Layer Overlay and Transparency

[jsmit29]

I am hoping to find a little help with layers. I have searched the forum, and read all the tutorials I can find....but am still having trouble. Here is a description of what I have:

First Layer: A jpeg image of a map (white background with black lines). I added some text and drawings to this image and looks fine.

Second Layer: Next I used Layer--insert image to create a new layer with a jpeg image of a compass (white background, compass in red). I moved this compass where I wanted it, with the result that this layer is transparent except for the compass. I thought this would be perfect, as I want the compass to show on top.

Third Layer: I needed to add some text and drawings running in a different direction, and it seemed easiest to add another layer and flip it around to add the text. (No doubt there is a better way to do this) Once I finished this layer, it is transparent except for the text and drawings. Again, I thought this would be perfect, because I want these on top.

My first thought was to move my first layer (the map) to the bottom and just set all the layers on normal, since I thought that the transparent parts of the second and third layers would just show through to the map. And indeed it looks perfect on the screen.

The problem is that when I print it out, everything is in a haze. The layers are perfect but it is very light, as if my printer were low on ink (its not and other things print out fine). So I then set all layers on "overlay". But no opaqueness seems to work correctly. I have moved layers, tried different settings on each one, and nothing looks or prints right. I tried flattening, saving as png and jpg, and the results were always the same.

I have the awful feeling that I am overlooking something very simple here....I thought I understood that the checkerboard pattern indicated transparency. But is transparent not really transparent....I mean, does it not mean that the layer underneath will show through clearly?

[mountnman]

are you printing straight from PDN or from another program?? and have you checked your printer settings from whichever program your prinbting from-- because this sounds l;ike a printer problem not a PDN problem- whats on your screen should be whats printed

of course i could be wrong

[Sarkut]

If you want to, you can upload the multi-layer PDN file and post the download link.

http://www.filedropper.com/

That way we can look at the file to see whether there are any identifiable problems.

[jsmit29]

Thank you; that's what I thought too. But I also tried saving it (both as png and jpg) and printing from another program, with the same results. And any other photo or document that I print comes out fine, both directly from PDN and other programs. I am playing around now with trying different printer settings.....

are you printing straight from PDN or from another program?? and have you checked your printer settings from whichever program your prinbting from-- because this sounds l;ike a printer problem not a PDN problem- whats on your screen should be whats printed

of course i could be wrong

[jsmit29]

<ggrrrrr> The more I play around, the more I think you are right and this is a printer issue. I am printing on plain paper, and had the printer options set to reflect that. On a whim I decided to change it to photo paper, and it is much better. (Changed the setting, not the paper) It is still not sharp, but I suspect that I just need to experiment to find a better setting....although I still don't understand why everything else prints fine on that setting and the only problem is with this.

I appreciate the replies, and am sorry I wasted your time with such a simple issue.

[mountnman]

no such thing-- thats what the forums here are for yes?

[SAND33P]

Try flattening? Maybe that would work?

[jsmit29]

Thanks, you're right that's what the forums are for. I have had several questions the last few months, and always found what I needed by searching these forums. I am very thankful for those of you who use the program often (or are just plain better at this than the rest of us!) and share with others what you've learned.

Thanks also for the tip on flattening; changing my printer settings seems to have worked.