Transparency contour

Is it possible to have it using Xara?

Let's say I want the transparency to follow the shape of a star.


I hope my question makes sense.

you mean like the attached ?

And if not like handrawn has made, a sample image of what you want to do would be most helpful.

Mike

or maybe more like ... ?

Using the circular transparency as an example of what I'm looking for.

Notice that the star transparency is not smooth, it has steps. I don't want the steps. I piled some stars to illustrated what I need.


Solid center, transparent edges (contour).

Something like this:

Click on your red blob. Press Ctrl-C.
Click on your red star. Press Ctrl-Shift-A.
The attributes of blob are now those of the star.

The long way round would be to create a red star, set a circular transparency, adjust the percentage and the profile and possibly include feathering and its profile.

Acorn

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ric_NYC

Using the circular transparency as an example of what I'm looking for.

Notice that the star transparency is not smooth, it has steps. I don't want the steps. I piled some stars to illustrated what I need.


Solid center, transparent edges (contour).

Something like this:

---

Like this?

Mike

If you group the contour, then Xara treats the contour (or a blend), as a single object and you can apply transparency.

or like this...

or:

None of those!
:'(


I see steps (dark red, light red, lighter red...)

It has to fade gradually.

Well, your example has been shown twice in the thread.

If you do not desire the counter's steps, don't use a contour, or up the steps. Or simply draw a star and set the circular transparency...or provide a better example of what you do want.

Mike

ok - but contours are steps - if you don't want steps, don't use contours, or if you need to increase the size of a non-uniform shape by means of contours then make one shape of it before you apply the transparency - any good?

see Mike has got in there before me? :)

This

Attachment 95418


Like the elliptical transparency it starts solid and ends 100% transparent following the shape (contour).



The star was created by applying the elliptical transparency to 4 triangles then putting them together.

@Handrawn,

That's a circular transparency.

Round shape:
Attachment 95419

The star has no tips.

I was considering contour as the following definition:

"Noun
An outline, esp. one representing or bounding the shape or form of something."

1. Draw star
2. Feather it

Phil

yep feathering looks good.. although there is a pixel limit on how much you can apply

many meanings of the word contour - cartographic contour is another - guess there was confusion as you showed what looked like xara specific contours [as created by the contour tool] in your earlier examples

Thanks everyone.

That solved it, PhilM.

The feathering helped. Just playing a little with the "profile of the feather region" to make it more gradual.

Yes, the Contour Tool has a specific function, Handrawn, I forgot about that.

no problem - we got there in the end ;)

In version 6 and up you can also use the contour tool to create a black and white copy of your star which can be cut and pasted as an opacity mask. This gives you a lot more control than just feathering.

Thanks, Angelize.

That's perfect.

You are quite welcome. I am always glad to help :)

Angelize that method is very interesting like that, thanks for it

opacity masking... yes

good call Frances :)

Inverting that effect ("Invert Opacity Mask"):

Attachment 95431

Thanks, Angelize, good method with the opacity mask. I hadn't actually understood its working like that until now.

Opacity masks are a powerful feature that is IMO under used. The new eraser tool when set with a softness value or used on a complex object creates and applies an opacity mask as you draw.