Transparent solid filled Regions not working in Plan

[Anonymous]

I am using Revit 2014 with all of the updates.  We have a plan view in typical new construction phase with the phase filter set to show complete.  

We are drawing a solid filled region over part of the plan and we want to have that hatch set to transparent so you can still see some of the plan below.  But when the hatch is set to transparent it almost appears as if it is behind the modelled objects and below the floors even though it is not possible to put a detail item behind modelled objects.  When the hatch it set to opaque it then covers all of the objects as expected but it will not work in transparent.  

Is this just an error in revit or is there a solution?  Opaque hatch patterns will not work for us.

Thanks 

[David_W_Koch]

I am not seeing that here.  Using the Diagonal Crosshatch - Transparent hatch with a Filled Region and having changed the color of the hatch to Red, I can see the model elements through the filled region, but it is clear that the hatch is "on top" of the model elements.  See the attached image file.

[Anonymous]

Diagonal crosshatch works here too, but I was having the problem with the solid transparent hatch, or "solid fill" hatch pattern.  Everything works until I set the solid fill hatch to transparent and then it does not cover the building completely and properly.  I was suggest trying it over a large portion of a building an not in such a small space as you tested as it seems to work randomly in places.  

[chrisplyler]

I'm not sure I understand the problem.

I created a red solid fill detail region. I edited the type and changed the Background parameter to Transparant. Of course model elements are then visible through it, so it appears to be below them even though it is not. Isn't this how it should logically behave?

Can you post a screen capture of your problem?

If you want it to appear partially blocking the model, don't set the Background parament to Transparent. Instead, give it just a bit of transparancy by overriding the graphics in the view by element. That way you can get this kind of result:

[Anonymous]

I don't understand the problem either.  

The only thing I changed on the screenshots below is the transparent or opaque setting for the red hatch on the drawing.  As you can see, when it goes transparent it appears to go below part of the model.  This happens in several different areas on our floor plans on all levels.  

[Anonymous]

just to followup, what you are showing with your red hatches is exactly what I want to see, it just is not working. 

[David_W_Koch]

We may be talking past each other, as the term Transparency is being applied in two different places.  In the attached image, there are three "red" filled regions in the drawing, making use of two different, custom filled region types.  Both types have the fill pattern is set to Solid Fill [Drafting] and the color set to Red.  Regions 1 & 3 both use the Solid Red filled region type, where the background is set to Opaque.  Region 2 uses the Solid Red - Transparent filled region type, where the background is set to Transparent.

For solid fills, the Transparent choice here functions differently than for a patterned fill.  For a for patterned fill, an Opaque fill will have a solid background (areas not covered by the pattern) matching the drawing background color, and will mask all items below, including all model items; a Transparent fill will have a see-through ("clear") background, but the pattern will still overlay items below.  For a solid fill, an Opaque fill masks all items below, similar to a patterned fill, but since a solid fill does not have any "background" area to make "clear", a Transparent fill will add its color to the drawing background, allowing items below, including model items, to show through (assuming that their color does not match that of the solid fill).

Region 3 is an opaque fill, but has a graphic override applied (by element in this case), that sets the Surface Tansparency to 25 (0 being not transparent).  This keeps the region "on top" and, to the degree of transparency specified, allows the graphics of items below to show through, but with the color of the solid fill added to the graphics.  I believe this is the effect you are seeking.

(Note that if Region 3 used the Solid Red - Transparent filled region type, the intensity of the color on the background would appear as it does in the image, but the graphics of the model below would be full-intensity black, as they are at Region 2.)

[chrisplyler]

mbkarp,

Looking at your two images, I now definately see what you're talking about. It looks like there is another item - something with a white surface pattern fill, or perhaps an opaque white detail region, already there that shows through the maroon one on top of it.

Can you make a copy of your file, strip out most of the other stuff I don't need to see to make the file size reasonable, and attatch it to your next post so that we may examine it?

[u.bustamante]

Hi. I have the exact same problem. Did you manage to figure it out?

[Anonymous]

No, I have no solution to fix this issue.  I also cannot provide the model with the problem to autodesk as it is very large and I do not have time to strip it down as to not disclose private client information. 

It seems like it is a programming issue as it happens in Revit 2014 and 2015 on several different computers.  I will not that when I tested it on 2015 I did not have all of the most recent updates so perhaps that will change if tested with the latest updates. 

[Lance.Coffey]

I believe I have reproduced what you are seeing.

Here is a video showing what I found:

http://autode.sk/1Md00lD

I am attaching the RVT file from the video.

Does this look like what Is you are seeing?

[Anonymous]

You have recreated the issue I am having very clearly, thank you.  I am not sure why that behavior would be as expected as it really does not benefit much and it does not behave as any other detail item does.  Typically detail items (lines, filled regions, ect.) are always on top of the modelled elements.  This is the only case I know of that it does not happen and it does seem like a problem as model items cannot be "sent to back" as detail items can to get the proper display order.  If I draw a transparent background filled region over a modelled element it means that I want to cover the element with the region while still seeing the linework and surface patterns below.  

Thanks a lot for the workaround (just wish there didn't have to be one).  This is the first time I have seen anyone even find a workaround for this so that is impressive.  

[Lance.Coffey]

To better understand the expected behavior, we need to take a closer look at what it means for a solid fill pattern to have a transparent “background”.

Here is an example of a fill pattern (not solid) with an opaque and with a transparent background:

 

In the context of a non-solid fill pattern, transparent means that the areas that would be white are set to be transparent. If we used the same behavior for solid fill patterns, then there would be no difference between opaque and transparent (since there are no white areas).

For solid filled regions that are set to have a transparent background, objects will show up through the fill pattern (i.e. instead of white spaces it uses the area of objects within the fill pattern as the area to show through the fill).

This works better for small objects, such as the following:

 

Here is an example where the floor on the right is colored, and bed elements are added that cross both objects:

Note: In addition to setting a small amount of Transparency, I also found you can turn off the visibility of the Surface Pattern (of the object below), and this prevents it from showing through the Solid Fill pattern (with a transparent background).

[Lance.Coffey · Accepted solution]

I’ve written up the following article on this topic (it may be a few hours before the link below is live):

Revit: How to hide the surface of elements showing through a Transparent Solid Fill Region.

[dplumb_BWBR]

I'm trying the same in a Generic Annotation Family.

However, I do not have the option of making the Background Transparent. The option is set to Opaque, and it's grayed out so I can't change it.

Is that because I'm in a Family & not a Project?

[jshi2015]

Hi, Change the Visual Style from Wireframe to Hiddenline, the problem will be gone.

[ctdelahoz]

I am using Revit 2016, and have a similar issue. Instead of a filled region, I have topography that is set to transparent, shows as transparent in the view, but then prints opaque in some locations.

Autodesk reported in February 2016:

Issue:

Users reported that: In case the transparency is set as element override for a filled region, and an image is behind the filled region, then the filled region is displayed as transparent. When the view is printed, however the filled region is solid and covering the image.

Causes:This workflow is currently supported in Revit in raster processing only.

Solution:Status: A resolution for this incident is being investigated for a future release.
Incident Id.: 26554

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/revit-products/troubleshooting/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles...

[SLloydBowen]

I am having this issue in Revit 2019, but the options shown in the previous solution are not available in Revit 2019.  I have a filled region using a solid fill.  I cannot find a way to set it to transparent so that the geometry below it will show through.  I have attached two images; a screen capture of my plan with red hidden lines drawn where the geometry should appear but does not.  I also have attached an image showing the type properties of the fill pattern being used by the filled region.  Any advise?

[nathan]

I have a work-around where I create a dense fill pattern.. Seems to work...

[nathan]