A Complete Guide to Illustrator Transparent Background

July 25, 2024Ashley Mae

This article covers three common ways to remove background in Illustrator.

You need to create a transparent background in Illustrator for various design purposes. For instance, when you make logos, web graphics, icons, or some overlay effects, making the background transparent is essential. That ensures your artwork can seamlessly integrate into different backgrounds or overlays without any distracting elements.

Illustrator Transparent Background

Part 1. How to Make Background Transparent in Illustrator

If you are a new Adobe Illustrator user and want to create a transparent background for later image design, ‍you can enable the Show Transparency Grid function for background removal. That helps to convert the JPG white background to an Illustrator transparent background.

Step 1:
To start with a transparent background, launch Illustrator and click the Create new button on the left panel to create a new file. You can also open an existing file through the File > Open menu.
Adobe illustrator Create New
Step 2:
The default Illustrator background is white. You should turn on the Transparency Grid function to remove the source background and transform it into transparent. Click the top View menu and then scroll down to click Show Transparency Grid. Now, you can start making your design with a transparent background.
Make White Background Transparent in illustrator

If you want to keep the transparent background after exporting, you should use a format that supports transparency, such as PNG or SVG. Also, ensure the Transparent Background is enabled.

illustrator export as

Part 2. How to Remove Background in Illustrator with Image Trace

Image Trace is a powerful tool in Illustrator that can turn JPEG, PNG, and PSD images into vector graphics. It lets you easily remove the white background in Illustrator.

Step 1.
Open the image you want to work with in Illustrator. Double-click the layer in the Layers panel to unlock it. Go to the Window menu and then select Image Trace to display the Image Trace panel.
Remove Background in illustrator With Image Trace
Step 2.
Illustrator offers several presets for different image types and desired results. You can choose a preferred option to start with. Illustrator also allows you to customize settings like Mode, Colors, Paths, and Noise to control the tracing process. Try different values to get the desired result. After that, click Expand in the Image Trace panel to convert it into vector shapes.
Step 3.
Select the unwanted background elements with the Selection Tool and then delete them.

Part 3. How to Delete Background in Illustrator Using Pen Tool

If you prefer a precise way to remove complex backgrounds in Illustrator, try using the Pen Tool. Compared with the first method, this method can output a better result. However, the background removal requires more manual effort.

Step 1.
Before you delete the background, you should create a new layer above the source image layer as a clipping mask. This ensures that all your later operations won’t affect the original artwork.
Step 2.
Locate the Pen Tool (P) from the left toolbar and choose it. Now, you need to carefully trace the outline of the main subject you want to keep. That will build a closed path.
illustrator Pen Tool
Step 3.
Select the newly created path and the image, click the Object menu, choose Clipping Mask, and then hit Make. If necessary, you can use the Direct Selection Tool to adjust the path.

Part 4. Easier Method to Remove Background Online for Free

To quickly delete unwanted white or other backgrounds, you can also rely on some online background removal tools. Many online background removers are available to help you get rid of unnecessary backgrounds from your pictures. If you don’t want complex editing software like Adobe Illustrator, just turn to the easy-to-use Free Background Remover. It gives a straightforward way to erase backgrounds from images in JPG, JPEG, PNG, SVG, WEBP, BMP, and even GIF.

Make Transparent

When you reach the online background remover page, click Upload Image to browse and add the image file you want to delete its background. As I mentioned above, all popular image formats can be edited. This AI-powered background removal tool will automatically delete the original background during the uploading process. Preview the result and then download it with high quality.

Transparent pfp Online Aiseesoft Free BG Remover

For further adjustments, you can click the Edit button. You are offered various tools to accurately select the background region you want to remove or the main object you would like to keep. It also provides basic editing functions for you to edit the picture. Moreover, it enables you to replace the deleted background with another color or image. When you are satisfied with the background removal result, click the Save button.

Transparent Profile Pic Online Aiseesoft Free BG Remover

Besides the recommended Free Background Remover, you can easily access other online tools. Some popular options include Adobe Express Free transparent background maker, Remove.bg, Pixelcut, Photoroom, and more. However, most of them have various limitations in the free version.

Part 5. FAQs of Illustrator Transparent Background

How do I turn on Transparency Grid in Illustrator?

Transparency Grid is a visual aid feature that is designed to identify transparent areas in Illustrator artwork. When you enable it, you can see a checkerboard pattern displayed on your document. To turn on Transparency Grid in Illustrator, you can click the top View menu and then choose Show Transparency Grid. Also, you can press Command + Shift + D or Ctrl + Shift + D on a Windows PC to turn the Transparency Grid on and off.

How do you make a layer transparent in Illustrator?

Adobe Illustrator doesn’t offer a specific option or feature to directly transparent an entire layer. However, you can choose all objects on the target layer, go to Object, select Group, and then use the Opacity slider in the Transparency panel or the Properties panel to transparent the layer. Also, you can create a clipping mask on the layer to make all objects transparent.

How do I get rid of the white layer in Illustrator?

To easily delete a white layer in Illustrator, you can choose it in the Layers panel and then click the trash can icon at the bottom. If you mean to get rid of a layer with a white background, you can select the white area with the Direct Selection Tool in Illustrator, and then simply press the Delete key. When you want to remove a white-filled shape or object, just select the white shape with the Selection Tool and then hit the Delete key on your keyboard.

Conclusion

After reading this article, you can learn three effective methods to remove background in Illustrator. You can select a preferred way to make the background transparent and start your designs. If you don’t have Illustrator installed on your computer and only need a way to remove backgrounds from images, you can start with a free online tool like the introduced Free Background Remover.

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