Enhanced transparency options

Hi Everybody,

1. Transparency in DRAW (vector objects) is clunky.  It's limited to the options radial, linear, etc.
2.  It would be useful to add another option in which the user could "paint" the transparency.  Painting on a  layer mask in Photopaint is an example. 
3.  It would also be useful to be able to blur the "painting" as in blurring a layer mask in Photopaint.  Blurring would erase the edges of paint strokes.

Phil

  • This is how all the transparency issues in CorelDRAW and Illustrator got started, someone wanted a bitmap effect in a vector program, the rest is history.

    • Use PP to do what you want. Export from PP as a PNG with transparency. Import the result into CD for any post-processing work.
      • Actually I would suggest using the CPT file format to place into Draw.

        • Hi Mike,

          1. I would like to do it directly on the vector objects within DRAW. This would keep them as rescalable.
          It would also be done within the complete image so that I could see how it fits in as I change transparency.

          2. It only means adding another option to the present linear, radial, etc. options for transparency.

          3. Adding a "layer mask" capability similar to the ones in Photopaint and Photoshop would greatly enhance the use of DRAW. Using the transparency tool in either DRAW or Photopaint is clunky and destroys pixels. Backing up requires using UNDO which may destroy twenty or so steps along the way. A layer mask can be changed at any time.

          I'm also surprised that the transparency gradient is still a raster image in DRAW. Is it that difficult to have 256 adjacent objects to form the gradient. It would all be automated by the program and be a lot quicker than shuffling between DRAW and Photopaint.

          Phil
          • Phil1923 said:
            Adding a "layer mask" capability similar to the ones in Photopaint and Photoshop would greatly enhance the use of DRAW.

            I agree. Moreover, PhotoPaint could be a raster layer inside CorelDRAW, there's no need to open a separate program.

            Phil1923 said:
            I'm also surprised that the transparency gradient is still a raster image in DRAW.

            if you talk about vector objects, the answer is not. The transparency gradient is still a vector effect applied to a vector object. 

            • XDP can do various opacity operations. The below is a shape I "erased" the edges. Remains as vector.

              But I have only used the capability to aid others having issues. I cannot think of why I would use it. But I also do reasonably simple illustrations for publications.

              Mike

              • Ariel transparency only exists in a postscript environment as an image. In CorelDRAW, Illustrator, MS Publisher, InDesign and XDP the effect is rendered as an image. That's why resolution settings, flattening and color modes are so important.

                All the above programs will have bounding box issues depending upon the device they output do because of the transparent image, you see a box during incorrect output because of the transparent images bounding box.

                • Hi, David,. that's not exactly. For example, if you publish as PDF, on older versions all transparencies are rendered as bitmap, but if you use compatibility with newest versions, transparencies are leave as "live transaprency". The resolution settings og the document has not any difference on the transparency result. You can see the difference on other effects (such as Drop Shadows) but on transparencies there's no difference on the result, pinted or on screen.
                  • Ariel,

                    Yes, But. There is a bounding box even though in the instance above the product is vector. There is "hidden" material when a mask is used. Therefore there can be flattening artifacts--most often a darker tint where the material was hidden from the remainder of a background color for instance.

                    The mask itself has a bounding box typically larger than the object being masked. When it comes to RIP time, the discoloration can happen. Heck, there's an "official" term for it concerning Adobe products--Yucky Discolored Box Syndrome.

                    At some point in the processing chain, that transparency is going to be made into a bitmap. Which is one reason why I typically just do these effects in a photo editor, bring it into the layout application, and if it sits on a colored background, depending on the color and the output device, I'll place all the text and vector elements on a higher layer, and make sure to flatten that page or PDF properly before it ever gets to the printer.

                    Mike
                • Phil1923 said:
                  1. Transparency in DRAW (vector objects) is clunky.  It's limited to the options radial, linear, etc.

                  press the M key for apply Mesh fill, the apply selective transparency for each node, add/remove nodes, etc