Try setting the blend mode of that layer to multiply. This is assuming what you want to keep is not white or near to white.
Can Bitmap images be put into layers? Sorry, but I have only just bought this programme, and I don’t even know how to separate things into layes. At the moment, ,all is "background".
Thanks, Rachel
For InDesign you just need to make the white (paper) area transparent.
Just select the Background Eraser Tool from the Toolbox and click on the white.
If you want to keep the original, "Save as…" under a new name.
Here’s what I do…Convert it to CMYK….Ctrl-click on the Black Channel to make a selection. Inverse the selection (Shift-Ctrl-I). On a new transparent layer fill the selection with black. Trash the original layer.
Don’t think it’s possible to convert a bitmap to CMYK (?) That option is greyed out when I go to "Image", "mode". Is that normal?
Thanks, Rachel
You said they were TIFFs!
I do this all the time with my scanned drawings.
OK..using Photoshop????
Set up the drawing as a RGB ( you can go back to CMYK later if need)
Control a (select the whole image) Control shift c
Open up the channel tab
Create new channel
control v Control Shift i (to invert it)
Back to the layer tab
Create a new layer
Click the select text on the toolbar and choose ‘load selection’
Make sure the channel in the ‘load selection box’ is set to alpha1 ( whatever the newly created alpha channel is called )
Press OK and you should have the drawing as a selection outline ( sorry don’t know the correct term )
Simply fill it with the paint bucket tool as a black or a colour in the newly created layer……
I hope that makes sense…..and helps you out.
Chris
To convert to CMYK go through Grayscale first. I am assuming offset printing (InDesign) so CMYK is a good option. It’s a black and whiet image after all.
You probably don’t want to keep it in Bitmap because it would be rather jaggy usually. If for some reason you must leave it Bitmap, I think your solution is to be found in InDesign, not Photoshop. Bitmap Mode doesn’t support transparency.
You can set the transparency or color of a picture box in ID….isn’t a Bitmap graphic already transparent by default? Look at the Swatches palette.
Back to Chris’s idea. It works but it’s quite the long way around the barn. If you do it in RGB, just use the composite (RGB) channel in lieu of the Black channel.
Hey guys,
The OP sounds like a new user, so it may not be wise to assume that she meant bitmap mode. When she could just be calling the image a bitmap. Since this is a tiff image she could be receiving the image already as a cmyk which would also explain why it is greyed out.
However the longer route is quite short as it takes around 7 seconds to do.
🙂
When you know what you’re doing.
I always post the simplest solution first, on the assumption that the person asking the question is not too familiar with Photoshop.
As we always say, "There are always at least three ways to do anything in Photoshop".
Actually, now that I reread the original post, I realize all Rach needs to do is place the image in InDesign and change its blend mode to Multiply there.
"all Rach needs to do is place the image in InDesign and change its blend mode to Multiply there."
This will work just fine if the "white" area is truly R255, G255, B255.
If it’s not, any residual color will multiply with the BG color and appear to define the rectangular bounding area.
So if going that route, Rach needs to make sure that the white is, indeed, white.
Hi all,
It’s probably best just to assume I don’t know what I’m doing! This is a drawing I simply had scanned onto computer, and I asked the person doing it to save it as a Tiff file. When I open it up in photoshop and go to "Image">"mode", there is a tick next to Bitmap, greyscale is not ticked (but in black), whilst everything else is greyed out and not an option. If I try to use the background eraser, I simply get the message; "Background eraser doesn’t work with Bitmap image".
Chris, I tried to use your method and got as far as "create a new layer", but I don’t know where the "select" text on the toolbar can be found, or the "load selection". Sorry, please could you just tell me where these buttons are then I can progress from there (or try to!) and also think about the other options people have suggested. Thank you everyone.
Rachel
Rach,
Forget about the Background eraser. Bitmap mode doesn’t support transparency. So either convert to Grayscale, RGB, or CMYK or use the InDesign option already discussed here.
If the background is not white enough it can be made so using theh Levels Adjustment.
Rach, This technique really works well so bear with me. Sorry I couldn’t think what the flamin thing was called 🙂
You’ll find the ‘Select’ text next to File, Edit, Image, Layer,*Select*, Filter, Analysis…etc on the top left hand corner of the PS window….
Click ‘select’ and the options will drop down ….choose ‘load selection’ which is the second from last option..
I’ll tune in for a while in case you need more help.
Chris
Rach, have you tried just placing the image in InDesign as-is yet? If not, try it. If you see the white background, with the image selected, open InDesign’s Transparency panel and set the blend mode to Multiply or Darken. The white will become transparent.
Hi,
Thanks: I’ve tried both methods recently. Chris: thanks for your help but I’m now stuck on the "paint bucket tool" bit. Where do I find that? (Thanks for your patience!). John: The method works great (!) except I should have mentioned that i need some areas on the image (i.e. a persons face) to remain white and NOT transparent (because I am placing the image on a coloured background in Indesign).Only the persons face is in the coloured area,which I need to remain white. Is there some way I can leave select areas white and unaffected by the transparency?
Many thanks!
Rachel
Hi Rach,
Once you had loaded the selection you will see the selection outline ( the moving dashes ( marching ants I think it used to be called )). Simply click the painting bucket on the side tool bar, about half way down, or press ‘g’ – this also doubles up as the gradient fill so if you have that setting enabled you can either ‘click and hold’ the icon to show you the two options or press ‘Shift g’ which toggles between the two tools.
Once you have the paint bucket, click over the selection and it will fill it.,…after which press ‘Control d’ to deselect the selection and you new layer with the drawing will be revealed….(making sure you click the ‘eye’ on the original image to make it invisible)
Also, if you want some areas of the face white you can put another layer under the newly created drawing and draw the white in with the brush tool.
Hope this helps.
Chris
Hi,
Thanks Chris: New problem. Your method had worked before, but usually when I get as far as "Control shift i", i get the warning "no pixels were selelcted", and then it doesn’t work (don’t know why it worked on another ocassion). What do I do? Thanks, Rachel
Maybe make sure the the alpha channel is selected/highlighted when you try the ‘Control Shift i’. Hope that helps.
