Background transparency

F

fordwich

I find that if I create a slide show background consisting of an image
that is transparent (e.g. 75%) and then use a PC to show it, the
background transparency is removed resulting in a non-transparent
image that makes it next to impossible to read the copy on the slides.

Can anyone offer a solution?
 
S

Steve Rindsberg

Fordwich said:
I find that if I create a slide show background consisting of an image
that is transparent (e.g. 75%) and then use a PC to show it, the
background transparency is removed resulting in a non-transparent
image that makes it next to impossible to read the copy on the slides.
Click to expand...

What version of PC PowerPoint or the viewer are you viewing it in?



================================================
Steve Rindsberg, PPT MVP
PPT FAQ: www.pptfaq.com
PPTools: www.pptools.com
================================================
 
S

Steve Rindsberg

I find that if I create a slide show background consisting of an image
PowerPoint XP
Click to expand...

Strange. Even earlier versions of PPT supported partial transparency.

Any chance you can email me a small (ie, one slide) sample file?
I'd like to have a look. Email to steve at-sign pptools dot com

Include this exchange in the body of the mail if you would.

Also, what type of images are these, how were they made transparent and how'd
they get into PPT (ie dragondrop, copy/paste, insert from file ...)

================================================
Steve Rindsberg, PPT MVP
PPT FAQ: www.pptfaq.com
PPTools: www.pptools.com
================================================
 
F

fordwich

Strange. Even earlier versions of PPT supported partial transparency.

Any chance you can email me a small (ie, one slide) sample file?
I'd like to have a look. Email to steve at-sign pptools dot com

Include this exchange in the body of the mail if you would.

Also, what type of images are these, how were they made transparent and how'd
they get into PPT (ie dragondrop, copy/paste, insert from file ...)

================================================
Steve Rindsberg, PPT MVP
PPT FAQ: www.pptfaq.com
PPTools: www.pptools.com
================================================
Click to expand...

Images were inserted from file into master slide and then made
transparent once there. They appear fine on my Mac, but when I ran it
on someone else's PC I had the non-transparent problem. I could ask
if they could send a slide from the presentation.
 
S

Steve Rindsberg

Images were inserted from file into master slide and then made
transparent once there. They appear fine on my Mac, but when I ran it
on someone else's PC I had the non-transparent problem. I could ask
if they could send a slide from the presentation.
Click to expand...

OK. Never mind sending the file; I was able to repro this here.
Mac PPT allows you to set transparency in the Fill area of the format dialog box.
Windows PPT doesn't support this and ignores it when you do it on the Mac.

To a point, Windows PPT works with PNGs that have an alpha transparency applied;
you could do that to the file externally before inserting it and it should work
in Windows as well. The only caveat is that it may not print correctly on at
least some printers.

================================================
Steve Rindsberg, PPT MVP
PPT FAQ: www.pptfaq.com
PPTools: www.pptools.com
================================================
 
F

fordwich

OK. Never mind sending the file; I was able to repro this here.
Mac PPT allows you to set transparency in the Fill area of the format dialog box.
Windows PPT doesn't support this and ignores it when you do it on the Mac.

To a point, Windows PPT works with PNGs that have an alpha transparency applied;
you could do that to the file externally before inserting it and it should work
in Windows as well. The only caveat is that it may not print correctly on at
least some printers.

================================================
Steve Rindsberg, PPT MVP
PPT FAQ: www.pptfaq.com
PPTools: www.pptools.com
================================================
Click to expand...

Thanks for help. How do I apply an alpha transparency? Will it work
with JPEGs?
 
F

fordwich

I don't think so. The JPG format doesn't support an alpha channel.

This is out of date but may point you in the right direction:

Adam's Transparency Tutorial (Alpha channels and more)http://www.pptfaq.com/FAQ00190.htm
Click to expand...

I've followed up the reference but it seems to require manipulating
every image in Photoshop (which I don't possess) before importing into
ppt. I'm amazed that Windows ppt doesn't facilitate the same
operation as the Mac software, particularly as it is a more recent
version. How does one achieve transparency in Windows ppt? Is there
any other way to achieve it in the Mac that would be transferable?
 
F

fordwich

I've followed up the reference but it seems to require manipulating
every image in Photoshop (which I don't possess) before importing into
ppt. I'm amazed that Windows ppt doesn't facilitate the same
operation as the Mac software, particularly as it is a more recent
version. How does one achieve transparency in Windows ppt? Is there
any other way to achieve it in the Mac that would be transferable?
Click to expand...

Steve - one more question - are there more recent versions of Windows
ppt than PowerPoint XP that would support the transparency created on
a Mac?
 
S

Steve Rindsberg

You can use the transparency tool on the picture toolbar to make any single color in an image
transparent; this works in all versions of PPT back to 98/Mac, 97/Windows.
Steve - one more question - are there more recent versions of Windows
ppt than PowerPoint XP that would support the transparency created on
a Mac?
Click to expand...

Afraid not. Even the latest, PPT 2007, doesn't support this type of transparency.

================================================
Steve Rindsberg, PPT MVP
PPT FAQ: www.pptfaq.com
PPTools: www.pptools.com
================================================
 
F

fordwich

You can use the transparency tool on the picture toolbar to make any single color in an image
transparent; this works in all versions of PPT back to 98/Mac, 97/Windows.


Afraid not. Even the latest, PPT 2007, doesn't support this type of transparency.

================================================
Steve Rindsberg, PPT MVP
PPT FAQ: www.pptfaq.com
PPTools: www.pptools.com
================================================
Click to expand...

Extraordinary - I wonder why? Thanks for your help...
 
S

Steve Rindsberg

Extraordinary - I wonder why? Thanks for your help...
Click to expand...

Not a clue, really, but if I had a dollar burning a hole in my pocket I'd bet on PPT Mac using a
feature supplied by the operating system, one that Windows doesn't make available.


================================================
Steve Rindsberg, PPT MVP
PPT FAQ: www.pptfaq.com
PPTools: www.pptools.com
================================================
 
B

blight

I am frustrated with the same problem. My ppt looks gorgeous on my mac but when I email it to my pc using team mates, many features are off including shadows. Very frustrating.
 
J

Jim Gordon MVP

I am frustrated with the same problem. My ppt looks gorgeous on my mac but
when I email it to my pc using team mates, many features are off including
shadows. Very frustrating.
Click to expand...
Hi,

Windows PowerPoint does not have as robust capability with shadows. Use the
compatibility checker to remove the shadows before sending a copy to your
Windows friends. They can correct the problem by purchasing a Mac.

-Jim

--
Jim Gordon
Mac MVP

MVPs are not Microsoft Employees
MVP info
 
S

Steve Rindsberg

I am frustrated with the same problem. My ppt looks gorgeous on my mac but
when I email it to my pc using team mates, many features are off including
shadows. Very frustrating.
Hi,

Windows PowerPoint does not have as robust capability with shadows. Use the
compatibility checker to remove the shadows before sending a copy to your
Windows friends. They can correct the problem by purchasing a Mac.
Click to expand...

;-) That's one approach, yeah.

We now return you to our regularly scheduled reality.

I'm guessing they could upgrade to Office 2007 on the PC. Like Mac versions,
it does nice soft-edged shadows that earlier WinPPT versions can't cope with.

And more practically, accepting that others aren't going to change their
hardware, software or even habits to suit our needs, it might be worth having a
go at copying the shadowed shape then pasting back as a PNG.

================================================
Steve Rindsberg, PPT MVP
PPT FAQ: www.pptfaq.com
PPTools: www.pptools.com
================================================
 

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