When you import an image in illustrator CS2 how do I eliminate the white space around image?

Answer 1

If you are talking about a tiff, psd or jpeg you have to draw the shape of the area you want to keep, with the pen tool, then selecting both your path and the file go to make clipping mask and bingo. If it is an image created in Illustrator it is a question of selecting and deleting the white.

EDIT: The two will already be ‘grouped’ (or rather compounded) if selected with the selection tool (black arrow) or the group selection tool (white arrow with a plus symbol), but not if you use the direct selection tool (white arrow) the same as any other path.

Answer 2

Use the pen tool to draw a path around the image you wish to keep. Then, select the path AND the original image. Under "object" click on clipping mask.

This should hide the unwanted area of the image. Group the two pieces, (image and the path) so that you can move them both, at the same time. Otherwise you will move the mask but not the image beneath.