Microsoft KB Archive/829174

= Publisher 2003 does not print transparent areas =

Article ID: 829174

Article Last Modified on 1/12/2006

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Office Publisher 2003

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SYMPTOMS
When you try to print transparent areas on a PostScript print device in Microsoft Office Publisher 2003, the transparent area does not print.



CAUSE
Publisher 2003 can print transparent areas in raster-based graphics to PostScript Level 3 print devices in the following cases:
 * The raster graphic is an RGB TIFF with one alpha channel. The alpha channel is treated as a transparency mask.
 * The raster graphic is a transparent GIF. The transparent color is treated as a transparency mask.
 * The raster graphic is a transparent PNG. The transparency channel in the PNG is treated as a transparency mask.
 * The raster graphic is an EPS with a clipping path. This actually prints correctly to PostScript Level 2 or 3.
 * The raster graphic is any raster format (except EPS) to where you use the transparency wand to create a transparency mask.



WORKAROUND
To work around this issue, you can print a raster image (bitmap) with a transparency effect applied with the transparency wand in Publisher 2003 on a PostScript level 3 print device. The transparency wand applies an alpha channel transparency to one color that a PostScript level 3 print device recognizes and supports. To do this, follow these steps:
 * 1) Select the bitmap that you want to create transparent areas in.
 * 2) On the Picture toolbar, click Set Transparent Color.

Note If the Picture toolbar is not visible, click Toolbars on the View menu, and then click Picture.
 * 1) Click the color that you want to make transparent.
 * 2) Print the document to a PostScript level 3 print device.



Definition of terms

 * Alpha Channel

An extra 8-bit (or 16-bit) color channel, additional to the Red, Green, and Blue (or Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black.) This does not have to mean transparency. Files can have more than one alpha channel.
 * Transparency Channel

An extra 8-bit color channel, additional to the Red, Green, and Blue color channels. Unlike an alpha channel, a transparency channel always means transparent, and each image can have only one. Each pixel can have one of 256 levels of transparency. An image can have both a transparency channel and one or more alpha channels.
 * Transparent Color

Used in GIF files; one of the 256 colors in the file is defined as &quot;Transparent.&quot; Every pixel is either &quot;Transparent&quot; or it is not.
 * Transparency Mask

All areas that are 100% transparent print as transparent. Any area that is less than 100% transparent prints opaque.

Additional query words: wrong incorrect gradient transparency printing

Keywords: kbnofix kbprb KB829174

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