Blend from transparent object to solid object

[Mermaid]

Is this possible?

I want to build up an image that has several layers each containing one or more blends. The tricky part is that I would like to use a blend from a transparent object to a solid one so that the edges of the blend fade into the object below (which might have more than one colour). I've tried selecting a transparent shape with the blend tool, but it does not select the object. If I give the object a solid outline, then the shape can be selected, but the fills are opaque and the outline can be seen.

I've tried feathering the edges, using a fairly high value, but it is very difficult to get precisely the size and shape needed as I am using very irregular shapes in my actual drawing.

I've attached a Xara file to give the rough idea of what I want to do. I would like to use a transparent object where the irregular shaped pink object in the blend on blend layer 1 is now, and also where the blue object in the blend is on Blend Layer 2. Blend layer 3 shows the effect of blending a transparent object with a solid outline to a solid object. I would like to see the star through the pink and blue parts of the two irregular shapes.

Any ideas for a workaround if it is not possible would be greatly appeciated.

Thanks,

Mermaid

[Soquili]

Hi Mermaid,

A 100% transparent object is not selectable in the most recent versions of Xtreme.

Make the transparency 99.5% and the object can still be selected but is not visible to the eye.

[Mermaid]

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you, Thank you! Consider yourelf given a virtual hug ;-)

This was driving me mad!

Mermaid

[Soquili]

You are very welcome.

[handrawn]

for the record:

you can still select a 100% transparent object if you use the marque select - or you tab through selections [if you loose it switch to outlines quality]

however some tools eg: blend tool, will not recognise it as selected [one approach here would be to blend without transparency and then ctrl+select the relevent object from within the blend and set it 100% transparent - the blend should change]

[itsfransie]

You can also use a lower view quality, where you can see the outline of the invisible object.

[gwpriester]

When you create a blend of objects with transparency you can achieve different effects by also changing the transparency of the start object.

Also if you group a blend that contains transparency, it becomes like one object and you can apply another transparency to the group.

And remember, that with the latest version of Xtreme 5 you can apply additional transparency just as you can add new colors to a gradient fill. Double click on the transparency fill path arrow and adjust the Transparency slider setting for the new control point.