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Specifying transparency


    By default, the entire object (both the stroke and the fill) is affected by transparency commands. To change the transparency of only the fill or only the stroke, you can select the fill or stroke in the Appearance palette. You can then apply transparency effects to the selected fill or stroke using the Transparency palette.

    Use the Layers palette to target an object, group of objects, or layer when applying transparency effects. (See Changing the appearance of artwork using the Layers palette.) This is the only way to ensure that the effect is applied only to the artwork you want to target. When you make transparency changes on a targeted layer, the changes are applied to the layer as a whole, not to objects on the layer. Objects moved out of the layer do not retain the layer's transparency values.

To change the opacity of an object, group, or layer:

  1. Select the object, group, layer, or sublayer using one of the following methods:
    • Use the selection tool or direct-selection tool to select the object, or target it in the Layers palette.
    • Use the selection tool to select a group on the artboard. To select more than one group, hold down Shift and click the other groups.
    • In the Layers palette, click the target icon of the desired layer or group. To select more than one layer or group, hold down Shift, and click their target icons.
  2. In the Transparency palette, drag the Opacity slider or enter a transparency value.