Controlling the scope of transparency effects

All vector objects have scope settings that control what parts of the objects are affected by transparency. The scope setting can limit transparency to an object’s fill ink only, or it can apply transparency to the fill ink and the pen ink on the object’s stroke. The scope setting controls all transparency effects applied to vector objects, including opacity, channel masks, vector masks, and transfer modes. Each vector object has a scope setting. Scope settings do not affect text objects, paint objects, or group objects. You can change the scope setting of a selected vector object by using the Scope controls in the Properties bar or the Transparency palette (see Using the Transparency palette).

The scope setting can affect the time needed to print an object. When an object has a reduced opacity setting (but no other transparency effects) and the scope is Fill, Canvas can print the object on PostScript printers without rendering. If the scope is Fill & Stroke, Canvas renders the object and prints it as an image. An image usually contains more data than a vector object, so this can increase the time required to print an object.

To set an object’s transparency scope:

1. Select a vector object.
2. Select a Scope option in the Properties bar or Transparency palette:
   • To apply transparency effects to the entire object: Select Fill & Stroke.
   • To apply transparency effects to the object’s fill ink only: Select Fill.