Create color scan with transparent background or change PDF?

Question

I have scanned a document into my computer that was on colored letterhead as a PDF. I want to maintain the color in the letterhead so I did a color scan. The scanner has also picked up the ivory background of the document. I would like to print it on white paper so I need to change this ivory background to transparent. How can I either scan it again so that it creates a document with a transparent background or change my existing PDF to a transparent background?

Answer 1

Just scan the logo and add a little contrast to it. That will show the logo on a white background.

Answer 2

Try using an image editing software that enables you to select the background portion. In my example, I'll mention the instructions when using Photoshop. First, open the file in Photoshop then make sure that the image is not the background layer. If you're image IS the background layer, double click on the background layer in the layers palette then press enter. This way, it'd be an ordinary layer. Next, you click on the Magic Wand tool, then click on the white background. You'll notice that the whole white background (or at least most of it) has been selected in a marquee. Press delete. Now you've completely deleted the white background (or most of it, just rinse and repeat if necessary). This is not enough though if you plan to use it in other purposes. Of course you'd have to save it as a portable image file (jpeg, etc). While saving on jpeg might work, it will return the white background you removed so you definitely need to save it in anotehr file format the accomodates or allows transparency. I suggest .png or .gif.

Answer 3

You will need a photo editor that supports transparency, first of all. a free one you can download immediately would be gimp. After that, you'll have to go into the image or layer tab at the top and then select the button "alpha" I believe. then you can use the color picker to pick the color you want, and it should make it transparent. Make sure to make a new layer (go to layer tab, then "new...") and put it below the first. Make sure to save it as a png, or it will not be transparent.



That's all I can tell you! Hope this helps! and feel free to email me for questions.