Coming next week to a browser near you...

One of the first things I did when I started learning Photoshop was play around with layer transparency. The visual appeal of a subtle transparent overlay on a deeper background layer is boundless in my book. It was and still is one of my favorite design tricks.

A long time ago I said I was going to write up a tutorial type thing on the transparency effect that is used on this site. It's a simple trick I learned from an article written by Mr. Jeffery Zeldman back in the April 2002 issue of Macworld.

I started writing it down and building examples and detailing all the tips and caveats I've come across, but personal scrutiny and thousand distractions repeatedly pushed the project to the side. Things are sorted out a bit now so "Transparency Skills" lives. However, rather than heft a big long article on you, I've decided to use a node of inspiration and break it up into smaller, easily digested bits (ala Cameron Moll's great “Wicked Worn Look” series). This will make it easier on all of us (mostly me).

So if you're interested in a simple, versatile, cross platform transparency solution, tune in next Wednesday for the first exciting installment - "The GIF".