How to Clip or Mask a Circular Region on a Visio Page?

Started by david, November 18, 2008, 11:14:23 PM

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Visio Guy

You can see my take on this problem at:

Super Mask Visio Clipping Shape

The shape has the following features:


  • Easily resized and repositioned
  • Rotate-able(!)
  • Semi-transparent mode to make it easier to work with
  • Four different shapes: Oval, Rectangle, "L", "T"
  • Automatically sizes to the page's size
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david

wow thanks!
you wrote the article because of me?

makes me proud :)

jp

This is great! I was wondering, how can I use this in the opposite way? i.e. How can I make what is inside the hole 'masked over' and the rest of the page is 'bright'?

Visio Guy

You're thinking too hard, jp! :)

Just draw a circle or rectangle or square, then go to Format > Fill and give it some transparency!
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jp

Thanks.  I did that actually, but after playing with different transparency levels, I converted the files to pdf (as I will have to do eventually), and I still can't get the portion beneath the shaded area to show through.

When I downloaded your file and converted it to pdf, everything shows through beautifully!!

Visio Guy

Ah! Now I understand.

I think that the super mask just uses normal transparency, though. Not sure why it would be any different.

Unfortunately, Visio transparency, especially with gradient fills can turn out less than desirable in pdfs and print-outs. When I get garbage, I export to a high-res bitmap and print that instead. Files can be large, so I usually export, print, then delete the bmp to keep the ol' hard drive clean.
For articles, tips and free content, see the Visio Guy Website at http://www.visguy.com
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wapperdude

#21
Yep, pdf and gradient fills are a real bugger.  But, usually solid fills are OK, even with transparency.  See attached.  This was done with Visio 2007 Std, shapes from Visio Tech 4.1 (someone is too cheap to buy 2007Pro & already has the older version).  I used the Publish as PDF... add-on, all settings were default.

Wapperdude
Visio 2019 Pro

wapperdude

OK.  Slow day at the office. 

Here's an embellishment, NOT using Visio Guy's mask, but, uh hmmm, someone else's "Magic Window", see Re: How to Clip or Mask a Circular Region on a Visio Page? (http://visguy.com/vgforum/index.php?topic=494.0).   :o  :-X

Some people have no shame!
Visio 2019 Pro

Visio Guy

For articles, tips and free content, see the Visio Guy Website at http://www.visguy.com
Get my Visio Book! Using Microsoft Visio 2010

wapperdude

Visio 2019 Pro