OK, here we go again
Mainly aimed at the beginner, but might even be usefull to advanced users – no promises this time though.
If you haven't read the Fill tool tutorial, do so. Most of the options work exactly same for the Transparency tool as the Fill tool. In fact a lot of the stuff normaly done with the transparency tool can be achived with better results with the Fill tool.The basicsThe Transparency tool is used to make objects and shapes transparent. It has quite a few features and options. If you have read the Fill tool tutorial a lot of these will be familiar.
Select the Transparency tool (TT from now on) by clicking the wine glass icon on your left side of the drawing area. Just as with the Fill tool the tool bar will change to show you the TT's options.
The toolbar left to right:
Transparency shape – pretty much the same as for the Fill tool.
Transparency type – the second drop-down menu is a little special. Allows you to do the same kind of effect as changing the Layer mode in Gimp. In Inkscape this is called Mask (or so I've heard).
Fill tiling – same as the Fill tool, simple or repeating.
Fill effect – works only with bitmap, you can set a bitmap as a transparency.
Profile – fine tuning of a transparency. Very much like as with the Fill tool.
Selected Fill handle – shows which node or handle is selected
Transparency – for adjusting the amount of transparency. The slider goes from 0% (not transparent) to 100% (fully transparent/invisible)
To create a Flat transparency, simply select the object you want to apply the transparency to and drag the transparency slider to the right.
To create a Linear transparency, select the object or shape and click and drag from above to below. You can adjust the transparency at anytime by clicking and draging the handles with the TT. It is also possible to make adjustments by moving the transparency slider. Use the TAB key to move between the handles.
Different transparency shapesYou can change the shape of the transparency by selecting the different options from the Transparency shapes drop-down menu. I won't go into this as they're the same as for the Fill tool.
Transparency typeThe easiest way to explain this feature is just showing you an example. In the picture below I first created a circle with a Flat blue fill. Then I cloned it by pressing Control+K and set the clones color to black. Using the Fill tool I gave the black circle a Circular gradient (hold Shift down while click and drag, remember?). Finally, I changed to the TT and selected Stained glass from the transparency type drop-down menu.
If you've used Gimp this might seem familiar. In fact Stained glass is basically the same as the Overlay layer mode.
BUG! Setting the transparency type to Saturation will crash Xaralx under some conditions and especially when doing the type of thing as above. Always save before using this feature (Control+S)!UPDATE: BUG! Lines don't always get transparencies applied to them. Seems this isnt a bug after all, I tried XaraX 4 on wine and it does the exact same thing...I wonder what the thought behind this is? I would expect the transparency being applied to the line also.
Tip! Make 2 or more shapes and give each a Linear transparency. Group them (Control+G) and give the group yet another Linear (or some other shape) transparency. You can add as many levels of transparencies to transparencies as you want.
If you've read this far and you still haven't read the Fill tool tutorial, do so now. It will make everything I've written so much clearer. 
Feedback welcome as always. Thanks for reading!
