Issue with printing objects that use transparency in publisher

The object uses a transparent color for a line or fill. When you print to a PostScript or PCL printer, you may see the following problems:

• The object may display a banding pattern.

• The object's color may change.

• The object may appear fuzzy.

• The object may lose its transparency.

• If this object overlaps or is overlapped by another transparent object, an unwanted pattern (called a moiré) may appear.

Note: You can print the transparency as it appears on the screen to a color inkjet printer, and the transparency will be displayed correctly when you publish the publication as a Web site or send it as an e-mail message.

The object is one of the following:

• An AutoShape

• A table

• A text box or WordArt with a shadow

• A picture or clip art

To find and select the item, click the error message in the Design Checker task pane, click the arrow, and then click Go to this Item.

Newer versions Office 2010 Office 2007

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Automatic fix

Replace transparency with tint      Click this fix to automatically reset the object's transparency to 0 percent.

If you use this fix, you will not be able to see any objects that are beneath this object. You will also lose the appearance of a tint or shade for those parts of the transparent object that are viewed against a solid-colored background. To maintain these effects, you must fix the problem manually.

Manual fix

To fix this problem manually, do one of the following:

Replace the transparency with a tint or shade

The following procedures apply only to objects in which a single color shows through the transparent object. To recreate the look of the transparent object against a solid-colored background, do the following:

1. Reset the object's transparency to 0 percent.

   For an object with a transparent fill

   1. Right-click the object and select Format Object.

   2. In the Colors and Lines tab, under Fill, use the Transparency slider to set the transparency to 0%.

   For an object with a transparent line

   1. Right-click the object and select Format Object.

   2. In the Colors and Lines tab, under Line, use the Transparency slider to set the transparency to 0%, and then click OK.

2. Select the object, and then apply a tint or shade to it.

   For a fill

   1. Right-click the object and select Format Object.

   2. In the Colors and Lines tab, under Fill, click the dropdown list next to Color and select Tints.

   3. In the Fill Effects dialog box, select the tint or shade you want, and click OK.

   For a line

   1. Right-click the object and select Format Object.

   2. In the Colors and Lines tab, under Line, click the dropdown list next to Color and select Tints.

   3. In the Fill Effects dialog box, select the tint or shade you want, and click OK.

Note: You can select tints or shades of a color only in 10-percent increments. It may not be possible to match an exact tint or shade to the look of the transparency against a solid-colored background.

Save the objects as a picture and insert the picture in their place

The following procedures apply only to transparent objects that partially cover one or more background objects. To create a picture that you can use in place of the objects in your publication, do the following:

1. Select all the objects that are affected by the transparency, and then right-click and select Group .

2. Again right-click the group, and then click Save as Picture.

3. In the Save As dialog box, select a graphic file type from the Save as type list.

   Note: For best results, select Device Independent Bitmap. This file type will retain the look of the transparency against the grouped background objects.

4. Click Change.

5. In the Change Resolution dialog box, select the resolution that matches the kind of printing that you will use, and then click OK.

6. Type a name for the picture in the File name box.

7. In the Save in list, select the location where you want to save the picture, and then click Save.

8. Delete the objects by selecting the grouped objects and then pressing DELETE. If you want to keep the original objects, drag the group off the page to the scratch area.

9. On the Insert menu, point to Picture.

10. In the Insert Picture dialog box, navigate to where you saved the picture, select it, and then click Insert.

Notes: 

• These procedures will not achieve the desired result in all cases. For example, you will not be able to group objects that are on a master page or get the effect of a transparent object overlaying a page background.

• For best results, you should avoid using transparency if you will be printing your publication to a PostScript or PCL printer. Instead, use a drawing program to create opaque pictures that appear transparent.

Automatic fix

Replace transparency with tint      Click this fix to automatically reset the object's transparency to 0 percent.

If you use this fix, you will not be able to see any objects that are beneath this object. You will also lose the appearance of a tint or shade for those parts of the transparent object that are viewed against a solid-colored background. To maintain these effects, you must fix the problem manually.

Manual fix

To fix this problem manually, do one of the following:

Replace the transparency with a tint or shade

The following procedures apply only to objects in which a single color shows through the transparent object. To recreate the look of the transparent object against a solid-colored background, do the following:

1. Reset the object's transparency to 0 percent.

   For an object with a transparent fill

   1. Right-click the object and select Format Object.

   2. In the Colors and Lines tab, under Fill, use the Transparency slider to set the transparency to 0%.

   For an object with a transparent line

   1. Right-click the object and select Format Object.

   2. In the Colors and Lines tab, under Line, use the Transparency slider to set the transparency to 0%, and then click OK.

2. Select the object, and then apply a tint or shade to it.

   For a fill

   1. Right-click the object and select Format Object.

   2. In the Colors and Lines tab, under Fill, click Fill Effects.

   3. In the Fill Effects dialog box, click the Tint tab, and select the tint or shade you want, and click OK.

Note: You can select tints or shades of a color only in 10-percent increments. It may not be possible to match an exact tint or shade to the look of the transparency against a solid-colored background.

Save the objects as a picture and insert the picture in their place

The following procedures apply only to transparent objects that partially cover one or more background objects. To create a picture that you can use in place of the objects in your publication, do the following:

1. Select all the objects that are affected by the transparency, and then right-click and select Group .

2. Again right-click the group, and then click Save as Picture.

3. In the Save As dialog box, select a graphic file type from the Save as type list.

   Note: For best results, select Device Independent Bitmap. This file type will retain the look of the transparency against the grouped background objects.

4. Click Change.

5. In the Change Resolution dialog box, select the resolution that matches the kind of printing that you will use, and then click OK.

6. Type a name for the picture in the File name box.

7. In the Save in list, select the location where you want to save the picture, and then click Save.

8. Delete the objects by selecting the grouped objects and then pressing DELETE. If you want to keep the original objects, drag the group off the page to the scratch area.

9. On the Insert menu, point to Picture.

10. In the Insert Picture dialog box, navigate to where you saved the picture, select it, and then click Insert.

Notes: 

• These procedures will not achieve the desired result in all cases. For example, you will not be able to group objects that are on a master page or get the effect of a transparent object overlaying a page background.

• For best results, you should avoid using transparency if you will be printing your publication to a PostScript or PCL printer. Instead, use a drawing program to create opaque pictures that appear transparent.

Automatic fix

Replace transparency with tint      Click this fix to automatically reset the object's transparency to 0 percent.

If you use this fix, you will not be able to see any objects that are beneath this object. You will also lose the appearance of a tint or shade for those parts of the transparent object that are viewed against a solid-colored background. To maintain these effects, you must fix the problem manually.

Manual fix

To fix this problem manually, do one of the following:

Replace the transparency with a tint or shade

The following procedures apply only to objects in which a single color shows through the transparent object. To recreate the look of the transparent object against a solid-colored background, do the following:

1. Reset the object's transparency to 0 percent.

   For an object with a transparent fill

   1. Select the object.

   2. On the Formatting toolbar, click the arrow next to Fill Color , and then click More Fill Colors.

   3. In the Colors dialog box, click the Standard tab, and then use the Transparency slider to set the transparency to 0%.

   For an object with a transparent line

   1. Select the object.

   2. On the Formatting toolbar, click the arrow next to Line Color , and then click More Line Colors.

   3. In the Colors dialog box, click the Standard tab, and then use the Transparency slider to set the transparency to 0%.

2. Select the object, and then apply a tint or shade to it.

   For a fill

   1. On the Formatting toolbar, click the arrow next to Fill Color , and then click Fill Effects.

   2. In the Fill Effects dialog box, click the Tint tab, and then select the tint or shade that you want.

   For a line

   1. On the Formatting toolbar, click the arrow next to Line Color , and then click Patterned Lines.

   2. In the Patterned Lines dialog box, click the Tints tab, and then select the tint or shade that you want.

Note: You can select tints or shades of a color only in 10-percent increments. It may not be possible to match an exact tint or shade to the look of the transparency against a solid-colored background.

Save the objects as a picture and insert the picture in their place

The following procedures apply only to transparent objects that partially cover one or more background objects. To create a picture that you can use in place of the objects in your publication, do the following:

1. Select and group all the objects that are affected by the transparency.

   How?

   1. Click the Select Objects tool , and then drag the selection box around the objects that you want in the group.

   2. In the lower-right corner of the selection box, click Group .

2. Right-click the group, and then click Save as Picture.

3. In the Save As dialog box, select a graphic file type from the Save as type list.

   Note: For best results, select Device Independent Bitmap. This file type will retain the look of the transparency against the grouped background objects.

4. Click Change.

5. In the Change Resolution dialog box, select the resolution that matches the kind of printing that you will use, and then click OK.

6. Type a name for the picture in the File name box.

7. In the Save in list, select the location where you want to save the picture, and then click Save.

8. Delete the objects by selecting the grouped objects and then pressing DELETE. If you want to keep the original objects, drag the group off the page to the scratch area.

9. On the Insert menu, point to Picture, and then click From File.

10. In the Insert Picture dialog box, navigate to where you saved the picture, select it, and then click Insert.

Notes: 

• These procedures will not achieve the desired result in all cases. For example, you will not be able to group objects that are on a master page or get the effect of a transparent object overlaying a page background.

• For best results, you should avoid using transparency if you will be printing your publication to a PostScript or PCL printer. Instead, use a drawing program to create opaque pictures that appear transparent.