Transparent webpage backgrounds

**DaveC** · 15 December 2009, 02:46 AM

Using XtremePro

I applied a shading transparency to the background of my web page but it won't show up in preview. Is this just the way it is or am I doing something wrong.

I liked the effect but.... Is there a way to get this to work?

DaveC

**steve.ledger** · 15 December 2009, 03:22 AM

Hi Dave,

We really work better if you attach your file, stops all the guess work and get's to the heart of the matter much quicker.

**DaveC** · 15 December 2009, 02:49 PM

Sorry about that. I had intended to attach the file. I think you'll see the effect I'm trying, subtle but present. Like the blue sky fading to lighter horizon.

Hope this works, first time I've tried it. Thanks for your interest.

**jimhanus** · 15 December 2009, 03:12 PM

Not sure what you did, but I tried re-making a rectangle and applied a linear transparency and it worked fine. I've attached it for you to look at. I'm guessing it has something to do with it being designated as an actual background so it fills the entire screen.

Jim

**DaveC** · 15 December 2009, 03:51 PM

I think that's the problem. The filled-in rectangle works fine but not as a background. I find it odd but perhaps somebody knows how to do it.

**Soquili** · 15 December 2009, 04:49 PM

Hi Dave,

A filled in rectangle can be your background but not with Transparency.

Create it as a linear fill from blue to a lighter blue or white.

Web browsers cannot use a transparent background.

**DaveC** · 15 December 2009, 06:23 PM

I knew there was some simple explanation.

I tried your idea but no go. When I try to put a linear fill on the background it won't work for me. Says I have no object selected. Tried both locked and unlocked background layer.

I actually thought of this on my own but wasn't successful so gave up. What's the trick to make a linear fill actually work on the background.

Thanks

**Soquili** · 15 December 2009, 06:32 PM

Dave you can do it in a couple of ways but I think the easiest is to make a tall (as tall as your page is long) and narrow (about 1 pixel will do) rectangle. Create a bitmap copy and then assign that to the background.

See the attached .xar (a copy of your file with the technique I described above).

Open the file then export and preview.

**jimhanus** · 15 December 2009, 09:59 PM

Dave,
Here's my sample with all blue fade background. Let me know what you think!

Jim

**DaveC** · 16 December 2009, 02:14 AM

I think it's perfect. Looks exactly what I was trying to get, the wrong way. That's the nice thing about these programs: more than one way to skin a cat or fill a page.

Thanks to all of you for your help.

But I always like to know HOW these things work. Do I have to keep the long narrow bitmap with the working web page so it turns up in the bitmap gallery? Or, once inserted onto the web page does it really matter if it's in the bitmap gallery? I guess the real question is: Does the planned website have to go back to the bitmap gallery to complete the fill each time? Is my question clear?

Thanks again, Dave