Illustrator files

[Guest]

Help!

I have an Illustrator graphic I created with shadows that I need to import
into Powerpoint 2003. I saved it as a PNG file, and it looks okay on the
screen in PPT, but when I print it, the shadow doesn't print right. I used to
be able to save Illustrator files as EPS and bring them into PPT, but now all
I get is a blank picture box. Is there another way to bring a file with a
transparent background into PPT and have it print correctly?

 

[John O]

I get is a blank picture box. Is there another way to bring a file with a

transparent background into PPT and have it print correctly?

I've been doing a lot of this lately. I use Photoshop to make alpha-channel
tiffs. There's a description of this process here:
http://www.rdpslides.com/pptfaq/FAQ00190.htm

....shadows are going to be tricky. Best bet might be to make the background
a related color before moving it to the alpha channel, and use the magic
wand to select it (use the tolerance setting carefully). That might reduce
the inevitable band of white pixels around your shadow.


-John O

 

[Steve Rindsberg]

Help!

I have an Illustrator graphic I created with shadows that I need to import
into Powerpoint 2003. I saved it as a PNG file, and it looks okay on the
screen in PPT, but when I print it, the shadow doesn't print right. I used to
be able to save Illustrator files as EPS and bring them into PPT, but now all
I get is a blank picture box. Is there another way to bring a file with a
transparent background into PPT and have it print correctly?

Powerpoint can only print simple on/off transparency though it can display full
alpha transparency (this may vary depending on the printer in use ... PS or
nonPS but I'm not sure)

One possible workaround is to select the image AND everything it overlaps, then
copy them and then choose Paste, Special, as PNG.

Delete the original stuff, use the cobbled together and pasted PNG instead.
That should print correctly.

I'd try this on a COPY of your original slide. And in fact, I'd keep the
original slide handy but hidden so that if you later need to edit it, you can go
back to the original then repeat the copy/paste tango.

 

[Guest]

Unfortunately, this made a bitmapped, jagged graphic that doesn't print well
at all.
Good try though!

 

[Guest]

Unfortunately, this graphic will be going out of the country and will be used
by someone who does not know, nor have access to photoshop to do something
this complex. Thanks.

 

[John O]

Unfortunately, this graphic will be going out of the country and will be
used

by someone who does not know, nor have access to photoshop to do something
this complex. Thanks.

That's a fairly significant constraint, especially considering that some of
the high-end layout programs (InDesign, Quark) also have issues with these
sorts of files. Even in those programs, you have to do it just right to get
proper print output.

You may just need to throw this one onto a fixed background and rasterize
it.

One last thought...have you attempted to export the image as a WMF? It's
worth a try.

-John O

 

[Guest]

I tried a WMF file and it comes into PPT with a white background. I'd love to
rasterize it on a fixed background, but the person who is going to be using
it wants to put it on multiple backgrounds!

 

[John O]

I tried a WMF file and it comes into PPT with a white background. I'd love
to

rasterize it on a fixed background, but the person who is going to be using
it wants to put it on multiple backgrounds!

I have used WMFs that have no background...I think they began life as CDR
(Corel) drawings, and they worked pretty well in Ppt. How you get from here
to there is beyond me, though. All that clipping path/masking stuff just
confuses me.

Have you tried the Illustrator forum?

-John O

 

[Echo S]

Does it have to be vector? How about a PNG with a transparent background?

 

[Guest]

Steve's PNG workaround worked for me, but I would like to add - if you have a
block of transparent color with nothing behind it (i was highlighting an
empty area on a graph), you will need to create a plain white area of the
same shape as the transparent part behind the transparent part, group those
things together, and then copy and paste special to PNG.