve got CS you can export PDFs directly using PDF X/1-a standards which any magazine should be able to accept. They are essentially Acrobat 4.0 files with all transparency flattened so there’s no worry about the transparent PSD files.

If you have ID 2.0, then you’ll need to export to press settings using Acrobat 4.0 compatibility and make sure that all the other settings are okay.

So forget the clipping paths.

Bob
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robrob
May 14, 2004
Thanks Len! I think the shape layer was the problem.

Bob, I have ID 2.0. I have our newspaper inserts exported custom press settings, Acrobat 4.0 compatible. They requested 2400dpi color bitmap images, 2400dpi grayscale bitmap images, and 1200 monochrome bitmap images, all with "bicubic downsample", "automatic" compression, and monochrome at "CCITT Group 4" which if I remember is a tiff format compression?

Why do the magazine/printer need the settings so high of a resolution? I thought 300dpi was enough for print.

Also, I took CS off of my system because it seemed buggy in Illustrator and PSD, and the password Adobe gave me was wrong for the InDesign program. I’m not sure why.
B
BobLevine
May 14, 2004
Those DPI numbers are way too high. Either you misunderstood or they’re complete morons.

Bob
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robrob
May 14, 2004
They’re complete morons. I in all my lack of knowledge and wisdom have to be the authority in this one printers case. But when a printer makes requests, I just do what they say and don’t ask questions so the job gets done.

Thanks for all the help.
Rob

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