Satin, Basic feather, Directional feather – Adobe InDesign CS5 User Manual
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USING INDESIGN
Transparency effects
Last updated 11/16/2011
Use Global Light
Applies the global light source as specified for all transparency effects. Choosing this option overrides
any Angle and Altitude settings.
Highlight and Shadow
Specifies the blending mode for the bevel or emboss highlight and shadow.
Satin
Use the Satin effect to give objects a smooth, satin-like finish. Choose the blending mode, opacity, angle, distance, and
size settings, as well as whether to invert colors and transparencies:
Invert
Select this option to reverse the colored and transparent areas of the object.
Basic Feather
The Feather effect softens (fades) the edges of an object over a distance that you specify:
Feather Width
Sets the distance over which the object fades from opaque to transparent.
Choke
Along with the Feather Width setting, determines how much of the softening glow is opaque and how much is
transparent; a large setting increases opacity and a small setting increases transparency.
Corners
Choose Sharp, Rounded, or Diffused:
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Sharp
Follows the outer edge of the shape, including sharp corners. This option is appropriate for star-like objects
and a special effect on a rectangular shape.
•
Rounded
Rounds the corner by the feather radius; essentially, the shape is first inset, then outset, to form the two
contours. This option works well with rectangles.
•
Diffused
Uses the Adobe Illustrator method, which makes the edges of the object fade from opaque to transparent.
.
Noise
Specifies the amount of random elements in the softening glow. Use this option to soften the glow.
Directional Feather
The Directional Feather effect softens the edges of an object by fading the edges to transparent from directions that
you specify. For example, you can apply feathering to the top and bottom of the object, not the left or right side.
Feather Widths
Set the distance over which the top, bottom, left side, and right side of the object fade to transparent.
Select the Lock option to fade each side of the object by the same distance.
Noise
Specifies the amount of random elements in the softening glow. Use this option to create a softer glow.
Choke
Along with the Width settings, determines how much of the glow is opaque and how much is transparent; large
settings increase opacity and small settings increase transparency.
Shape
Choose an option—First Edge Only, Leading Edges, or All Edges—to demarcate the object’s original shape.
Angle
Rotates the frame of reference for the feathering effect such that, as long as you don’t enter a multiple of 90
degrees, the feathering edges are skewed rather than parallel to the object.
Gradient Feather
Use the Gradient Feather effect to soften the areas of an object by fading them to transparent.
Gradient Stops
Create one gradient stop for each gradation in transparency that you want for your object.
•
To create a gradient stop, click below the Gradient Slider (drag a gradient stop away from the slider to remove a
stop).
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To adjust the position of a stop, drag it left or right, or select it and then drag the Location slider.