Make Reference Page Graphic Frames Transparent?

[Guest]

We have a Note style that uses a reference page graphic frame below the paragraph. When the style is used on a page that has a shaded background, the frame below the paragraph shows the graphic in a white square. The graphic is a gif with a transparent background, but the graphic frame is white. Is there a way to make the frame transparent?

The graphic is a circle, button-type icon, so even the smalest frame possible around the graphic shows the white.

[Guest]

Does the Reference Frame have a Fill Pattern of None and a Pen Pattern of None?

[Guest]

Why, no, it didn't. Thank you for asking. I never think about frames having properties like that!

It does now and that makes a big difference. Thanks.

Now the only white is the area in the imported graphic's frame itself since the frame is a square and the graphic is a circle. The graphic is a transparent gif, but does Framemaker recognize that?

I did have no pen and no fill selected when I imported the file, just in case that was causing it, but it's still white.

Now what?

[Guest]

You may have more luck saving from Photoshop as an EPS file with a clipping path. That'll give you the smooth vector edge you're probably looking for

-Matt

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Matt Sullivan
director of training
roundpeg, inc.

http://blogs.roundpeg.com
http://twitter.com/mattrsullivan

[Guest]

Thank you Matt so very much for your helpful and instructive responses. My eps files aren't cooperating, but I may just be selecting the wrong options...

Thanks again.

Phoebe

[Michael_Müller-Hillebrand]

Phoebe,

FrameMaker never shows any image transparency on screen. GIF transparency is not honored, EPS transparency is, but you have to create a PDF or print the page to see it in action.

Another option could be to produce an icon with the desired background color, although it might be difficult to get an exact match of colors (greys).

- Michael

[Guest]

One clarification to Michael's excellent summary: if you print to a non-PostScript printer, you'll end up with the screen image being used in the output. Hence, the common practice of producing a PDF and then printing the PDF.

[Guest]

Thank you so much for the help. That does work!