LiveCode Forums.

Richmond,
it is really a good idea to use overlay effects and inks for Bidge's problem, as LC is *very* fast with applying that (rather than processing the imageData).

But don't forget, connected to inks:
= not all inks work the same on all platforms (e.g. linux has some problems with the opacity of the stack window when using ink "blendDstIn" -- could be used as feature, kind of windowShape)
= there was a change in Skia (the lib that LC uses) and by that the bitmap effects, that are still in the menus for inks, were removed starting with 9.0.0-dp7:

## Update Skia (graphics library) (9.0.0-dp-7, Release notes )
This major Skia update improves both rendering quality and performance. It also opens the door to substantial future improvements and feature additions. In order to allow this, support for certain legacy drawing features has had to be removed. In particular, legacy blend modes (also known as bitmap effects) are no longer supported.

not all inks work the same on all platforms

Well, he'll just have to fiddle around (which is what I seem to do all the time when it comes to cross-platform matters.
to find some combination that does what he wants on all his target platforms.

there was a change in Skia

So I am informed.
Well my reference stack can be used in whatever version of Livecode (8.1 and upwards)
to work those things out.

AND, if you don't go for the greyscale picture of Iliya Beshkov you can swap in the picture of your choice.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ilia_Beshkov

https://bg.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%98%D0 ... 0%BE%D0%B2

Thank you so much for the examples richmond62. They are brilliant. I'm not sure about the implementation though seeing that the area guide is also used as a slight watermark you don't want people using a slider to make it invisible but if there is a background that loads in of similar tones it will become hard to see. maybe I am overthinking this one and easier to just stay away from making blueish toned backgrounds? I doubt if there is any way to detect and auto adjust this.

Bidge

The only reason why "people" (end-users) would use a slider to make things
invisible is if you provide them with a slider.

You, however, can use a slider to take your watermark-thing down to a level that
you need; then delete the slider.

And remember Bidge, not too many sliders in a program, or your end users will drool all over your program!

LOL....omg I love those sliders bogs

(drooling)
Bidge

Yah, they are great for a quick snack, although WAY overpriced really.