Problems with my shadows and transparent objects in illustrator

[Cismort]

My transparent objects being in their own layer become solid colors when I turn off the background layer. I mean the layer behind the transparent object. How can I fix this, I have tried everything.

PLEASE HELP!!!!

[Brad @ Roaring Mouse]

Some transparency effects require something behind it to interact with.

What are your objects filled with; and with what effect?

[tromboniator]

If you put another object behind the transparent object, does it not show through? Against a uniform white or gray background, a semi-transparent gray object is going to look like a light gray opaque object.

Peter