Inconsistent raster transparency when printing a sheet with copies of the same reference

I'm printing a sheet that contains three references the same model rounding several bends. The referenced model has a background raster with transparency. On the sheet model, all three views indicate transparency; however when printing, only the lowest reference prints with the correct transparency.

Displaying the sheet model view correctly:

Print preview shows that the lowest reference has transparent raster but not the others:

Plotting to PDF confirms the preview:

I print with transparency because my graphics pop against the lighter image. I only have 3 or 4 sheets with copies of the referenced model but the other 20 or so will just have a single reference of the model. I can make it work for the few sheets I need, but I hate the inconsistency. Rasterizing the sheet is not ideal. Any tips would be helpful.

  • Are you controlling transparency solely through Reference Manager? If so, I have two other ideas for you that I use:

    - Control transparency via your pen table. There are dozens of ways to do this. Control the level that the rasters are on, or give all of the aerial references a logical name and control via that logical name, etc. The pen table may also be causing your problem so it's worth investigating anyway.

    - I personally don't use transparency on aerials. Instead I increase the brightness and decrease the contrast via the raster settings in the print dialog. Note that this does mean that you cannot have rasters anywhere else (logos, for example), but I prefer to vectorize that stuff anyway so the logos aren't pixelated. Adjusting the brightness/contrast has the exact same effect as transparency, IMO, plus some other benefits like not highlighting small portions of rasters that might overlap a bit. +50 brightness and -30 contrast is a good start, but you can play around. I generally just adjust each in increments of 10. Don't combine actual transparency with +brightness/-contrast because they will have an additive effect.

    Maybe not the total solution you were hoping for but just my thoughts.

  • Hi Allan, i only have success when my rasters are in 2d models and my print driver configuration has "Enable Merging of Background Rasters" set. Could it be a priority issue?

    Regards,

    Mark


    OpenRoads Designer 2022 R3 (10.12)  |  Microstation 2023.1  |  ProjectWise CE 3.4

  • I will check that setting and let you know. I have been working with Steven's suggestion of changing the brightness and contrast of the images in my reference which has accomplished more or less of my intent.

  • I used to create a holding xref file for the raster  attachent  and adjust the  brightness and contrast in the  raster ref manager  for the  holding  file, this will not change the actual raster only how it looks in the holding file , Then I attach this holding file as part of a nested ref and use  it as set only the order then  or  priorty to force it under all the  vector data.. this then can work for multiple sheets using the nested ref file  with the  holding  raster file set as below the vector .. makes for best consistent results over whole project and multiple  drafters use the same  xrefs for consistency and ease of use.

    Lorys

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