on Mar 19, 2010Implemented
Score6410
This is requested quite frequently so that graphics, especially rectangles and polygons, drawn on maps can support transparency. For example, I want to draw a graphic on the map and be able to see through it to the map underneath. Using no fill or hatches doesn't work as nicely for this because when you zoom in very closely you may not be able to tell if you are inside or outside the area. Or I may want to draw a text callout and have the callout box transparent.
and why not add the graphic to the or a Table of Contents so you could control them all at once or move them up or down in the draw order like a layer?
Not only would the GDI re-write fix this issue, but also increase printing performance (WYSIWYG *finally*) as well as output performance fromArcGlobe. Pity.
http://resources.arcgis.com/content/kbase?fa=articleShow&d=17336
I have exported each data frame separately and combined them again with GIMP, after making the white background transparent.
Andreea Gutu
ESRI Romania
I've never understood why esri uses bitmap marker fills in the first place. Postscript and hpgl2 have had vector constructs for symbols for decades, and Arcgis understands or at least utilises both of those languages. If vectors were used for symbols many of the transparency & raterization issues would literally just disappear! (pun intended).
KB17336 refers to a known issue that when a data frame that contains layers symbolized with transparency or picture marker symbology or contains raster is placed on top of another data frame or other graphics, the background of the top data frame can appear to be transparent on screen in ArcMap, which in actually it cannot be, due to the same GDI limitation.
for now i also convert my graphics to a layer and apply transparency
but it's cant work any time.
I don't want to mess with shapefiles etc that is a cumbersome workaround.
It is high time to resolve this. Any update from ESRI folks?
As some said it would be quite helpful for final cartographic layout.
For transparent graphics: While your layout is active, choose to draw a rectangle from the Graphics group on the Insert tab. Draw a rectangle on your layout and a Polygon Tools Format tab will appear in the ribbon. Choose Format > Fill > Color Properties. Pick a color and set transparency > Ok.
For transparent callouts: While your layout is active, choose to create new text from the Text group on the Insert tab. Click your layout to drop the text and the properties will open in the Element pane. Choose Text Symbol > Call Out > Background. Pick a background symbol and click Color > Color Properties > pick a color and set transparency > Ok > Apply.