: Removing white background after tracing a logo in illustrator CC I have a o that I traced. I removed the white background by selecting expand and clearing it. however, the white background is

@Gloria351

Metis' method (ticking 'Ignore White') works perfectly in this case (when the background color is white)...

But if the background isn't white (and you want to keep your colors) how to proceed?

Assuming a two color trace – this method will work no matter what the background color might be.

When you do your trace, open the Image Trace Panel (Window > Image Trace) set it up beforehand as 2 color:



Then hit the 'Trace' button followed by the 'Expand' button.

Now press the A key, and click on your background. Then go to Select > Same > Fill Color:



And lastly, just press the Del key.

Done like dinner. Before and after:

Vote Up Vote Down

@Nimeshi706

One of the easiest ways to handle this is to plan ahead.

On the Image Trace Panel, expand the Advanced options area...

Then tick Ignore White.



This will eliminate the tracing creating white objects, but it will still create counters or "holes" in other objects.

Without this option ticked, what happens is the trace creates an object, traces the counter/hole for the object, then creates the counter and a white shape above the counter. So you end up with the object plus white shapes where there are counters/holes. By ticking Ignore White none of those white shapes are created.

Then you can proceed to Expand and refine the elements after tracing.

Vote Up Vote Down

@Berumen635

After expanding the white background might still be attached in pieces. Sometimes after tracing a circular object I have to delete 4 corners of white background.

Expand > Ungroup > Delete everything you don't want > Regroup what's left

Vote Up Vote Down