Clipping Paths

[zcole]

I am creating a layout to send off to a printer. I am importing graphics into Quark, and need to place multiple pictures on top of each other. I need the top photo to "transparent" and have been unsuccessful in acheiving this thus far. I have the images background deleted, and then I applied a work path to the selected image. I am kind of stuck at this point as to whether I need to apply a layer mask, how to save the image, etc. If someone could give me a semi-detailed explanation on how to acheive a transparent image with a work path I would greatly appreciate it!

 

[operamatic]

If you want hard edges around your images that overlap use clipping paths, if you want soft transitions use layered images with a clear background.

I'm guessing you want clipping path, so, create a selection, make work path in paths window, save path (default name is okay), choose clipping path, and by default your first path shows up, and now you've created a clipping path. on the path palette the path 1 is shown as outlined text instead of plain black.

 

[blueark]

BTW, Quark doesn't support transparency like Photoshop does. Clipping paths will work fine, but "soft" transparency doesn't. It picks a cutoff point; anything below it is fully transparent, and anything above it is opaque. If clipping paths are unsuitable, you'll need to layer all the images in Photoshop. Or switch to InDesign, which does support transparency...