Opacity Masks - What can you make with them?

**angelize** · 21 June 2010, 07:08 AM

I've been playing with opacity masks and I think they are great. So what can you make using an opacity mask? Here is a semi transparent cloud that I did. I think it would be great to see what other creative things can be done with this versatile transparency type! So let's see what you can come up with and have fun!

**zaphodeist** · 21 June 2010, 09:46 AM

Neat! Like the subtlety

**angelize** · 21 June 2010, 04:11 PM

Thank you John. It's going to be interesting seeing what others can think of to use opacity masks for. Come on everybody give it try!

**MarciaB** · 21 June 2010, 04:26 PM

This is another simple example. I just added a second rectangle with a circular fill and sliced it.

**gwpriester** · 21 June 2010, 04:43 PM

Interesting topic. As of the release of Designer 6 Pro a lot of us were trying to figure out a use for this. Any other suggestions or discoveries?

**zaphodeist** · 21 June 2010, 05:16 PM

Not much practical use yet Gary, but I've been testing which operations can be done on the 'hole' ... this one [originally posted here] uses feathering and bevels. It's amazing what you can do with a void

Stained glass? Or just stains?

**MarciaB** · 21 June 2010, 05:18 PM

Unfortunally it doesn't work with blends...

**NeilH** · 21 June 2010, 07:30 PM

Originally Posted by MarciaB

Unfortunally it doesn't work with blends...

Can you attach an example that doesn't work for you please? Works ok for me (with a blend as the actual mask).

Neil
Xara

**David O'Neil** · 21 June 2010, 08:55 PM

Originally Posted by gwpriester

Any other suggestions or discoveries?

Suggestions: windows, the reflections in windows, and obtaining complicated gradients more easily. I posted a couple of examples in this thread. When I have time, I'd like to pursue the gradients more, as my gut tells me that there are some interesting possibilities down that road.

**angelize** · 22 June 2010, 04:14 AM

well here's an interesting discovery, you can apply an opacity mask to an extrusion. If you apply the om to the sides of the extrusion the extrusion is still completely editable as an extrusion! however if you apply the OM to the face of the extrusion you get some rather bizzare results if you try to adjust the angle.