Author Topic: image transparency (Read 6225 times)

JohnDoe · « **on:** June 20, 2007, 02:18:59 am »

Hello,

I want to use transparent images in my diagrams as alternate images. No matter whether I import PNG oder JPG or GIF or EMF, I always get a black background. Since the diagram background can be altered, I would like to build a set of transparent images.

Since the EA image library offers some transparent pictures: What format is it or how do Sparx achieve transparency ?

Regards
Bernd

«Midnight» · « **Reply #1 on:** June 20, 2007, 02:30:55 am »

Bernd,

They don't seem to support transparency through version 6.5 inclusive. [Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.] Sparx has mentioned possible support in some as yet unspecified future version.

I don't know if this is handled in version 7.0. I have seen nothing in the first two beta releases that suggests it is, but then again I haven't tried this explicitly and the documentation has not yet caught up with the feature set.

If you have access to the beta - all registered users in good standing should, so check the Latest News section of the forum - then try it out. If the feature doesn't seem to work issue a bug report using the link on the beta download page.

This is an often-requested feature, and will only become more important as EA improves its ability to render custom shapes. I don't think it will ripen well if left on the shelf until version 8.0.

David

PS: Please post any response you get from Sparx to this thread. There is a lot of interest in the community.

thomaskilian · « **Reply #2 on:** June 20, 2007, 02:31:06 am »

I'm not sure if this is the answer, but it could be Shape Script.

JohnDoe · « **Reply #3 on:** June 20, 2007, 02:37:08 am »

If you open "Settings - Images", you can see all image library pictures marked as "Metafile", whereas my PNG files are marked as Bitmap.

thomaskilian · « **Reply #4 on:** June 20, 2007, 02:47:56 am »

So using EMF/WMF might be the answer?

«Midnight» · « **Reply #5 on:** June 20, 2007, 03:18:37 am »

Perhaps not.

I remember (perhaps accurately) from somewhere that EA stores all graphics internally in PNG format. Nonetheless, it seems that EA does not recognize or handle transparent backgrounds.

I hope I'm wrong, and that EA will somehow do this with imported metafiles, but I don't have any appropriate examples to test with.

JohnDoe · « **Reply #6 on:** June 20, 2007, 03:42:10 am »

It would be helpful to understand, what file format is inside that Base64 CDATA segments inside the image gallery. Is it EMF, WMF, PNG or whatever ?

Regards
Bernd

JohnDoe · « **Reply #7 on:** June 20, 2007, 09:19:58 pm »

I finally found a way to import transparent pictures into EA:

Visio:
- open Visio, select a template and create a new document
- drag a shape onto the stage
- mark the shape
- File -> Save As
- save the shape using file format "Enhanced Metafile"

EA:
- open Enterprise Architect
- Settings -> Images
- "Add new"

Now you have a transparent shape loaded into EA.

Regards
Bernd

Kevin G. Watson · « **Reply #8 on:** June 21, 2007, 01:39:06 am »

A use for Visio... See ya needs it after all

Well it cheered me up this morning

Kevin

thomaskilian · « **Reply #9 on:** June 21, 2007, 05:10:52 am »

Quote

- save the shape using file format "Enhanced Metafile"

As I said. I use Metafile Companion which was once a freeware tool...

Hans · « **Reply #10 on:** June 21, 2007, 01:23:54 pm »

Hi Bernd and Thomas,

thanks alot for your input: that questions nagged me for years!

Regards
Hans

jeshaw2 · « **Reply #11 on:** June 21, 2007, 05:10:43 pm »

Are you'all sure its an EA problem?

MS/IE browser didn't handle png formats correctly until IE/7.

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