![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.xmpie.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/fr-1024x671.jpg\")
Using Transparency:<\/h4>\nPosted by\u00a0Zvika Leybovich,\u00a0Manager, 1:1 Media technologies, XMPie:<\/p>\n
In part 3 of our XMPie Designer Series: VDP Best Practices and Optimization Techniques, we\u2019re going to explore transparency methods. If you\u2019re looking to change and improve the way you use transparency in your design files, this post is for you!<\/p>\n
The \u201cSee Through\u201d Effect<\/p>\n
The \u201csee through\u201d effect is a common design element that many designers want to achieve in their design work. To do this there are a variety of methods, some of which can be achieved with transparency effects and some without.<\/p>\n
Using Transparency:<\/h4>\nWhen you use a file type like a PNG or PSD where the background is defined as transparent, InDesign has to flatten the transparent image with the elements behind it in order to render the resulting image and calculate the color of each pixel in the orange and the green background. \u00a0All this adds time to the production process. If either the image or the background are dynamic, this also means that the both need to\u00a0be rendered multiple times \u2013 increasing the output size and increasing the time it takes to RIP that file.<\/p>\n
There are better ways that designers can achieve \u201ccut-off\u201d or \u201cscissor\u201d effects without using transparency. With the\u00a0clipping path feature in Photoshop or \u2018detect edges\u2019 in InDesign the images are not rasterized because they do not include any transparency effect \u2013 meaning no performance hit. \u00a0In fact to\u00a0minimize RIP time and optimize output size, it is better\u00a0to use a clipping path or detect edges to get the desired transparency look! You don’t actually need to use true transparency effects!<\/p>\n
Below we\u2019re going to take a look at a design file\u00a0with\u00a0a high resolution\u00a0background image and explore the best way to include dynamic text elements when using transparent features. The end goal is to have a frame with text that is personal to each recipient without completely covering the desired background image.<\/p>\n
What\u2019s the best way to achieve this desired effect? Let\u2019s examine each box within the example below.<\/p>\n
![\"transparancy\"](\"https:\/\/www.xmpie.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/transparancy-1024x668.jpg\")
\nThe white box on the left has 80% opacity so that the background image is still visible but the text itself is 80% opaque, meaning the text is semi-transparent and you can see the background image through the letters. As mentioned above, the desired output has a dynamic, personal field for each recipient. Since the text is of the same opacity as the white frame it has to be rasterized with the background for every recipient \u2013 adding length to the RIP time and increasing the output size. There is no algorithm that can save the re-rendering of the text with the image behind it since every recipient requires a unique combination between the letters and the background image.<\/p>\n
Now, take a look at the example on the right. What\u2019s different about this one? It has two separate boxes \u2013 a white frame that is 80% opaque and a text box that is 100% opaque. You can see through the background, but you can\u2019t see through the ink of the letters. This changes the visible effect of the design, making the text opaque. This way, rasterization between the background image and the semi-transparent frame only occurs once. The dynamic text will then be placed on top of the static rasterized white frame and image.<\/p>\n
Overall, the second method is the best way to achieve this desired transparency effect because it maximizes the visible effect and makes your document more efficient. One of the key steps in this process is to use the flattener preview in InDesign to identify the areas that will be rendered (this also applies for the \u201csee through\u201d effect example). Ensure that the dynamic text elements you have in your design are not in the areas that will be rendered. In the end your file will have a smaller output, faster composition time and faster RIP time.<\/p>\n
Do you work with transparency frequently when you\u2019re designing? Share your favorite tips with us below!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Posted by\u00a0Zvika Leybovich,\u00a0Manager, 1:1 Media technologies, XMPie: In part 3 of our XMPie Designer Series: VDP Best Practices and Optimization Techniques, we\u2019re going to explore transparency methods. If you\u2019re looking to change and…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":13607,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[505],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-17209","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog-posts-es","language-english-es"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n