Printing hard copy with transparent fill over jpg image

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!.Grace Land

When I put an object with transparent fill over a jpg image I see a
faint (depending on degree of transparancy used) image behind the
object.

But when I print this I get a fully filled object with none of the
underlying jpg image visible.

Is there a way to make this work?
 
Hi,

If it is something visual, I would first suspect the video drivers need
updating. If it occurs worse when printing, maybe print drivers as well? it
would be a good place to start.

--
Regards,

Glen Millar
Microsoft PPT MVP
http://www.powerpointworkbench.com/
Please tell us your ppt version, and get back to us here
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To clarify: It works fine on the screen. There is no tranparency to
the fill when it's printed to paper.

I don't think it's a printer driver because I've tried it with
different machines and different printers, always the same result. I
think it's in power point. Even tried printing to acrobat, same
result.

Has anyone done this and had it work right?

To repeat the problem: Transparent fill for an object (say, a
rectangle) shows as transparent over a jpg image on screen, but prints
as solid fill completely blocking out the image on paper.
 
Is this a color or black & white printout? If b&w, check the presentation
in B&W mode and adjust image a gif? try using a .png if possible.
 
Hi,

Thanks for the clarification. I'm afraid I'm beyond my limits on this one,
as I rarely print out of PowerPoint. Anyone else have any ideas???

--
Regards,

Glen Millar
Microsoft PPT MVP
http://www.powerpointworkbench.com/
Please tell us your ppt version, and get back to us here
Remove spaces from signature
 
I assume you're using PowerPoint XP or 2003, as you refer to degrees of
transparency.
I've just done a quick test here and I get transparency (albeit not very
elegant).
If I use a text box with graded transparency then I get the solid box you're
describing.
This would suggest it's a printer/driver issue.

A workaround that springs to mind is the following (it works here):
Copy your text box and choose Edit>Paste Special to paste as a PNG.
 
I don't think it's a printer driver because I've tried it with
different machines and different printers, always the same result. I
think it's in power point. Even tried printing to acrobat, same
result.

Open the PDF you made in Acrobat, zoom WAY in on the area in question and I
think you'll see the problem. It's because of the way "semi-transparency"
is rendered, at least to PS, that this occurs. It's done as a series of
lines, on/off/on/off atop whatever's underneath. But since they're rendered
at a fixed (assumed) resolution, they just don't work well in PostScript.

It might work to select the semitransparent shape and everything beneath it,
copy to the clipboard, then Edit, Paste Special and choose PNG.
 
This would suggest it's a printer/driver issue.

My money's on MS' PostScript

Printing to PS doesn't involve the video driver, so that's out.
The PS rendition of semitranny fills has never been done with any hope of
success in past versions.
Why change? ;-)
 
Thanks all. The paste as PNG works. A bit hard to edit, but I created
a second slide with the object so I can copy it and paste as png to
the original slide. This way I can edit the object and try different
properties. Odd work-around, but the results are adequate for the
quick and dirty results I expect from ppt.

I must say though, I still do not think it's a printer driver issue. I
tried it with several printers and machines including different
manufacturers ink jets and color lasers. Never worked as expected;
always produced solid fill.

What I'd really like is the ability to create a lens that will edit a
selection of adjoining pictures, but that's asking more than ppt is
designed to deliver I suppose.
 
I must say though, I still do not think it's a printer driver issue.

No. As I think I mentioned, it's not. It's a failure of the way PPT
interacts with printers/drivers.
What I'd really like is the ability to create a lens that will edit a
selection of adjoining pictures, but that's asking more than ppt is
designed to deliver I suppose.

CorelDraw is your friend. <g>
 
issue.

No. As I think I mentioned, it's not. It's a failure of the way PPT
interacts with printers/drivers.


CorelDraw is your friend. <g>

I know, but I wanted something quick, dirty and able to turn over to
someone else to print. Turned out to be a collosal pain. Would have
been better to start w/ Corel Draw and turned over a pdf printout.

Thanks again.
 
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