Show checkers while editing transparent document

Question

I'm creating a transparent document with some white elements on it.

The default behaviour of Inkscape for my document is to show the content white on white so I can not see anything.

My current workaround is to change the document background (File > Document Properties > Page > Background) to e.g. grey, then edit the document - now everything is shown as white on grey.

Then I need to change the document background back to transparent before every PNG export. (File > Export Bitmap)

Is there a trick to change the background of editing area of Inkscape? Checkers would be ideal. Did not find suitable setting in Inkscape 0.47 on Ubuntu Linux 10.04 yet.

Answer 1

Another workaround was suggested on the InkscapeForum:

• create an additional layer
• fill it with a pattern
• bring it to the bottom
• lock it
• work on layers above it
• hide it on every export, unhide again