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Creating a pdf in indesign with pages that have an opacity

Forum|Forum|8 years ago
June 26, 2017
6 replies
1501 views

Hello, I'm trying to create an interactive pdf that has pages that mimic tracing paper. Where the page with text has an opacity of about 85% so see through so you can see the page underneath to a certain degree that has an image.

I've tried on pages that have text to adjust the 'fill' and lower the opacity but once it's a pdf file or even a .swf it reverts to being a consolidated page with no opacity.

Is it even possible?

Thanks

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Correct answer Jongware

It's just not how PDFs work. Similarly, if you don't provide a white backdrop to a page, you won't be expecting a PDF renderer to show the innards of your monitor or the program that is running below it on your desktop (although I recall this has been 'requested' at least once).

You can fake it, though. Copy the next page and place it at a layer under the current page. Set its opacity to something very (very, very) low. It goes without saying this will essentially grow your PDF file size with 100% and most likely will interfere with text selection and searching.

Jbarrigon

Inspiring

Im not sure in i understand correctly but i think you can solve this directly in Acrobat pro, if you go to edit pdf you can add a background image to any page in the pdf, you can control de opacity of this background as well as the position and rotation, probably this way you can simulate the effect you are looking for.

JR Boulay

Community Expert

i think you can solve this directly in Acrobat pro,

You are right but it is more flexible to do it with InDesign.

Acrobate du PDF, InDesigner et Photoshopographe

BobLevine

Community Expert

See reply one. I am sticking with it.

Z

zoet25570144Author

Participant

Thanks... I'll use your suggestion as a last resort.

JR Boulay

Community Expert

Yes you can, but you must use layers as pages: each "page" must be a separated layer (on the same page).

Once exported to PDF (1.6 or 1.7), use Acrobat Pro to add navigation buttons that "Show/hide layers" (since this action is not available in InDesign).

Acrobate du PDF, InDesigner et Photoshopographe

Jongware

Correct answer

Community Expert

It's just not how PDFs work. Similarly, if you don't provide a white backdrop to a page, you won't be expecting a PDF renderer to show the innards of your monitor or the program that is running below it on your desktop (although I recall this has been 'requested' at least once).

You can fake it, though. Copy the next page and place it at a layer under the current page. Set its opacity to something very (very, very) low. It goes without saying this will essentially grow your PDF file size with 100% and most likely will interfere with text selection and searching.

Bill Silbert

Community Expert

Since you are doing this as an interactive pdf you might be able to achieve the effect that it sounds like you're looking for by creating a multi-state object using the Object States Panel. It can be set up with states that mimic the transparency and include "invisible" buttons that can be used to go from state to state. Check out Lynda.com for more info on using Object States.

BobLevine

Community Expert

Multi state objects do not work with PDFs.

Bill Silbert

Community Expert

You can if you save the InDesign file first as a swf and then import that into the InDesign file then make the interactive pdf. It is a little cumbersome but it does work.

BobLevine

Community Expert

No.

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