Designer, windows: is there a rectangular transparency coming?

[Harster13]

It's been about 16 months since I originally posted this question.  I just tried SEVERAL times to duplicate my success in creating a rectangular transparency and I was totally UNSUCCESSFUL!  I think it's about time for Serif to wake up and do it right, like they did with DrawPlus!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Hello - is anyone paying attention out there?  SERIF?

[Alfred]

I’d be very interested to know where it fails now, given that it worked 16 months ago!

[carl123]

3 hours ago, Harster13 said:

It's been about 16 months since I originally posted this question.  I just tried SEVERAL times to duplicate my success in creating a rectangular transparency and I was totally UNSUCCESSFUL!  I think it's about time for Serif to wake up and do it right, like they did with DrawPlus!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Hello - is anyone paying attention out there?  SERIF?

If you cant remember the steps to do this every time you need to, see if the attached Macro does what you want.

The last 2 steps are deliberately unticked but left there to remind you what to do next (should you need to)

 

transparency.afmacro

[Alfred]

46 minutes ago, carl123 said:

If you cant remember the steps to do this every time you need to, see if the attached Macro does what you want.

Thanks for that, Carl, but unfortunately your macro is only of use to those of us who have Affinity Photo.

[toltec]

4 hours ago, Harster13 said:

It's been about 16 months since I originally posted this question.  I just tried SEVERAL times to duplicate my success in creating a rectangular transparency and I was totally UNSUCCESSFUL!  I think it's about time for Serif to wake up and do it right, like they did with DrawPlus!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Hello - is anyone paying attention out there?  SERIF?

If this the sort of effect you are trying to achieve, this is how I would do it ?  All done in Designer Windows.

This has been explained before in this thread, but I like pictures 

 

Take a picture (or download one)

 

Draw a rectangle on top

 

Right click on the Rectangle layer and choose, Mask to Below

Note, make sure the document has a Transparent background.

 

Apply a Gaussian blur Effect to the rectangle layer only, not the image. Make sure just the rectangle layer is selected

 

You can adjust the blur radius or the size of the rectangle to get the effect you want. Here placed on a black background.

 

You can use any shape or, as I did below, apply rounded edges to the rectangle.

 

This method is incredibly flexible. If you turn the rectangle into curves, you can use the node tool to mould the shape.

See my subtle  recurving of the bottom edge.

 

[carl123]

"Alfred: Thanks for that, Carl, but unfortunately your macro is only of use to those of us who have Affinity Photo."

Just trying to increase sales of AP, Alfred.

My commission/bonus was a bit low last month.

[Wosven]

Or you can use the file provided by @JimmyJack to add a new Style you'll be able to reuse and tweak later.

[mattgolfs]

Yes! in fact, I'm on the hunt for a commercial vector design program and tried DrawPlus first and it crashed every time I tried to 

reopen my first project, and on top of that, it added a huge border to it when I exported it. And they want $199!?   I'll try 

the workflow again and see If I can get it to work. brb...... It did the same thing as last time. I'm pretty sure I followed the directions 

correctly but when I drop and drag (last step) I just see the original image as it normally was when I imported it. 

[Alfred]

5 minutes ago, mattgolfs said:

And they want $199!?

Who want $199? As a ‘legacy’ product, DrawPlus X8 is $25 these days.

[mattgolfs]

Whoops, I lied. Got software mixed up. It Canvas Draw 4 that I was checking out that wants $199 or $79 a year....

[JimmyJack]

4 hours ago, mattgolfs said:

Yes! in fact, I'm on the hunt for a commercial vector design program and tried DrawPlus first and it crashed every time I tried to 

reopen my first project, and on top of that, it added a huge border to it when I exported it. And they want $199!?   I'll try 

the workflow again and see If I can get it to work. brb...... It did the same thing as last time. I'm pretty sure I followed the directions 

correctly but when I drop and drag (last step) I just see the original image as it normally was when I imported it. 

Hey. So, if after the drag n drop (on the thumbnail) the image remains... that would indicate that the fill and gradient are all 100% opaque. So I'm guessing that your gradient is going from 100% black to 100% white and not black (or any color really) to 0% opacity. (something to double check at least).

EDIT: OR.... maybe the FX gradient is set to outside instead of inside?

 

15 hours ago, Harster13 said:

It's been about 16 months since I originally posted this question.  I just tried SEVERAL times to duplicate my success in creating a rectangular transparency and I was totally UNSUCCESSFUL!  I think it's about time for Serif to wake up and do it right, like they did with DrawPlus!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Hello - is anyone paying attention out there?  SERIF?

Not many clues here . Maybe post a vid of your process and people can chime in.

[firstdefence]

@toltec Just tried your method and its simplicity itself and a nice effect too.

[Harster13]

see below

[Harster13]

1 hour ago, Harster13 said:

@toltec This is  exactly what I was looking for.  It IS simple, easy and works perfectly!  Thank you so much.  WOW!