How to use stock bought icons

Question

This is probably very basic stuff, but i always found alternative ways to do it, so i never learned the "right" way.
When i now buy illustrations and icons from stock agencies, i get the file i buy as a jpg file, usually containing a group of icons. When i want to use these in my design, i simply "magic wand cut" them out from jpg file and drag it into my project. However, i guess this is not how they are ment to be used, cause i loose quality and its a bit unconvenient.
How can i use these(take them out of the jpg file) icons one and one, only the icon, not the background, without loosing quality?

Answer 1

I’d recommend splitting the file into psd- or eps-files and linking those from the layout-application.
psd could use transparency as produced by the Magic Wand-selection tool or any other way to create a useful Layer Mask. (In this case one should consider that the edge-pixels might need some correction.)
With an eps one should create a clipping path, but that might be too time-consuming for You, because simply converting a selection into a Working Path usually produces inferior paths.
One could split the image up manually (copying a marquee-selection into a new file) or try Automate – Crop and Straighten Photos.