From rasterized, back to vector?

[Tracy_DuBosar@adobeforums.com]

I'm working on a 4-C layout project in Quark. The pages I'm working on have a color in the background (grey). I have two .eps logos and a man's signature saved as a .jpg to use in the document. However, the .eps images have been rasterized somewhere along the line and therefore have a white background. In Illustrator, no individual lines can be selected, only the entire image itself (as if I were working in Photoshop). And of course, the .jpg is the same way. So, when I put the images into Quark, they have a white background when I need them to have a transparent background.

Is there a way for me to drop the background of these images in Illustrator and resave them as vector art (.eps files)? Can I convert them to paths somehow? I'm new to Illustrator and have been racking my brain trying to figure out how or even if I can do this.

I'm very familiar with Photoshop, so I went in and changed the background to the same Pantone color that i'm using in the Quark document, but they are not matching up and I'm assuming they never will. Am I correct?

Thanks in advance for any help you can give me.....

[LenHewitt@adobeforums.com]

Tracy,

In Photoshop select Help>Export transparent Image>for print. That will
create a clipping path for you in the EPS, which will then place with a
transparent b/ground. If you have Illustrator 9 or later, you could just
place a transparent b/g .PSD file directly.

There is no 'easy way' to create an vector version of your signature -
probably the easiest would be to select the signature in Photoshop, then
from the Paths palette create a work-path, save it and then use export paths
to Illustrator. It will inevitably require some cleaning up in Illustrator,
however, and with a signature that may or may not be acceptable.

[Tracy_DuBosar@adobeforums.com]

Thank you for your help.

"If you have Illustrator 9 or later, you could just
place a transparent b/g .PSD file directly."

I do. How would I do this and what file format would I use to make the background stay transparent in a program like Quark?

[LenHewitt@adobeforums.com]

>>How would I do this <<

File>Place

>>what file format would I use to make the background stay transparent in a

program like Quark?<<

Depends upon WHAT program LIKE QXP <g> InDesign will also retain
transparency in PSD's as an example. However, if you actually mean Quark,
then you would be better to stick with a clipped EPS.

[Tracy_DuBosar@adobeforums.com]

I meant Quark, but I was making a failed attempt at being politically correct. :o)

Thanks for your help. I'll give it a try.