Changing opacity lightens shape but not making it transparent

[iainks]

Hi,

I'm working on tracing a map tha I downloaded as a .pdf off the internet. My plan was to trace and simplify it then add  semi transparent overlays to highlight information. However changing the opacity of both individual assets, or layers results in a lighter image, but not a more transparent one. I created a seperate (empty) file just to test that the issue was local to this this file only (which it is). So I know this specific file is somehow not letting a change in opacity also change the tranparency. Thanks in advance, pictures below.

Transparency test 100%Transparency test 50%

[Ton Frederiks]

Can you show the Appearance panel?

[iainks]

Appearance panel

[Ton Frederiks]

Can you expand the Fill in your Appearance panel?

It also seems that there is something happening on the Layer.

Normally you would se path at the top of the Appearance panel, but now it shows Layer.

[iainks]

Appearance 2

[Ton Frederiks]

As you can see, the object fill has the default transparency.

I suspect the layer has the opacity setting.

[iainks]

Following screenshot shows layer opacity at 50% path opacity at 50% and fill opacity at 50%, still no transparency.50% 50% 50%

[Ton Frederiks]

Can you go to the flyout menu of the Appearance panel and clear the appearance for the layer as well as for the object?

Then click only the object and try again to lower the opacity of the fill.

[Bill Silbert]

Check that when the object that you want transparency for is selected that your appearance Panel looks like the screenshot below (except for the green color which in your case would show as red):

If you see more than one fill listed in the Appearance Panel then delete one of them and see if the object now shows the proper transparency.

[iainks]

Screenshot in reply to previous comment of appearance panel, it notes opacity as default?

[Ton Frederiks]

Can you show your Appearance panel?

[iainks]

Appearance panel

[Bill Silbert]

Try clicking on the word "opacity" in the appearance panel and try changing the opacity in the dialog that pops up. 

[iainks]

This picture shows me changing opacity to 50% in both options, still no transparency. In reply to Ton's comment I only changed one opacity.