how to layer backgrounds?

[calpers]

Hello again!
It is Cindy, that excited first grade teacher and newbie to Promethean. I have almost completed the first course as recommended on activ studio online. It was (is ) wonderful!
I am very proud and excited about lots of things I have learned!
Can anyone tell me how to layer backgrounds in Promethean? Is it possible to do? I have some fun backgrounds of my own and would love to layer them on the chart if this is possible?
Thanks so much!!!!
Cindy

[Nigel Pearce]

Hi there,

Not quite sure what you mean by layering backgrounds. Can you explain?

Activstudio / Activprimary have a number of layers. Most people think there are 3 layers, but you could argue that there are actually 6.

These are:

1) Top layer - where annotations are written. Any objects can also be placed on this layer.
2) Middle layer- where most objects (eg images, shapes) are placed when dragged from the Resource Library
3) Bottom layer - where objects can be placed if you wish them to stay behind most Resource Library objects.
4) Locked background layer - where objects can be placed such that they are fixed on top of the background
5) Grid layer - where grids normally appear
6) Background layer - where a fixed tiled or positioned image covers the page.

[calpers]

What I mean by layerng backgrounds is putting one on top of another. For example, the bottom layer of color background may be black and on top of that but still with some of the black background showing, I want to add a print background on top of the black. Just adds interest and a little extra color and dimension to a flipchart page.
I have seen this done on web pages and wondered if it could be done on a flipchart page.
Thanks so much for asking for clarification! Hope you can help! I am thinking that somehow, I would put the bottom color on the bottom layer but since it covers the entire page, how do I then choose another color on the middle layer or top layer without covering all the black?
Thanks for any help you can give! : )
Cindy

[Peter Lambert]

Hi there Cindy,
Do you mean something like the attached screenshot?
In this case I colored the flipchart page black, (bucket tool) then dragged an image from my image library, right click>Edit>Layer and chose Lock on background.

If you just want a two colour background, drag a rectangualr shape out of the Shapes library - this may be tricky because by default the shapes are black! (Might be better to change your background color to something other than black for now. Double click the shape, choose Properties, then click the Appearance Tab and change its color to anything you want (I chose yellow) and then drag it out to the size required. Then Lock it on the background as before. See second screenshot.

BTW (by the way) this image comes from the latest resource pack on Elizabeth 1 of England (downloadable from Promethean Planet for Version 3 users) and depicts the defeat of the Spanish Armada.

HTH (Hope this helps)

[calpers]

Thank you Peter! This is what I was talking about! However, wanted to use two printed backgrounds from MY Backgrounds. Any idea if I can do that? If not, I really appreciate your help with the suggestions you share and can definitely create backgrounds this way! Thank you soooo much!
Cindy

[Daniel Bunker]

One way round this is to use the camera tool to take a snapshot of one of the backgrounds, this snapshot then becomes an object that can be layered in the normal way. Next apply the second background and adjust size and transparency of the snapshot object.

Example screenshot attached.

Dan

[calpers]

Thank you Dan! I will try this! Thank you for taking the time to help me!
Cindy