Scrolling semi-transparent panels

I have a parent panel that paints a custom background. Within that panel, I embed another panel held by a JScrollPane. My intent is to have the custom background show through on the panel that is being scrolled.
To accomplish this, I set both the scrollpane and the viewport to non-opaque and then I set the panel held by the scrollpane to non-opaque as well.
When I run the program everything works fine and the panel can be scrolled and displayes the background image just as I want it.
Next, I want to set the panel in the scrollpane to be semi-transparent. I set the panel to opaque and give it a semi-transparent background color(ie alpha value or .5). This gives me a see-through effect and when I run the program it initially looks good. However, when I scroll the panel, the refresh is not handled correctly. The problem appears to be that the paint method of the parent panel is not being called.
I think the scrollbar code incorrectly assumes that since the embedded panel is defined as opaque that the parent panels do not need to be painted. However, this assumption is only valid if the background color of the embedded panel has an alpha value of 1.0
Does anyone have a workaround for scrolling semi-transparent panels?

On second thought, that's going to cause a stack overflow. You are going to need a flag to not call it. Something like so:public void paint(Graphics g) {
    if (someflag) {
        someflag=false;
        bgPanel.paint(bgPanel.getGraphics());
        someflag=true;
    // do my painting stuff ... super.paint(g); ???
}Just a thought, I haven't tested it.

Similar Messages

Placing a semi-transparent area on top of a picture

CS3
I need to place some text on a photo, and to make it possible to read the text clearly, I want to place an area with a single colour on top of the picture - and the text on top of the are.
But how can I make this area semi transparent?
Thanks

There is also an action under Text Effects that does a semi-transparent panel for text.
Load the Text Effects actions into your actions panel and then make a selection for
the size of the text panel (rectangular marquee tool) before running the action. After
the action runs you can type your text inside the panel.
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selecting both layers and then using the move tool.
MTSTUNER

Alpha/semi-transparent floating panel

Is it possible to have a alpha/semi-transparent floating panel, for example in Unreal 2004 when u access the console a semi-transparent console appears.

Hello,
Yes it is possible; try the following code in your container...
     public void doLayout()
          super.doLayout();
          // use some reference to where you want the panel to float
          floatablePanel.setBounds(........);
     } // end doLayout... and the following in your floatablePanel...
     public void paint(Graphics g)
          Graphics2D g2 = (Graphics2D) g.create();
          g2.setComposite(AlphaComposite.getInstance(AlphaComposite.SRC_ATOP, 0.2f));
          super.paint(g2);
          g2.dispose();
     } // end paintHope it gives you ideas.
Warm regards,
Darren

Having a JPanel 'float' semi-transparently over another component

I am a programmer of a java project for our company.
Managemnt decided that when a certain event happens, we need to 'semi-disable' a certain text area (in a JScrollPane), and have a floating message with a progress bar on top of this text area, but be semi-transparent, so you can still read the text under it.
(Basically, they want it to look like a html page with a floating, semi-transparent DIV, because that is how another group mocked it up).
I am trying to implement this, but am running into problems.
Here is what I have, below I'll tell you what is wrong with it.
     * The purpose of this class is to have a scroll pane that can have it's contents partially covered by another panel
     * while still being able to read both the original panel and the new covering content, and still being able to scroll
     *the content under the covering panel.
    public class JOverlayScrollPane extends JScrollPane{
        private JPanel overlay = null;
        private Insets overlayInsets = null;
        private java.awt.AlphaComposite blend = AlphaComposite.getInstance(AlphaComposite.SRC_OVER, 0.50f);
        private ComponentAdapter cl = null;
        public void setOverlay(JPanel pan, Insets inset){
            overlay = pan;
            overlayInsets = inset;
            if(cl != null){
                cl = new ComponentAdapter(){
                    public void componentResized(ComponentEvent e){
                        resizeOverlay();
            resizeOverlay();
            repaint();
        public void paint(Graphics g){
            super.paint(g);
            if(g instanceof Graphics2D && overlay !=null){
                Graphics2D g2 = (Graphics2D)g;
//                g2.setComposite(blend);
                //overlay.paint(g2);
                paintStuff(g,overlay);
        private void resizeOverlay(){
            if(overlay != null){
                Dimension size = getSize();
                int x = 0;
                int y = 0;
                if(overlayInsets !=null){
                    x = overlayInsets.left;
                    y = overlayInsets.top;
                    size.width = size.width - overlayInsets.left - overlayInsets.right;
                    size.height = size.height - overlayInsets.top - overlayInsets.bottom;
                overlay.reshape(x,y, size.width, size.height);
                overlay.doLayout();
                overlay.validate();
        private void paintStuff(Graphics g,Component c){
            if(c != null){
                c.paint(g);
                if(c instanceof Container){
                    Container cont = (Container)c;
                    for(int i=0;i<cont.getComponentCount();i++){
                        Component cc = cont.getComponent(i);
                        paintStuff(g,cc);
    }//end of overlay scroll pane(I am having problems, so for now, the alpha blend is commented out).
The first version didn't have the paintStuff() method (it just called paint). This just drew a big grey box, now of the sub-components of the passed in JPanel were drawing. I added the do layout and validate calls, without success.
Then I added the paintStuff call, and all the subcomponents now, draw, but they all draw at 0,0.
Questions
1. Is the the correct approach to do this, or sould I be playing with the glass pane or some other approach?
2. It seems that the overlay panel isn't being layed out / doens't paint it's children correctly. Is this because it isn't really part of the layout (i.e. it has no parent / is never added to a container) or am I just missing a step in 'faking' adding it to a layout?
3. I'm sure I could just override paint and paint my own stuff (hand draw the text and a progress bar), but I would really like to put everything on one JPanel as what we want to display my be different in the future. I know that I manually ahve to call repaint on this scrollpane if one of the components on the overlay JPanel change in appearence (the progress bar especailly), and that they won't get events (I don't care about this as they are all non-interactive for now). Is this a viable approach, or is there a better way to do this?
Thanks

Wow, good answer.
I never concidered using a root pane other than as it is used in JFrame.
Very cool answer.
Here is my origional code modifed with JN_'s idea, which cleaned up a repaint issue I was having.
import javax.swing.*;
import java.awt.*;
import java.awt.event.*;
public class TransparentPanel extends JFrame implements ActionListener
    ProgressPanel progressPanel;
    int progressCount;
    public TransparentPanel()
        super( "TransparentPanel Test");
        setDefaultCloseOperation( EXIT_ON_CLOSE );
        JPanel panel = new JPanel( new BorderLayout() );
        JTextArea area = new JTextArea( 20, 40 );
        JRootPane pane = new JRootPane();
        pane.setContentPane( new JScrollPane( area ) );
        panel.add( pane, BorderLayout.CENTER );
        //panel.add( new JScrollPane( area ), BorderLayout.CENTER );
        progressPanel = new ProgressPanel();
        pane.setGlassPane( progressPanel );
        JPanel buttonPanel = new JPanel( new FlowLayout());
        JButton button = new JButton( "Show" );
        button.setActionCommand("SHOW");
        button.addActionListener( this );
        buttonPanel.add( button );
        button = new JButton( "Hide" );
        button.setActionCommand("HIDE");
        button.addActionListener( this );
        buttonPanel.add( button );
        panel.add( buttonPanel, BorderLayout.SOUTH);
        setContentPane( panel );
        pack();
        setLocationRelativeTo( null );
        setVisible( true );
    public static void main( String[] args )
        try
            UIManager.setLookAndFeel(UIManager.getSystemLookAndFeelClassName());
        catch( Exception e )
            e.printStackTrace();
        new TransparentPanel();
    public class ProgressPanel extends JPanel
        Color bg = new Color( 225, 221, 221, 100 );
        Color fg = new Color( 170, 234, 202, 100 );
        int progress;
               setOpaque( false );
        public void setProgress( int n )
             setVisible( n > 0 && n <= 100 );
            progress = n;
            repaint();
        public void paint( Graphics g )
            if( isVisible() )
                Rectangle bounds = getBounds();
                g.setColor( bg );
                g.fillRect( bounds.x, bounds.y, bounds.width, bounds.height );
                g.setColor( fg );
                int width = (int)(((double)progress/100)*bounds.width);
                int height = (int) (((double)bounds.height)*.1);
                int y = (int) (((double)bounds.height)*.4);
                g.fillRect( bounds.x,y,width,height);
     * Invoked when an action occurs.
    public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e)
        String cmd = e.getActionCommand();
        if(cmd.equals( "SHOW" ) )
            progressCount+= 10;
            if( progressCount > 100 )
                progressCount = -1;
        else if( cmd.equals("HIDE" ) )
            progressCount = -1;
        progressPanel.setProgress( progressCount );
}

An Image JPanel, A semi-transparent JPanel, and non-opaque components

This is a more intelligent re-asking of the question I posed here: http://forum.java.sun.com/thread.jspa?threadID=579298&tstart=50.
I have a class called ImagePane, which is basically a JPanel with an image background. The code is much like the ImagePanel posted by camickr, discussed in this topic: http://forum.java.sun.com/thread.jspa?forumID=57&threadID=316074 (except mine only draws the image, it does not tile or scale it).
On top of my ImagePane, I can place another component, TransparentContainer. This again extends JPanel, only a color is specified in the constructor, and it is drawn at about 70% opacity. This component is meant to help increase the readability of text components that blend with the background image, without blocking out the background image completely.
This works very well, until I need to add a component, like, say, a non-opaque JRadioButton in a ButtonGroup. When you select a new JRadioButton at runtime, the semi-transparent JPanel fills with a combination of a completely opaque color (the one specifies to the TransparentContainer) and garbage from the non-opaque component being redrawn.
I have noticed that the UI is restored to being non-messed up if you place another application window on top of it and then move it. So apparently, one solution is to redraw the entire UI, or just the part that has the JRadioButton on it, every time the radio button is clicked. However, this seems unnecessarily complicated. It seems to me that I am missing something in my TransparentContainer's paintComponent() method. Does anyone have any ideas?
Here is my TransparentContainer code, if it will help:
import java.awt.AlphaComposite;
import java.awt.Color;
import java.awt.Graphics;
import java.awt.Graphics2D;
import java.awt.RenderingHints;
import javax.swing.JPanel;
public final class TransparentContainer extends JPanel
     /* Private Fields: For use only by this class.
      * These fields hold information needed by more
      * than one method of this class.
     private boolean fullTransparencyEnabled;
     private Color baseColor;
     private Color outerBorderColor;
     private Color innerBorderColor;
     private int obw;
     private int ibw;
     private int cbw;
     /* -- START OF METHODS -- */
     /* public TransparentContainer(Color color, boolean fullTrans)
      *   Initiallizes the transparent container object
      *   with 'color' as its base color.
     public TransparentContainer(Color color, boolean fullTrans)
          fullTransparencyEnabled = fullTrans;
          baseColor = color;
          Color borders[] = findBorderColors();
          outerBorderColor = borders[0];
          innerBorderColor = borders[1];
          obw = 3;
          ibw = 1;
          cbw = obw + ibw;
     /* private Color[] findBorderColors(Color base)
      *   Calculates the colors for the outer and inner
      *   borders of the object based on the base color.
     private Color[] findBorderColors()
          Color borders[] = new Color[2];
          int colorData[] = new int[9];
          colorData[0] = getBaseColor().getRed();
          colorData[1] = getBaseColor().getGreen();
          colorData[2] = getBaseColor().getBlue();
          colorData[3] = colorData[0] - 50;          // outerBorder red
          colorData[4] = colorData[1] - 45;          // outerBorder green
          colorData[5] = colorData[2] - 35;          // outerBorder blue
          colorData[6] = colorData[0] + 30;          // innerBorder red
          colorData[7] = colorData[1] + 30;          // innerBorder green
          colorData[8] = colorData[2] + 20;          // innerBorder blue
          /* Make sure the new color data is not out of bounds: */
          for (int i = 3; i < colorData.length; i++)
               if (colorData[i] > 255)
                    colorData[i] = 255;
               else if (colorData[i] < 0)
                    colorData[i] = 0;
          borders[0] = new Color(colorData[3], colorData[4], colorData[5]);
          borders[1] = new Color(colorData[6], colorData[7], colorData[8]);
          return borders;
     /* public Color getBaseColor()
      *   Returns the baseColor of this object.
     public Color getBaseColor()
          return baseColor;
     /* public Color getOuterColor()
      *   Returns the outerBorderColor of this object.
     public Color getOuterColor()
          return outerBorderColor;
     /* public Color getInnerColor()
      *   Returns the innerBorderColor of this object.
     public Color getInnerColor()
          return innerBorderColor;
     /* public boolean getFullTransEnabled()
      *   Returns whether or not this object will render
      *   with all of its transparency effects.
     public boolean getFullTransEnabled()
          return fullTransparencyEnabled;
     /* protected void paintComponent(Graphics g)
      *   Paints the component with the borders and colors
      *   that were set up in above methods.
     protected void paintComponent(Graphics g)
          Graphics2D g2d = (Graphics2D) g;
          AlphaComposite alphaComp;
          g2d.setRenderingHint(RenderingHints.KEY_ANTIALIASING, RenderingHints.VALUE_ANTIALIAS_ON);
          g2d.setRenderingHint(RenderingHints.KEY_COLOR_RENDERING, RenderingHints.VALUE_COLOR_RENDER_QUALITY);
          g2d.setRenderingHint(RenderingHints.KEY_ALPHA_INTERPOLATION,
                                        RenderingHints.VALUE_ALPHA_INTERPOLATION_QUALITY);
          g2d.setColor(getBaseColor());
          /* Draw the main body of the component */
          if (getFullTransEnabled())
               alphaComp = AlphaComposite.getInstance(AlphaComposite.SRC_OVER, 0.6f);
               g2d.setComposite(alphaComp);
          else
               alphaComp = AlphaComposite.getInstance(AlphaComposite.SRC_OVER, 1.0f);
               g2d.setComposite(alphaComp);
          g2d.fillRect(cbw, cbw, super.getWidth() - 2 * cbw, super.getHeight() - 2 * cbw);
          alphaComp = AlphaComposite.getInstance(AlphaComposite.SRC_OVER, 0.6f);
          g2d.setComposite(alphaComp);
          /* Draw the inner border: */
          g2d.setColor(getInnerColor());
          g2d.fillRect(obw, obw, ibw, super.getHeight() - obw * 2); // left border
          g2d.fillRect(obw, obw, super.getWidth() - obw, ibw); // top border
          g2d.fillRect(super.getWidth() - cbw, obw, ibw, super.getHeight() - obw * 2); // right border
          g2d.fillRect(obw, super.getHeight() - cbw, super.getWidth() - obw * 2, ibw); // bottom border
          /* Draw the outer border: */
          g2d.setColor(getOuterColor());
          g2d.fillRect(0, 0, obw, super.getHeight()); // left border
          g2d.fillRect(0, 0, super.getWidth() + obw, obw); // top border
          g2d.fillRect(super.getWidth() - obw, 0, obw, super.getHeight()); // right border
          g2d.fillRect(0, super.getHeight() - obw, super.getWidth(), obw); // bottom border
          alphaComp = AlphaComposite.getInstance(AlphaComposite.SRC_OVER, 1.0f);
          g2d.setComposite(alphaComp);
          g2d.dispose();
}

I added the main method to your TransparentContainer class ...
     public static void main(String[] args) {
          JFrame f = new JFrame("test transparent container");
          f.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
          TransparentContainer tc = new TransparentContainer(Color.RED, true);
          JLabel label = new JLabel("Hello, World!");
          tc.add(label);
          f.getContentPane().add(tc);
          f.setSize(800, 600);
          f.setVisible(true);
     }...using the code you posted the label was not shown. I modified your paintComponent(Graphics g) method and I did this (see the areas in bold):
     /* protected void paintComponent(Graphics g)
      *   Paints the component with the borders and colors
      *   that were set up in above methods.
     protected void paintComponent(Graphics g)
          // Call super so components added to this panel are visible
          super.paintComponent(g);
          Graphics2D g2d = (Graphics2D) g;
          AlphaComposite alphaComp;
          g2d.setRenderingHint(RenderingHints.KEY_ANTIALIASING, RenderingHints.VALUE_ANTIALIAS_ON);
          g2d.setRenderingHint(RenderingHints.KEY_COLOR_RENDERING, RenderingHints.VALUE_COLOR_RENDER_QUALITY);
          g2d.setRenderingHint(RenderingHints.KEY_ALPHA_INTERPOLATION,
                                        RenderingHints.VALUE_ALPHA_INTERPOLATION_QUALITY);
          g2d.setColor(getBaseColor());
          /* Draw the main body of the component */
          if (getFullTransEnabled())
               alphaComp = AlphaComposite.getInstance(AlphaComposite.SRC_OVER, 0.6f);
               g2d.setComposite(alphaComp);
          else
               alphaComp = AlphaComposite.getInstance(AlphaComposite.SRC_OVER, 1.0f);
               g2d.setComposite(alphaComp);
          g2d.fillRect(cbw, cbw, super.getWidth() - 2 * cbw, super.getHeight() - 2 * cbw);
          alphaComp = AlphaComposite.getInstance(AlphaComposite.SRC_OVER, 0.6f);
          g2d.setComposite(alphaComp);
          /* Draw the inner border: */
          g2d.setColor(getInnerColor());
          g2d.fillRect(obw, obw, ibw, super.getHeight() - obw * 2); // left border
          g2d.fillRect(obw, obw, super.getWidth() - obw, ibw); // top border
          g2d.fillRect(super.getWidth() - cbw, obw, ibw, super.getHeight() - obw * 2); // right border
          g2d.fillRect(obw, super.getHeight() - cbw, super.getWidth() - obw * 2, ibw); // bottom border
          /* Draw the outer border: */
          g2d.setColor(getOuterColor());
          g2d.fillRect(0, 0, obw, super.getHeight()); // left border
          g2d.fillRect(0, 0, super.getWidth() + obw, obw); // top border
          g2d.fillRect(super.getWidth() - obw, 0, obw, super.getHeight()); // right border
          g2d.fillRect(0, super.getHeight() - obw, super.getWidth(), obw); // bottom border
          alphaComp = AlphaComposite.getInstance(AlphaComposite.SRC_OVER, 1.0f);
          g2d.setComposite(alphaComp);
          // Do not dispose the graphics
          // g2d.dispose();
     }...seems to work fine now. Perhaps you should also add methods or additional constructors so the user can easily change the transparency level...and add some javadoc comments to your constructors ...at a first glance I did not know what fullTrans was
public TransparentContainer(Color color, boolean fullTrans)good luck!!

Semi-transparent block, pure black and rich black problems

Hi!
I'm new to inDesign, and I'm currently designing a book cover, for which I need some special effects. I'll try to explain as best as I can.
The background is rich black, on top of it I have a text in white (all over it). I applied a block with 80% opacity, in rich black color. I cut out some shapes in it. The point was to have the text in dark gray all over the book cover, but in white in the places where I have the shapes.
Everything is working exactly like I want, but a friend of mine told me if I apply rich black over white, I'll get a kind of magenta gray, so I have to apply pure 100 K to avoid that and get the dark gray I want. I tried that, and of course, applying some pure black block on top of my rich black cover gives all the cover a "grayish black" look. How can I work around that? I tried setting my semi-transparent block to "darken", but it didn't change anything.
I put the links to the pdf, I hope that's ok.
That's the one with rich black: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/68049919/coverlayout_print_richblack.pdf
and that's how it looks with the pure black: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/68049919/coverlayout_print.pdf
Thanks a lot!

There's no need to use transparency to create your background text color—just make a text frame filled with the rich black then select the type and fill it with an 80% tint of the rich black swatch or any other gray mix. Like this:
The text frame selected with its fill showing in the Colors panel:
Here the text is selected and the Colors panel shows the text fill as an 80% tint of the rich black. There's no transparency in this case.
In general it's bad practice to use transparency when you can get the same effect with color fills.
Also if you are worried about the neutrality of the gray check with your printer on whether the gray text should be 4-color (your 80% tint) or straight black (95% black).
The accuracy of the InDesign softproof depends on an accurate monitor profile and the assigned CMYK profile (Edit>Assign Profiles...). The assigned CMYK profile affects the preview including the profiled gray balance. For example the default SWOP CMYK profile previews your 4-color dark gray bluer and as a lighter value than US Sheetfed.
The preview of your 85% rich black mix with different CMYK asignments

Is there a way to create a semi-transparency with Java?

I would like to be able to create a semi transparent form and I was does anyone know how to do this?

import java.awt.*;
import java.awt.geom.*;
import java.awt.image.*;
import java.io.*;
import java.net.*;
import javax.imageio.*;
import javax.swing.*;
import javax.swing.event.*;
public class CompositeTest extends JPanel {
    private BufferedImage backImage, frontImage;
    private float alpha = 1;
    public CompositeTest() throws IOException {
        backImage = ImageIO.read(new URL("http://today.java.net/jag/bio/JagHeadshot-small.jpg"));
        frontImage = ImageIO.read(new URL("http://today.java.net/jag/Image54-small.jpeg"));
    public Dimension getPreferredSize() {
        return new Dimension(backImage.getWidth(), backImage.getHeight());
    public void setAlpha(float alpha) {
        this.alpha = alpha;
        repaint();
    protected void paintComponent(Graphics g) {
        super.paintComponent(g);
        Graphics2D g2 = (Graphics2D) g;
        int x = (getWidth() - backImage.getWidth())/2;
        int y = (getHeight()- backImage.getHeight())/2;
        g2.drawRenderedImage(backImage, AffineTransform.getTranslateInstance(x, y));
        Composite old = g2.getComposite();
        g2.setComposite(AlphaComposite.getInstance(AlphaComposite.SRC_OVER, alpha));
        x = (getWidth() - frontImage.getWidth())/2;
        y = (getHeight()- frontImage.getHeight())/2;
        g2.drawRenderedImage(frontImage, AffineTransform.getTranslateInstance(x, y));
        g2.setComposite(old);
    public static void main(String[] args) throws IOException {
        final CompositeTest app = new CompositeTest();
        JSlider slider = new JSlider();
        slider.addChangeListener(new ChangeListener(){
            public void stateChanged(ChangeEvent e) {
                JSlider source = (JSlider) e.getSource();
                app.setAlpha(source.getValue()/100f);
        slider.setValue(100);
        JFrame f = new JFrame("CompositeTest");
        f.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
        Container cp = f.getContentPane();
        cp.add(app);
        cp.add(slider, BorderLayout.SOUTH);
        f.pack();
        f.setLocationRelativeTo(null);
        f.setVisible(true);
}

How to make a semi-transparent layer?

Hello everyone,
I am making my own website with Dreamwaver. I am a totally
new user and have no IT background. So could anyone here kindly
help me with my question:
In the main page I would like to use two layers with images
inserted. The second one will be a semi-transparent image which is
made in Fireworks. I would like to let this layer cover the first
one. Because it's semi-transparent, so i should still be able to
see the underlying image... I did all this, but finally in the IE
the second layer is NOT transparent at all.
I don't know where the problem is. Please, if anyone knows
the solutions or have any suggestion, let me know!
Thanks!
Inca

I'll show it to you my way:
1. Type the text and click the layer mask icon. The layer mask should be all white and have a small border. That indicates the mask ist active.
The foreground color should be black and the background color white.
2. Choose the gradient tool. Open the gradient window. Choose the first gradient, "foreground to background" = black to white.
Change the white color to gray.
3. Check the layer mask > is it active?
Apply the gradient from right to left over your text.
See the thin line in the screenshot.
4. On your layer mask appears the gradient, left starting with gray and right ending with black.
The advantage of this method is that you can change your text without modifying the gradient.
The black color on the layer mask hides the text, the gray color makes the text more or less visible and white color means full visible.
Hope it helps.
miss marple

Problem with opaque object/text showing as semi-transparent?

I didn't start seeing this problem till today, but the past couple of times I've gone to create a new shape layer or text layer, it appears like it's at 50% opacity. I've checked my layer settings, and they're all at 100% fill and opacity. I can't see any reason why they'd be semi-transparent, and none of the settings I've tried have changed anything. I've even tried deleting the shapes/text, saving my document, and starting over. That worked one time, but this time it's not working.
Even applying a color overlay still results in a semi-transparent shape.
Anyone else have a similar issue and know how to fix it? I am in the middle of doing a design for a client, for print, and I really can't be dealing with this right now.

I ended up just deleting the group that was affected, saving it as a new file, and then rebuilding the new group from the new file. For some reason that worked. I am not currently have the problem, so I can't show you what was happening, but I'll definitely look at these steps if it happens again.
Thanks!
Brooke

Getting a semi-transparent graphic onto a spot plate in InDesign CS6

I'm struggling to get elements of a design onto the fifth colour plate in my InDesign file. Example is shown below. I have made a number of rough-edged strips that retain an element of semi-transparency along their edges (so that the background shows through slightly and gives a brushed/painted on effect). The client needs these elements to be on a fifth plate, Pantone 1385.
I have tried making the graphic as a greyscale psd and as a greyscale tiff with transparency included, but I can't seem to select within InDesign using the content tool and making it on the fifth plate in my ID palette.
Have done it as a CMYK psd for time being on example below just to allow me to show the client as a visual.
Can anyone help me? I have also (briefly) explored channels in Photoshop as well but can't make and headway there too. Is there a simple solution?
Many thanks for any advice.

Thanks for reply, but I think this loses me all transparency?
Make your grayscale file a transparent Monotone like this:
In ID fill the background of the image frame with black:

How to apply a semi-transparent background to a text box

Hi Framers,
The cover of my doc has a full-page .png file on a master page. I want to add the title of the manual on the body page of the cover in a text box. No problem. However, I want to apply a semi-transparent effect to the background of the text box, so the graphic behind it shows in a muted way.
I'm sure this has to do with some combination of the Tint, Fill, and Overprint settings but none of my experiments have produced anything close to the desired effect.
I did RTFM and also searched the Help and the forum. I truly hope I didn't overlook the answer---but if I did, it wasn't for lack of trying!
As always, your expertise is very much appreciated.
TIA,
Gay

Wow, I wish I had Photoshop! I use a less sophisticated image editor, which has always served quite adequately and since it supports layers, I'll try to figure out how to do what you're suggesting.
(I did try a "None" fill and the bottom image does show up, but I wanted it a bit muted, as would happen with perhaps a "half transparency" and that is apparently what I can't achieve in FM.)
If I understand correctly, I need to edit the imported graphic to make a portion of it appear semi-transparent, and then when I bring it back into FM and put my text box on top of it, it will appear the same as if I had been able to put a partial transparency in the fill of the text box...
I really, really, really hate it when I find myself thinking "Word could do this easily, why can't Frame?"
Thanks for your helpful suggestions, guys, you're great. As always!
Gay

Exporting text with a semi transparent background that can be changed in PS or PP?

I'm creating a logo with a semi transparent background that I want to place on top of photos in Photoshop and videos in Premiere.
1. I do not see a transparent option when exporting as a .tiff. Is transparent .png my only option from AI?
2. I will need different amounts of transparency for the background depending on the image or video it is being placed on. Is there a way to export this and still have control in Photoshop or Premiere of the amount of transparency to apply towards the background?
Thanks!

1. So you are suggesting to just copy from AI and paste into PS?
2. Since the logo is text and the background is a rectangular shape, I need to make sure that I can lower the opacity in PS or PP independently of the text. I will have to do a test later, I do not have the file on this computer.
Thanks.

A simple dialog with semi-transparent border (MFC)

Hi,
I have to make a image dialog with semi-transparency border in MFC.
I had web surfing all the day and found this solution in the codeproject.
http://www.codeproject.com/Articles/42032/Perfect-Semi-transparent-Shaped-Dialogs-with-Stand
But it creates two dialogs to make a semi-transparent dialog and the mechanism was so complex.
And the release of the dialog object is difficult so that it may have memory leaks.
I want a dialog (background is an image) with a semi-transparent border (corner - rounded).
And I have to make it with only one dialog. If it's possible, how can I do it?
Please help me, Thank you.

The child control will become semi-transparency as your dialog.
Do you want to show some child control on your dialog? If yes, you need the second dialog to host your child control.
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Can anyone tell me why games are semi transparent in Pogo? I only have this problem with Firefox but not with IE9 or Chrome

When I click on a game, the game window opens and is solid, but when it's fully loaded, it becomes semi transparent and washed out. I can post a screen shot of what I'm talking about if this forum supports it.

Hi,
Please check if this happens in [https://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Safe%20Mode Safe Mode]
Useful links:
[https://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Options%20window All about Tools > Options]
[http://kb.mozillazine.org/About:config Going beyond Tools > Options - about:config]
[http://kb.mozillazine.org/About:config_entries about:config Entries]
[https://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Page%20Info%20window Page Info] Tools (Alt + T) > Page Info, Right-click > View Page Info
[https://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Keyboard%20shortcuts Keyboard Shortcuts]
[https://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Viewing%20video%20in%20Firefox%20without%20a%20plugin Viewing Video without Plugins]
[http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_folder_-_Firefox Firefox Profile Folder & Files]
[https://developer.mozilla.org/en/Command_Line_Options#Browser Firefox Commands]
[https://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Basic%20Troubleshooting Basic Troubleshooting]
[https://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/common-questions-after-upgrading-firefox-36 After Upgrading]
[https://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Safe%20Mode Safe Mode]
[http://kb.mozillazine.org/Problematic_extensions Problematic Extensions]
[https://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Troubleshooting%20extensions%20and%20themes Troubleshooting Extensions and Themes]
[https://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Troubleshooting%20plugins Troubleshooting Plugins]
[http://kb.mozillazine.org/Testing_plugins Testing Plugins]

How can I capture a semi transparent window?

Hello all
I am trying to grab an image of a semi transparent window into a bitmap. I have tried using both CopyFromScreen and BitBlt using the window handle but in both cases all I get is the image from behind the window I want to catch, it's like the semi transparent
window is completely invisible to both capture methods. Is there any way I can capture the window I want?
Thanks
Rich

Here is an example. You can try it in a new form project with 1 Button and 1 PictureBox added to the form. As i said, it is just an example so, when it is run the form will be partialy transparent. Click the button and it will capture the whole screen including
your transparent form. Then it will set the forms opacity back to 1.0 so you can see that the transparent form was captured in the image.
You will need to set it up to be used in a practical way. This is just a quick test example.
Imports System.Runtime.InteropServices
Public Class Form1
Private Const CAPTUREBLT As Integer = &H40000000
Private Const SRCCOPY As Integer = &HCC0020
<DllImport("gdi32.dll", EntryPoint:="BitBlt")> _
Private Shared Function BitBlt(ByVal hdcDest As IntPtr, ByVal nXDest As Integer, ByVal nYDest As Integer, ByVal nWidth As Integer, ByVal nHeight As Integer, ByVal hdcSrc As IntPtr, ByVal nXSrc As Integer, ByVal nYSrc As Integer, ByVal dwRop As UInteger) As <MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.Bool)> Boolean
End Function
<DllImport("user32.dll", EntryPoint:="GetDC")> Private Shared Function GetDC(ByVal hWnd As System.IntPtr) As System.IntPtr
End Function
<DllImport("user32.dll", EntryPoint:="ReleaseDC")> Private Shared Function ReleaseDC(ByVal hWnd As System.IntPtr, ByVal hDC As System.IntPtr) As Integer
End Function
Private Sub Form1_Load(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load
'set this form so it is partialy transparen. Just to show it was captured for this example
Me.Opacity = 0.5
PictureBox1.SizeMode = PictureBoxSizeMode.Zoom
End Sub
Private Sub Button1_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click
'if the picturebox has an Image the Dispose it first
If PictureBox1.Image IsNot Nothing Then PictureBox1.Image.Dispose()
'define the rectangle area of the screen to capture (whole screen in this case)
Dim CaptureRectangle As Rectangle = Screen.PrimaryScreen.Bounds
'Assign the new image captured from the screen to the picturebox image
PictureBox1.Image = CaptureScreenImage(CaptureRectangle)
'just so you can see the image better set the form`s opacity back to 1.0
Me.Opacity = 1.0
End Sub
Private Function CaptureScreenImage(ByVal rect As Rectangle) As Bitmap
Dim scrnHdc As IntPtr = GetDC(IntPtr.Zero)
Dim bmp As New Bitmap(rect.Width, rect.Height)
Using grx As Graphics = Graphics.FromImage(bmp)
Dim grxHdc As IntPtr = grx.GetHdc()
BitBlt(grxHdc, 0, 0, rect.Width, rect.Height, scrnHdc, rect.X, rect.Y, SRCCOPY Or CAPTUREBLT)
grx.ReleaseHdc(grxHdc)
ReleaseDC(IntPtr.Zero, scrnHdc)
End Using
Return bmp
End Function
End Class
If you say it can`t be done then i`ll try it

Scrolling semi-transparent panels

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