Transparent backgrounds on PNG's..............................................................................................................

[JBurton]

So I have a png, character on a transparent background. Is there any way to pull that transparency out to use as a cut line with little or no effort? Using corel or illy.

 

[Johnny Best]

Can't you just draw a rectangle around it and use that vector as a cut line? Post a pic please.

 

[Solventinkjet]

If it were me I would bring it into illy, copy and paste in front, live trace and play around with the settings until it looks like I want, and then expand and clean up any stray points and use the remaining vector as the cut line. But I'm sure there's an easier way to do it these days. It's been a long time since I did that every day.

 

[Notarealsignguy]

Do an auto trace in black/white, select the vector and make a boundary, delete the vector and either contour out or in for your bleed. If you want it clean, powerclip into the boundary

 

[JBurton]

I mean, I can trace them, which I started to, but my wholesale ungroup>weld>combine>break apart> repeat process has eliminated some void areas that I lazily selected. I can sure pull it off, but I figure the png transparency already exists, and while not a vector, shouldn't I be able to utilize the 'clear' pixels in some way aside from tracing the existing ones?
Laying it over a box and hitting intersect only intersects the outer picture rectangle.

 

[JBurton]

Like this guy has a ton of voids to cut out:

 

[Boudica]

I got this. Send it to me. Do you want it offset, or cut to the color?

 

[Johnny Best]

"She's got it, yea baby she's got it, I'm your Venus"

 

[brycesteiner]

Our Flexi software honors a PNG transparency and can cut to it. Is that what you are refering to?

 

[Ronny Axelsson]

Here's one thing you can try if you have Corel PhotoPaint and Draw:

Open your PNG in PhotoPaint, it should come in as an object on a checkered background.
Make sure the object is selected, then go to Mask > Create > Mask from Object (Ctrl+M).
Next step, Mask > Create > Path from Mask.
Open the Paths docker and select your path.
Click the gear wheel icon in the docker and choose Export Path...
Looks like AI doesn't work so I suggest you use CMX instead.
You should now be able to open/import both the PNG and CMX in Draw.

 

[Ronny Axelsson]

Here's another thing you can try:

Bring your PNG into Draw. I suggest you duplicate it ("+" on numeric keypad) to keep the original underneath in place.
Open Image Adjustment Lab and move the Contrast slider all the way to the right, and the Brightness slider to the left.
This should create an image that is black and white, and more suitable for tracing.
Delete the black and white image and use the original PNG as a template to fine tune your vector path(s).

 

[MDKAOD]

lol fnaf

Open the PNG in photoshop, magic wand the transparent area, invert the selection, select 'make work path' in the Path panel. File > Export > Export paths to illustrator

 

[caribmike]

If it were me I would bring it into illy, copy and paste in front, live trace and play around with the settings until it looks like I want, and then expand and clean up any stray points and use the remaining vector as the cut line. But I'm sure there's an easier way to do it these days. It's been a long time since I did that every day.

What is "illy" is that short for Illustrator?

 

[Stacey K]

Our Flexi software honors a PNG transparency and can cut to it. Is that what you are refering to?

Agree...this seems very easy to me LOL Must be more to the story....

 

[Solventinkjet]

What is "illy" is that short for Illustrator?

Agree...this seems very easy to me LOL Must be more to the story....

It's ONE thing I like abut Flexi

 

[JBurton]

Our Flexi software honors a PNG transparency and can cut to it. Is that what you are refering to?

Really? That's like the only thing I've heard it does better than corel and illustrator.

Agree...this seems very easy to me LOL Must be more to the story....

Nope, simply didn't realize Flexi had a real use! That and area tools I guess...

 

[Johnny Best]

I would use the mask in Photoshop to take background out save as a .psd and then place into "Illy" to make the vector for cutout.

 

[JBurton]

I would use the mask in Photoshop to take background out save as a .psd and then place into "Illy" to make the vector for cutout.

I actually don't have 'shop*.
*photoshop for those with a need to say lot words when few word do trick.

 

[Boudica]

I sent Burton two versions - a path made with photoshop, and a path made with illustrator.

 

[Johnny Best]

Did he pay you?