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+% Copyright 2019 by Till Tantau
+%
+% This file may be distributed and/or modified
+%
+% 1. under the LaTeX Project Public License and/or
+% 2. under the GNU Free Documentation License.
+%
+% See the file doc/generic/pgf/licenses/LICENSE for more details.
+
+
+\section{Transparency}
+\label{section-tikz-transparency}
+
+\subsection{Overview}
+
+Normally, when you paint something using any of \tikzname's commands (this
+includes stroking, filling, shading, patterns, and images), the newly painted
+objects totally obscure whatever was painted earlier in the same area.
+
+You can change this behavior by using something that can be thought of as
+``(semi)transparent colors''. Such colors do not completely obscure the
+background, rather they blend the background with the new color. At first
+sight, using such semitransparent colors might seem quite straightforward, but
+the math going on in the background is quite involved and the correct handling
+of transparency fills some 64 pages in the PDF specification.
+
+In the present section, we start with the different ways of specifying ``how
+transparent'' newly drawn objects should be. The simplest way is to just
+specify a percentage like ``60\% transparent''. A much more general way is to
+use something that I call a \emph{fading}, also known as a soft mask or a mask.
+
+At the end of the section we address the problem of creating so-called
+\emph{transparency groups}. This problem arises when you paint over a position
+several times with a semitransparent color. Sometimes you want the effect to
+accumulate, sometimes you do not.
+
+\emph{Note:} Transparency (or Opacity, as it may be called as well) is best
+supported by the pdf\TeX\ driver. The \textsc{svg} driver also has some
+support. The PostScript file format does not know about transparency. In
+|dvips|-generated PostScript files, transparency of graphic objects is defined
+through special commands that need further processing to become visible in the
+\textsc{pdf} output. For this, a recent version of Ghostscript, preferably 9.52
+or newer, is required and its command line utility |ps2pdf| must be called with
+option |-dALLOWPSTRANSPARENCY|. Older versions may need option |-dNOSAFER|
+instead, but some advanced features, such as \emph{transparency groups} and
+\emph{fadings}, may not work at all. Printers and other programs will typically
+ignore opacity settings in PostScript files.
+
+
+\subsection{Specifying a Uniform Opacity}
+
+Specifying a stroke and/or fill opacity is quite easy using the following
+options.
+
+\begin{key}{/tikz/draw opacity=\meta{value}}
+ This option sets ``how transparent'' lines should be. A value of |1| means
+ ``fully opaque'' or ``not transparent at all'', a value of |0| means
+ ``fully transparent'' or ``invisible''. A value of |0.5| yields lines that
+ are semitransparent.
+
+ Note that when you use PostScript as your output format, this option works
+ only with recent versions of Ghostscript.
+ %
+\begin{codeexample}[]
+\begin{tikzpicture}[line width=1ex]
+ \draw (0,0) -- (3,1);
+ \filldraw [fill=yellow!80!black,draw opacity=0.5] (1,0) rectangle (2,1);
+\end{tikzpicture}
+\end{codeexample}
+ %
+\end{key}
+
+Note that the |draw opacity| options only sets the opacity of drawn lines. The
+opacity of fillings is set using the option |fill opacity| (documented in
+Section~\ref{section-fill-opacity}. The option |opacity| sets both at the same
+time.
+
+\begin{key}{/tikz/opacity=\meta{value}}
+ Sets both the drawing and filling opacity to \meta{value}.
+
+ The following predefined styles make it easier to use this option:
+ %
+ \begin{stylekey}{/tikz/transparent}
+ Makes everything totally transparent and, hence, invisible.
+ %
+\begin{codeexample}[]
+\tikz{\fill[red] (0,0) rectangle (1,0.5);
+ \fill[transparent,red] (0.5,0) rectangle (1.5,0.25); }
+\end{codeexample}
+ \end{stylekey}
+
+ \begin{stylekey}{/tikz/ultra nearly transparent}
+ Makes everything, well, ultra nearly transparent.
+ %
+\begin{codeexample}[]
+\tikz{\fill[red] (0,0) rectangle (1,0.5);
+ \fill[ultra nearly transparent] (0.5,0) rectangle (1.5,0.25); }
+\end{codeexample}
+ \end{stylekey}
+
+ \begin{stylekey}{/tikz/very nearly transparent}
+\begin{codeexample}[]
+\tikz{\fill[red] (0,0) rectangle (1,0.5);
+ \fill[very nearly transparent] (0.5,0) rectangle (1.5,0.25); }
+\end{codeexample}
+ \end{stylekey}
+
+ \begin{stylekey}{/tikz/nearly transparent}
+\begin{codeexample}[]
+\tikz{\fill[red] (0,0) rectangle (1,0.5);
+ \fill[nearly transparent] (0.5,0) rectangle (1.5,0.25); }
+\end{codeexample}
+ \end{stylekey}
+
+ \begin{stylekey}{/tikz/semitransparent}
+\begin{codeexample}[]
+\tikz{\fill[red] (0,0) rectangle (1,0.5);
+ \fill[semitransparent] (0.5,0) rectangle (1.5,0.25); }
+\end{codeexample}
+ \end{stylekey}
+
+ \begin{stylekey}{/tikz/nearly opaque}
+\begin{codeexample}[]
+\tikz{\fill[red] (0,0) rectangle (1,0.5);
+ \fill[nearly opaque] (0.5,0) rectangle (1.5,0.25); }
+\end{codeexample}
+ \end{stylekey}
+
+ \begin{stylekey}{/tikz/very nearly opaque}
+\begin{codeexample}[]
+\tikz{\fill[red] (0,0) rectangle (1,0.5);
+ \fill[very nearly opaque] (0.5,0) rectangle (1.5,0.25); }
+\end{codeexample}
+ \end{stylekey}
+
+ \begin{stylekey}{/tikz/ultra nearly opaque}
+\begin{codeexample}[]
+\tikz{\fill[red] (0,0) rectangle (1,0.5);
+ \fill[ultra nearly opaque] (0.5,0) rectangle (1.5,0.25); }
+\end{codeexample}
+ \end{stylekey}
+
+ \begin{stylekey}{/tikz/opaque}
+ This yields completely opaque drawings, which is the default.
+ %
+\begin{codeexample}[]
+\tikz{\fill[red] (0,0) rectangle (1,0.5);
+ \fill[opaque] (0.5,0) rectangle (1.5,0.25); }
+\end{codeexample}
+ \end{stylekey}
+\end{key}
+
+\begin{key}{/tikz/fill opacity=\meta{value}}
+ This option sets the opacity of fillings. In addition to filling
+ operations, this opacity also applies to text and images.
+
+ Note, again, that when you use PostScript as your output format, this
+ option works only with recent versions of Ghostscript.
+ %
+\begin{codeexample}[]
+\begin{tikzpicture}[thick,fill opacity=0.5]
+ \filldraw[fill=red] (0:1cm) circle (12mm);
+ \filldraw[fill=green] (120:1cm) circle (12mm);
+ \filldraw[fill=blue] (-120:1cm) circle (12mm);
+\end{tikzpicture}
+\end{codeexample}
+
+\begin{codeexample}[]
+\begin{tikzpicture}
+ \fill[red] (0,0) rectangle (3,2);
+
+ \node at (0,0) {\huge A};
+ \node[fill opacity=0.5] at (3,2) {\huge B};
+\end{tikzpicture}
+\end{codeexample}
+ %
+\end{key}
+
+\begin{key}{/tikz/text opacity=\meta{value}}
+ Sets the opacity of text labels, overriding the |fill opacity| setting.
+ %
+\begin{codeexample}[]
+\begin{tikzpicture}[every node/.style={fill,draw}]
+ \draw[line width=2mm,blue!50,line cap=round] (0,0) grid (3,2);
+
+ \node[opacity=0.5] at (1.5,2) {Upper node};
+ \node[draw opacity=0.8,fill opacity=0.2,text opacity=1]
+ at (1.5,0) {Lower node};
+\end{tikzpicture}
+\end{codeexample}
+ %
+\end{key}
+
+Note the following effect: If you set up a certain opacity for stroking or
+filling and you stroke or fill the same area twice, the effect accumulates:
+%
+\begin{codeexample}[]
+\begin{tikzpicture}[fill opacity=0.5]
+ \fill[red] (0,0) circle (1);
+ \fill[red] (1,0) circle (1);
+\end{tikzpicture}
+\end{codeexample}
+
+Often, this is exactly what you intend, but not always. You can use
+transparency groups, see the end of this section, to change this.
+
+
+\subsection{Blend Modes}
+\label{section-blend-modes}
+
+A \emph{blend mode} specifies how colors mix when you paint on a canvas.
+Normally, if you paint a red box on a green circle, the red color will
+completely replace the green circle. However, in some situations you might also
+wish the red color to somehow ``mix'' or ``blend'' with the green circle. We
+already saw that, using transparency, we can draw something without completely
+obscuring the background. \emph{Blending} is a similar operation, only here we
+mix colors in more complicated ways.
+
+\emph{Note:} Blending is a rather ``advanced'' feature of \textsc{pdf}. Most
+renderers, let alone printers, will have trouble rendering blending correctly.
+
+\begin{key}{/tikz/blend mode=\meta{mode}}
+ Sets the current blend mode to \meta{mode}. Here \meta{mode} must be one of
+ the modes listed below. More details on these modes can also be found in
+ Section~7.2.4 of the \textsc{pdf} Specification, version~1.7.
+
+ In the following example, the blend mode is only used and set inside a
+ transparency group (see also Section~\ref{section-transparency-groups}).
+ This is because most renderers (viewing programs) have trouble rendering
+ blending correctly otherwise. For instance, at the time of writing, the
+ versions of Adobe's Reader and Apple's Preview render the following drawing
+ very differently, if the transparency group is not used in the following
+ example.
+ %
+\begin{codeexample}[]
+\tikz {
+ \begin{scope}[transparency group]
+ \begin{scope}[blend mode=screen]
+ \fill[red!90!black] ( 90:.6) circle (1);
+ \fill[green!80!black] (210:.6) circle (1);
+ \fill[blue!90!black] (330:.6) circle (1);
+ \end{scope}
+ \end{scope}
+}
+\end{codeexample}
+
+ Because of the trouble with rendering blending correctly outside
+ transparency groups, there is a special key that establishes a transparency
+ group and sets a blend mode simultaneously:
+
+ \begin{key}{/tikz/blend group=\meta{mode}}
+ This key can only be used with a scope (like |transparency group|). It
+ will cause the current scope to become a transparency group and, inside
+ this group, the blend mode will be set to \meta{mode}.
+ %
+\begin{codeexample}[]
+\tikz [blend group=screen] {
+ \fill[red!90!black] ( 90:.6) circle (1);
+ \fill[green!80!black] (210:.6) circle (1);
+ \fill[blue!90!black] (330:.6) circle (1);
+}
+\end{codeexample}
+ \end{key}
+
+ Here is an overview of the effects of the different available blend modes.
+ In the examples, we always have three circles drawn on top of each other
+ (as in the example code earlier): We start with a triple of pure red,
+ green, and blue. Below it, we have a triple of light versions of these
+ three colors (|red!50|, |green!50|, and |blue!50|). Next comes the triple
+ yellow, cyan, and magenta; again with a triple of light versions below it.
+ The large example consists of three balls (produced using |ball color|)
+ having the colors red, green, and blue, are drawn on top of each other just
+ like the circles.
+
+ \definecolor{rg}{rgb}{1,1,0}
+ \definecolor{gb}{rgb}{0,1,1}
+ \definecolor{br}{rgb}{1,0,1}
+
+ \def\makeline#1#2#3{\leavevmode
+ \hbox to 40mm{#1\hss}\ \hbox to
+ 20.5mm{#2\hss}\ \begin{minipage}[t]{88.5mm}\raggedright#3\end{minipage}\par
+ \textcolor{black!25}{\hrule height1pt}
+ }
+
+ \def\showmode#1#2{
+ \makeline{
+ \tikz [blend mode=#1,baseline=-.5ex] {
+ \fill[red] ( 90:.5em) circle (.75em);
+ \fill[green] (210:.5em) circle (.75em);
+ \fill[blue] (330:.5em) circle (.75em);
+ \scoped[yshift=-2.5em]{
+ \fill[red!50] ( 90:.5em) circle (.75em);
+ \fill[green!50] (210:.5em) circle (.75em);
+ \fill[blue!50] (330:.5em) circle (.75em);
+ }
+ }
+ \tikz [blend mode=#1,baseline=-.5ex] {
+ \fill[rg] ( 90:.5em) circle (.75em);
+ \fill[gb] (210:.5em) circle (.75em);
+ \fill[br] (330:.5em) circle (.75em);
+ \scoped[yshift=-2.5em]{
+ \fill[rg!50] ( 90:.5em) circle (.75em);
+ \fill[gb!50] (210:.5em) circle (.75em);
+ \fill[br!50] (330:.5em) circle (.75em);
+ }
+ }
+ \tikz [blend mode=#1,baseline=-.5ex+1.25em] {
+ \shade[ball color=red] ( 90:1em) circle (1.5em);
+ \shade[ball color=green] (210:1em) circle (1.5em);
+ \shade[ball color=blue] (330:1em) circle (1.5em);
+ }}{\verb|#1|}{#2}%
+ % this argument was changed from {|#1|}
+ % --> see <https://sourceforge.net/p/pgf/bugs/486/>
+ }
+
+ \medskip
+ \makeline{\emph{Example}}{\emph{Mode}}{\emph{Explanations quoted from
+ Table~7.2 of the \textsc{pdf} Specification, Version~1.7}}
+ \showmode{normal}{When painting a pixel with a some color (called the
+ ``source color''), the background color (called the ``backdrop'') is
+ completely ignored.}
+ \showmode{multiply}{Multiplies the backdrop and source color values. The
+ result color is always at least as dark as either of the two
+ constituent colors. Multiplying any color with black produces black;
+ multiplying with white leaves the original color unchanged. Painting
+ successive overlapping objects with a color other than black or white
+ produces progressively darker colors.}
+ \showmode{screen}{Multiplies the complements of the backdrop and source
+ color values, then complements the result. The result color is always
+ at least as light as either of the two constituent colors. Screening
+ any color with white produces white; screening with black leaves the
+ original color unchanged. The effect is similar to projecting multiple
+ photographic slides simultaneously onto a single screen.}
+ \showmode{overlay}{Multiplies or screens the colors, depending on the
+ backdrop color value. Source colors overlay the backdrop while
+ preserving its highlights and shadows. The backdrop color is not
+ replaced but is mixed with the source color to reflect the lightness or
+ darkness of the backdrop.}
+ \showmode{darken}{Selects the darker of the backdrop and source colors. The
+ backdrop is replaced with the source where the source is darker;
+ otherwise, it is left unchanged.}
+ \showmode{lighten}{Selects the lighter of the backdrop and source colors.
+ The backdrop is replaced with the source where the source is lighter;
+ otherwise, it is left unchanged.}
+ \showmode{color dodge}{Brightens the backdrop color to reflect the source
+ color. Painting with black produces no changes.}
+ \showmode{color burn}{Darkens the backdrop color to reflect the source
+ color. Painting with white produces no change.}
+ \showmode{hard light}{Multiplies or screens the colors, depending on the
+ source color value. The effect is similar to shining a harsh spotlight
+ on the backdrop.}
+ \showmode{soft light}{Darkens or lightens the colors, depending on the
+ source color value. The effect is similar to shining a diffused
+ spotlight on the backdrop.}
+ \showmode{difference}{Subtracts the darker of the two constituent colors
+ from the lighter color. Painting with white inverts the backdrop color;
+ painting with black produces no change.}
+ \showmode{exclusion}{Produces an effect similar to that of the Difference
+ mode but lower in contrast. Painting with white inverts the backdrop
+ color; painting with black produces no change.}
+ \showmode{hue}{Creates a color with the hue of the source color and the
+ saturation and luminosity of the backdrop color.}
+ \showmode{saturation}{Creates a color with the saturation of the source
+ color and the hue and luminosity of the backdrop color. Painting with
+ this mode in an area of the backdrop that is a pure gray (no
+ saturation) produces no change.}
+ \showmode{color}{Creates a color with the hue and saturation of the source
+ color and the luminosity of the backdrop color. This preserves the gray
+ levels of the backdrop and is useful for coloring monochrome images or
+ tinting color images.}
+ \showmode{luminosity}{Creates a color with the luminosity of the source
+ color and the hue and saturation of the backdrop color. This produces
+ an inverse effect to that of the Color mode.}
+\end{key}
+
+
+\subsection{Fadings}
+
+For complicated graphics, uniform transparency settings are not always
+sufficient. Suppose, for instance, that while you paint a picture, you want the
+transparency to vary smoothly from completely opaque to completely transparent.
+This is a ``shading-like'' transparency. For such a form of transparency I will
+use the term \emph{fading} (as a noun). They are also known as \emph{soft
+masks}, \emph{opacity masks}, \emph{masks}, or \emph{soft clips}.
+
+
+\subsubsection{Creating Fadings}
+
+How do we specify a fading? This is a bit of an art since the underlying
+mechanism is quite powerful, but a bit difficult to use.
+
+Let us start with a bit of terminology. A \emph{fading} specifies for each
+point of an area the transparency of that point. This transparency can by any
+number between 0 and 1. A \emph{fading picture} is a normal graphic that, in a
+way to be described in a moment, determines the transparency of points inside
+the fading. Each fading has an underlying fading picture.
+
+The fading picture is a normal graphic drawn using any of the normal graphic
+drawing commands. A fading and its fading picture are related as follows: Given
+any point of the fading, the transparency of this point is determined by the
+luminosity of the fading picture at the same position. The luminosity of a
+point determines ``how bright'' the point is. The brighter the point in the
+fading picture, the more opaque is the point in the fading. In particular, a
+white point of the fading picture is completely opaque in the fading and a
+black point of the fading picture is completely transparent in the fading. (The
+background of the fading picture is always transparent in the fading as if the
+background were black.)
+
+It is rather counter-intuitive that a \emph{white} pixel of the fading picture
+will be \emph{opaque} in the fading and a \emph{black} pixel will be
+\emph{transparent}. For this reason, \tikzname\ defines a color called
+|transparent| that is the same as |black|. The nice thing about this definition
+is that the color |transparent!|\meta{percentage} in the fading picture yields
+a pixel that is \meta{percentage} percent transparent in the fading.
+
+Turning a fading picture into a normal picture is achieved using the following
+commands, which are \emph{only defined in the library}, namely the library
+|fadings|. So, to use them, you have to say |\usetikzlibrary{fadings}| first.
+
+\begin{environment}{{tikzfadingfrompicture}\oarg{options}}
+ This command works like a |{tikzpicture}|, only the picture is not shown,
+ but instead a fading is defined based on this picture. To set the name of
+ the picture, use the |name| option (which is normally used to set the name
+ of a node).
+ %
+ \begin{key}{/tikz/name=\marg{name}}
+ Use this option with the |{tikzfadingfrompicture}| environment to set
+ the name of the fading. You \emph{must} provide this option.
+ \end{key}
+
+ The following shading is 2cm by 2cm and gets more and more transparent from
+ left to right, but is 50\% transparent for a large circle in the middle.
+ %
+{\ifpgfmanualexternalize\tikzexternaldisable\fi
+\begin{codeexample}[preamble={\usetikzlibrary{fadings,patterns}}]
+\begin{tikzfadingfrompicture}[name=fade right with circle]
+ \shade[left color=transparent!0,
+ right color=transparent!100] (0,0) rectangle (2,2);
+ \fill[transparent!50] (1,1) circle (0.7);
+\end{tikzfadingfrompicture}
+
+% Now we use the fading in another picture:
+\begin{tikzpicture}
+ % Background
+ \fill [black!20] (-1.2,-1.2) rectangle (1.2,1.2);
+ \pattern [pattern=checkerboard,pattern color=black!30]
+ (-1.2,-1.2) rectangle (1.2,1.2);
+
+ \fill [path fading=fade right with circle,red] (-1,-1) rectangle (1,1);
+\end{tikzpicture}
+\end{codeexample}
+ %
+ In the next example we create a fading picture that contains some text.
+ When the fading is used, we only see the shading ``through it''.
+ %
+\begin{codeexample}[preamble={\usetikzlibrary{fadings,patterns}}]
+\begin{tikzfadingfrompicture}[name=tikz]
+ \node [text=transparent!20]
+ {\fontencoding{T1}\fontfamily{ptm}\fontsize{45}{45}\bfseries\selectfont
+ Ti\emph{k}Z};
+\end{tikzfadingfrompicture}
+
+% Now we use the fading in another picture:
+\begin{tikzpicture}
+ \fill [black!20] (-2,-1) rectangle (2,1);
+ \pattern [pattern=checkerboard,pattern color=black!30]
+ (-2,-1) rectangle (2,1);
+
+ \shade[path fading=tikz,fit fading=false,
+ left color=blue,right color=black]
+ (-2,-1) rectangle (2,1);
+\end{tikzpicture}
+\end{codeexample}
+}%
+
+ The same effect can also be achieved using knockout groups, see
+ Section~\ref{section-transparency-groups}.
+\end{environment}
+
+\begin{plainenvironment}{{tikzfadingfrompicture}\oarg{options}}
+ The plain\TeX\ version of the environment.
+\end{plainenvironment}
+
+\begin{contextenvironment}{{tikzfadingfrompicture}\oarg{options}}
+ The Con\TeX t version of the environment.
+\end{contextenvironment}
+
+\begin{command}{\tikzfading\oarg{options}}
+ This command is used to define a fading similarly to the way a shading is
+ defined. In the \meta{options} you should
+ %
+ \begin{enumerate}
+ \item use the |name=|\meta{name} option to set a name for the fading,
+ \item use the |shading| option to set the name of the shading that you
+ wish to use,
+ \item extra options for setting the colors of the shading (typically
+ you will set them to the color |transparent!|\meta{percentage}).
+ \end{enumerate}
+ %
+ Then, a new fading named \meta{name} will be created based on the shading.
+ %
+\begin{codeexample}[preamble={\usetikzlibrary{fadings,patterns}}]
+\tikzfading[name=fade right,
+ left color=transparent!0,
+ right color=transparent!100]
+
+% Now we use the fading in another picture:
+\begin{tikzpicture}
+ % Background
+ \fill [black!20] (-1.2,-1.2) rectangle (1.2,1.2);
+ \path [pattern=checkerboard,pattern color=black!30]
+ (-1.2,-1.2) rectangle (1.2,1.2);
+
+ \fill [red,path fading=fade right] (-1,-1) rectangle (1,1);
+\end{tikzpicture}
+\end{codeexample}
+
+\begin{codeexample}[preamble={\usetikzlibrary{fadings,patterns}}]
+\tikzfading[name=fade out,
+ inner color=transparent!0,
+ outer color=transparent!100]
+
+% Now we use the fading in another picture:
+\begin{tikzpicture}
+ % Background
+ \fill [black!20] (-1.2,-1.2) rectangle (1.2,1.2);
+ \path [pattern=checkerboard,pattern color=black!30]
+ (-1.2,-1.2) rectangle (1.2,1.2);
+
+ \fill [blue,path fading=fade out] (-1,-1) rectangle (1,1);
+\end{tikzpicture}
+\end{codeexample}
+ %
+\end{command}
+
+
+\subsubsection{Fading a Path}
+
+A fading specifies for each pixel of a certain area how transparent this pixel
+will be. The following options are used to install such a fading for the
+current scope or path.
+
+\pgfdeclarefading{fade down}{%
+ \tikzset{top color=pgftransparent!0,bottom color=pgftransparent!100}
+ \pgfuseshading{axis}
+}
+\pgfdeclarefading{fade inside}{%
+ \tikzset{inner color=pgftransparent!90,outer color=pgftransparent!30}
+ \pgfuseshading{radial}
+}
+
+\begin{key}{/tikz/path fading=\meta{name} (default \normalfont scope's setting)}
+ This option tells \tikzname\ that the current path should be faded with the
+ fading \meta{name}. If no \meta{name} is given, the \meta{name} set for the
+ whole scope is used. Similarly to options like |draw| or |fill|, this
+ option is reset for each path, so you have to add it to each path that
+ should be faded. You can also specify |none| as \meta{name}, in which case
+ fading for the path will be switched off in case it has been switched on by
+ previous options or styles.
+ %
+\begin{codeexample}[preamble={\usetikzlibrary{fadings,patterns}}]
+\begin{tikzpicture}[path fading=south]
+ % Checker board
+ \fill [black!20] (0,0) rectangle (4,3);
+ \pattern [pattern=checkerboard,pattern color=black!30]
+ (0,0) rectangle (4,3);
+
+ \fill [color=blue] (0.5,1.5) rectangle +(1,1);
+ \fill [color=blue,path fading=north] (2.5,1.5) rectangle +(1,1);
+
+ \fill [color=red,path fading] (1,0.75) ellipse (.75 and .5);
+ \fill [color=red] (3,0.75) ellipse (.75 and .5);
+\end{tikzpicture}
+\end{codeexample}
+
+ \begin{key}{/tikz/fit fading=\meta{boolean} (default true, initially true)}
+ When set to |true|, the fading is shifted and resized (in exactly the
+ same way as a shading) so that it covers the current path. When set to
+ |false|, the fading is only shifted so that it is centered on the
+ path's center, but it is not resized. This can be useful for
+ special-purpose fadings, for instance when you use a fading to ``punch
+ out'' something.
+ \end{key}
+
+ \begin{key}{/tikz/fading transform=\meta{transformation options}}
+ The \meta{transformation options} are applied to the fading before it
+ is used. For instance, if \meta{transformation options} is set to
+ |rotate=90|, the fading is rotated by 90 degrees.
+ %
+\begin{codeexample}[
+ preamble={\usetikzlibrary{fadings,patterns}},
+ pre={\pgfdeclarefading{fade down}{%
+ \tikzset{top color=pgftransparent!0,bottom color=pgftransparent!100}
+ \pgfuseshading{axis}
+}}]
+\begin{tikzpicture}[path fading=fade down]
+ % Checker board
+ \fill [black!20] (0,0) rectangle (4,1.5);
+ \path [pattern=checkerboard,pattern color=black!30] (0,0) rectangle (4,1.5);
+
+ \fill [red,path fading,fading transform={rotate=90}]
+ (1,0.75) ellipse (.75 and .5);
+ \fill [red,path fading,fading transform={rotate=30}]
+ (3,0.75) ellipse (.75 and .5);
+\end{tikzpicture}
+\end{codeexample}
+ \end{key}
+
+ \begin{key}{/tikz/fading angle=\meta{degree}}
+ A shortcut for |fading transform={rotate=|\meta{degree}|}|.
+ \end{key}
+
+ Note that you can ``fade just about anything''. In particular, you can fade
+ a shading.
+ %
+\begin{codeexample}[preamble={\usetikzlibrary{fadings,patterns}}]
+\begin{tikzpicture}
+ % Checker board
+ \fill [black!20] (0,0) rectangle (4,4);
+ \path [pattern=checkerboard,pattern color=black!30] (0,0) rectangle (4,4);
+
+ \shade [ball color=blue,path fading=south] (2,2) circle (1.8);
+\end{tikzpicture}
+\end{codeexample}
+
+ The |fade inside| of the following example is more transparent in the
+ middle than on the outside.
+ %
+\begin{codeexample}[preamble={\usetikzlibrary{fadings,patterns}}]
+\tikzfading[name=fade inside,
+ inner color=transparent!80,
+ outer color=transparent!30]
+\begin{tikzpicture}
+ % Checker board
+ \fill [black!20] (0,0) rectangle (4,4);
+ \path [pattern=checkerboard,pattern color=black!30] (0,0) rectangle (4,4);
+
+ \shade [ball color=red] (3,3) circle (0.8);
+ \shade [ball color=white,path fading=fade inside] (2,2) circle (1.8);
+\end{tikzpicture}
+\end{codeexample}
+
+ Note that adding the |path fading| option to a node fades the (background)
+ path, not the text itself. To fade the text, you need to use a scope fading
+ (see below).
+\end{key}
+
+Note that using fadings in conjunction with patterns can create visually rather
+pleasing effects:
+%
+\begin{codeexample}[preamble={\usetikzlibrary{fadings,patterns,shadows}}]
+\tikzfading[name=middle,
+ top color=transparent!50,
+ bottom color=transparent!50,
+ middle color=transparent!20]
+\begin{tikzpicture}
+ \node [circle,circular drop shadow,
+ pattern=horizontal lines dark blue,
+ path fading=south,
+ minimum size=3.6cm] {};
+ \pattern [path fading=north,
+ pattern=horizontal lines dark gray]
+ (0,0) circle (1.8cm);
+ \pattern [path fading=middle,
+ pattern=crosshatch dots light steel blue]
+ (0,0) circle (1.8cm);
+\end{tikzpicture}
+\end{codeexample}
+
+
+\subsubsection{Fading a Scope}
+
+In addition to fading individual paths, you may also wish to ``fade a scope'',
+that is, you may wish to install a fading that is used globally to specify the
+transparency for all objects drawn inside a scope. This effect can also be
+thought of as a ``soft clip'' and it works in a similar way: You add the
+|scope fading| option to a path in a scope -- typically the first one -- and
+then all subsequent drawings in the scope are faded. You will use a
+|transparency group| in conjunction, see the end of this section.
+
+\begin{key}{/tikz/scope fading=\meta{fading}}
+ In principle, this key works in exactly the same way as the |path fading|
+ key. The only difference is, that the effect of the fading will persist
+ after the current path till the end of the scope. Thus, the \meta{fading}
+ is applied to all subsequent drawings in the current scope, not just to the
+ current path. In this regard, the option works very much like the |clip|
+ option. (Note, however, that, unlike the |clip| option, fadings to not
+ accumulate unless a transparency group is used.)
+
+ The keys |fit fading| and |fading transform| have the same effect as for
+ |path fading|. Also that, just as for |path fading|, providing the
+ |scope fading| option with a |{scope}| only sets the name of the fading to
+ be used. You have to explicitly provide the |scope fading| with a path to
+ actually install a fading.
+ %
+\begin{codeexample}[preamble={\usetikzlibrary{fadings,patterns}}]
+\begin{tikzpicture}
+ \fill [black!20] (-2,-2) rectangle (2,2);
+ \pattern [pattern=checkerboard,pattern color=black!30]
+ (-2,-2) rectangle (2,2);
+
+ % The bounding box of the shading:
+ \draw [red] (-50bp,-50bp) rectangle (50bp,50bp);
+
+ \path [scope fading=south,fit fading=false] (0,0);
+ % fading is centered at its natural size
+
+ \fill[red] ( 90:1) circle (1);
+ \fill[green] (210:1) circle (1);
+ \fill[blue] (330:1) circle (1);
+\end{tikzpicture}
+\end{codeexample}
+
+ In the following example we resize the fading to the size of the whole
+ picture:
+ %
+\begin{codeexample}[preamble={\usetikzlibrary{fadings,patterns}}]
+\begin{tikzpicture}
+ \fill [black!20] (-2,-2) rectangle (2,2);
+ \pattern [pattern=checkerboard,pattern color=black!30]
+ (-2,-2) rectangle (2,2);
+
+ \path [scope fading=south] (-2,-2) rectangle (2,2);
+
+ \fill[red] ( 90:1) circle (1);
+ \fill[green] (210:1) circle (1);
+ \fill[blue] (330:1) circle (1);
+\end{tikzpicture}
+\end{codeexample}
+
+ Scope fadings are also needed if you wish to fade a node.
+ %
+\begin{codeexample}[preamble={\usetikzlibrary{fadings}}]
+\tikz \node [scope fading=south,fading angle=45,text width=3.5cm]
+{
+ This is some text that will fade out as we go right
+ and down. It is pretty hard to achieve this effect in
+ other ways.
+};
+\end{codeexample}
+ %
+\end{key}
+
+
+\subsection{Transparency Groups}
+\label{section-transparency-groups}
+
+Consider the following cross and sign. They ``look wrong'' because we can see
+how they were constructed, while this is not really part of the desired effect.
+%
+\begin{codeexample}[]
+\begin{tikzpicture}[opacity=.5]
+ \draw [line width=5mm] (0,0) -- (2,2);
+ \draw [line width=5mm] (2,0) -- (0,2);
+\end{tikzpicture}
+\end{codeexample}
+
+\begin{codeexample}[preamble={\usetikzlibrary{shapes.symbols}}]
+\begin{tikzpicture}
+ \node at (0,0) [forbidden sign,line width=2ex,draw=red,fill=white] {Smoking};
+
+ \node [opacity=.5]
+ at (2,0) [forbidden sign,line width=2ex,draw=red,fill=white] {Smoking};
+\end{tikzpicture}
+\end{codeexample}
+
+Transparency groups are used to render them correctly:
+%
+\begin{codeexample}[]
+\begin{tikzpicture}[opacity=.5]
+ \begin{scope}[transparency group]
+ \draw [line width=5mm] (0,0) -- (2,2);
+ \draw [line width=5mm] (2,0) -- (0,2);
+ \end{scope}
+\end{tikzpicture}
+\end{codeexample}
+
+\begin{codeexample}[preamble={\usetikzlibrary{shapes.symbols}}]
+\begin{tikzpicture}
+ \node at (0,0) [forbidden sign,line width=2ex,draw=red,fill=white] {Smoking};
+
+ \begin{scope}[opacity=.5,transparency group]
+ \node at (2,0) [forbidden sign,line width=2ex,draw=red,fill=white]
+ {Smoking};
+ \end{scope}
+\end{tikzpicture}
+\end{codeexample}
+
+\begin{key}{/tikz/transparency group=\oarg{options}}
+ This option can be given to a |scope|. It will have the following effect:
+ The scope's contents is stroked\,/\penalty0\,filled ``ignoring any outside
+ transparency''. This means, all previous transparency settings are ignored
+ (you can still set transparency inside the group, but never mind). For
+ instance, in the forbidden sign example, the whole sign is first painted
+ (conceptually) like the image on the left hand side. Note that some pixels
+ of the sign are painted multiple times (up to three times), but only the
+ last color ``wins''.
+
+ Then, when the scope is finished, it is painted as a whole. The \emph{fill}
+ transparency settings are now applied to the resulting picture. For
+ instance, the pixel that has been painted three times is just red at the
+ end, so this red color will be blended with whatever is ``behind'' the
+ group on the page.
+ %
+\begin{codeexample}[preamble={\usetikzlibrary{patterns,shapes.symbols}}]
+\begin{tikzpicture}
+ \pattern[pattern=checkerboard,pattern color=black!15](-1,-1) rectangle (3,1);
+ \node at (0,0) [forbidden sign,line width=2ex,draw=red,fill=white] {Smoking};
+
+ \begin{scope}[transparency group,opacity=.5]
+ \node at (2,0) [forbidden sign,line width=2ex,draw=red,fill=white]
+ {Smoking};
+ \end{scope}
+\end{tikzpicture}
+\end{codeexample}
+
+ Note that in the example, the |opacity=.5| is not active inside the
+ transparency group: The group is only established at beginning of the scope
+ and all options given to the |{scope}| environment are set before the group
+ is established. To change the opacity \emph{inside} the group, you need to
+ open another scope inside it or use the |opacity| key with a command inside
+ the group:
+ %
+\begin{codeexample}[preamble={\usetikzlibrary{patterns,shapes.symbols}}]
+\begin{tikzpicture}
+ \pattern[pattern=checkerboard,pattern color=black!15](-1,-1) rectangle (3,1);
+ \node at (0,0) [forbidden sign,line width=2ex,draw=red,fill=white] {Smoking};
+
+ \begin{scope}[transparency group,opacity=.5]
+ \node (s) at (2,0) [forbidden sign,line width=2ex,draw=red,fill=white]
+ {Smoking};
+
+ \draw [opacity=.5, line width=2ex, blue] (1.2,0) -- (2.8,0);
+ \end{scope}
+\end{tikzpicture}
+\end{codeexample}
+
+ The \meta{options} are a list of comma-separated options:
+ %
+ \begin{itemize}
+ \item \declare{|knockout|} When this option is given inside the
+ \meta{options}, the group becomes a so-called \emph{knockout}
+ group. This means, essentially, that inside the group everything is
+ painted as if the ``opacity'' of a line or area were just another
+ color channel. In particular, if you paint a pixel with opacity $0$
+ inside a knockout group, this pixel becomes perfectly transparent
+ immediately. In contrast, painting a pixel with something of
+ opacity $0$ normally has no effect.
+
+ Not all renderers, let alone printers, will support this. At the
+ time of writing, Apple's Preview will not show the following
+ correctly (you should see the text \tikzname\ in the middle):
+ %
+\begin{codeexample}[]
+\begin{tikzpicture}
+ \shade [left color=red,right color=blue] (-2,-1) rectangle (2,1);
+ \begin{scope}[transparency group=knockout]
+ \fill [white] (-1.9,-.9) rectangle (1.9,.9);
+ \node [opacity=0,font=\fontencoding{T1}\fontfamily{ptm}\fontsize{45}{45}\bfseries]
+ {Ti\emph{k}Z};
+ \end{scope}
+\end{tikzpicture}
+\end{codeexample}
+ %
+ In the example, we first draw a large shading and then, inside the
+ transparency group ``overwrite'' most of this shading by a big
+ white rectangle. The interesting part is the text of the node,
+ which has opacity |0|. Normally, this would mean that nothing is
+ shown. However, in a knockout group, we ``paint'' the text with an
+ ``opacity zero'' color. The effect is that part of the totally
+ opaque white rectangle gets overwritten by a perfectly transparent
+ area (namely exactly the area taken up by the pixels of the text).
+ When this whole knockout group is then placed on top of the
+ shading, the shading will ``shine through'' at the knocked-out
+ pixels.
+
+ \item \declare{|isolated|}|=false| A group can be isolated or not. By
+ default, they are isolated, since this is typically what you want.
+ For details on what isolated groups are, exactly, see Section~7.3.4
+ of the \textsc{pdf} Specification, version~1.7.
+ \end{itemize}
+
+ Note that when a transparency group is created, \tikzname\ must correctly
+ determine the size of the material inside the group. Usually, this is no
+ problem, but when you use things like |overlay| or |transform canvas|,
+ trouble may result. In this case, please consult
+ Section~\ref{section-transparency} on how to sidestep this problem in such
+ cases.
+\end{key}
+
+
+%%% Local Variables:
+%%% mode: latex
+%%% TeX-master: "pgfmanual"
+%%% End: