Data driven graphics and image masks - Help!

[dlutz22 webforumsuser@macromedia.com]

Help!

I'm working on a web project where I want to generate page headers from information pulled from an XML file. Everything generates properly (pictures, text) EXCEPT I lose the masking information on the pictures. For example, I want to load circular logo and a picture with a gradient transparency mask. My original PNG file has these items on separate layers with masks applied - looks just like I want it. When I run the Data Driven Graphics Wizard, the resulting files lose the masks. I wind up with a logo with a square white border and my pictures are solid (no gradient transparency). This happens whether I generate jpeg or png files.

Is there any way to preserve these transparency masks? I know I could use transparent gifs as a workaround but I really dont want to use that route if I can avoid it.

[dlutz22 webforumsuser@macromedia.com]

I managed to resolve this one on my own. To fix the problem, I changed it so that the picture that is being loaded into my template file was a Fireworks PNG file instead of a JPEG file. The mask on the image in my template file was not working on the individual jpegs - so I put the mask on the image in a separate PNG file, and link the template image to the PNG file through the Data Driven Graphics wizard. Apparently the mask as well as the image gets processed - I now get the desired masking effect! This is great because now I can completely customize my web page headers by assigning templates to each part, and can mask out whatever needs it!

Check out this link to see exactly what I'm talking about...[url]http://www.shadesvexcellence.com/masking.htm[/url]