topic Re: object transparency in AutoCAD Forum

object transparency

Anonymous — Thu, 09 May 2019 05:40:08 GMT

Why am I unable to print transparent objects as transparent?

Betreff: object transparency

cadffm — Thu, 09 May 2019 05:57:58 GMT

1. Check your PAGESETUP (or Plotdialog) - Option "Plot transparency" checked?

2. Check your PLOTTRANSPARENCYOVERRIDE setting.

Betreff: object transparency

Anonymous — Thu, 09 May 2019 06:26:26 GMT

a. Yes, Plot transparency is 'checked'

b. PLOTTRANSPARENCYOVERRIDE is set to '1'

Re: object transparency

Alfred.NESWADBA — Thu, 09 May 2019 06:43:52 GMT

Hi,

Some questions

is it drawing dependent (or does that happen with a new drawing too)?
is it printer dependent (which printer did you try, also test it using e.g. "AutoCAD PDF (General documentation).pc3)
which version of AutoCAD do you have (please show us a screenshot of command/dialog _ABOUT)

...if nothing helps, please upload the dwg-file.

- alfred -

Betreff: object transparency

cadffm — Thu, 09 May 2019 06:44:08 GMT

Please create a small sample dwg, create a 90% transparence SOLID in modelspace,

set up your model pagesetup to use 'DWG to PDF.pc3' and using transparency an no plotstyletable.

create a PDF from there and upload your DWG + your PDF result and we can check both files and settings.

What is you productversion?

Command: _VERNUM

Re: object transparency

Anonymous — Thu, 09 May 2019 07:32:52 GMT

it seems to be happening on other drawings too, not just this one
I've tried plotting 'dwg to pdf' but the problem's still there
I am using ACad 2015. Sorry, I don't understand what screenshot i need to share

Re: object transparency

Anonymous — Thu, 09 May 2019 07:36:08 GMT

Here is the dwg file attached. I need the glass windows and floors to be transparent

Re: object transparency

Alfred.NESWADBA — Thu, 09 May 2019 07:41:02 GMT

Hi,

>> I am using ACad 2015. Sorry, I don't understand

>> what screenshot i need to share

Please start AutoCAD with a new drawing, start command _ABOUT ... this shows a dialog with the exact product and version information. Please create a screenshot from that dialog and show it to us.

- alfred -

Re: object transparency

Alfred.NESWADBA — Thu, 09 May 2019 08:03:07 GMT

Hi,

as we don't have the CTB file (and so can't reproduce the same as you have) select "none" in your setting for plot style table in the plot dialog.

Also a bit strange, which sense could it make to create a hatch with pattern "AR-RROOF" as transparent? The lines are so wide and nothing behind that to see if it is transparent or not.

Also you have splitted lines as visible and invisible ones ... why, if one line is partly behind a transparent object, why then splitting the line ... like this:

In general, transparency makes most sense for filled areas, not for lines, so for pattern "SOLID" as hatch ==> OK, but for hatch patterns which are also just lines, and they might cross lines behind the hatch you have just the crossing point where you might see that the hatch line is transparent over the background line.

[EDIT] have not understood in the first look that these are tricky viewports 😉 [/EDIT]

Also take care (as your design is just 2D), an object can only show transparency if it "above" another object, for your 2D-design you need to make sure with command _DRAWORDER that the correct objects are "in front".

If you want to discuss a specific position in your dwg file then please copy your file, delete all except 2 or 3 objects and upload this drawing with the description what you get and what you expect. This drawing here contains too many objects to discuss anything in detail.

- alfred -

Re: object transparency

Alfred.NESWADBA — Thu, 09 May 2019 08:09:06 GMT

Hi,

sorry again for first not seeing your 3D-content 😉

Wouldn't transparency work better when shaded?

(I have changed all none-transparent layers to grey, so this differs a bit to your concept, but the green and red objects, which are on transparent layers, are also transparent in this visual style)

- alfred -

Betreff: object transparency

Anonymous — Sat, 11 May 2019 04:02:10 GMT

_VERNUM = "J.210.0.0 (UNICODE)" (read only)

Re: object transparency

Anonymous — Sat, 11 May 2019 04:09:36 GMT

Hello,

You're right about the hatches not needing to be transparent. They aren't.

The line-splitting i did because i wanted the glass to appear partially transparent- i needed that. Hence the line (floor edge) is drawn in a lighter shade behind it.

My problem is not with hatches or filled areas. It's with solid objects themselves. Like the glass windows and floors.

I will make a new file with less objects and send it

Re: object transparency

Anonymous — Sat, 11 May 2019 04:11:48 GMT

I prefer using the 'hidden' style.

However, your screenshot shows how the model appears in model space. It hasn't been plotted. That's what I am having trouble with.

Betreff: object transparency

Anonymous — Sat, 11 May 2019 04:17:32 GMT

I want to add- I print in the paper space, where i can choose Shade plot 'Legacy hidden'. This gives me a great unpixelated plot.

Betreff: object transparency

Anonymous — Sat, 11 May 2019 04:17:53 GMT

I want to add- I print in the paper space, where i can choose Shade plot 'Legacy hidden'. This gives me a great unpixelated plot.

Re: object transparency

Anonymous — Sat, 11 May 2019 04:22:46 GMT

Attached is a smaller 3d model

Re: object transparency

Alfred.NESWADBA — Sat, 11 May 2019 07:51:45 GMT

Hi,

>> You're right about the hatches not needing to be transparent. They aren't.

Well, but they (at least some) are sitting on a layer with transparency.

>> I want to add- I print in the paper space, where i can

>> choose Shade plot 'Legacy hidden'.

Your upload does not contain the referenced JPG's, so we can't see them (and I guess we should see them as you named them like "...transparent ... problem ...JPG")

To make it easier ... I have created a new drawing with just 2 solids and 4 viewports with different settings.

Look to that, play with the layer transparency settings and see if you can find a visual style + transparency setting + plot settings which match your needs.

If nothing matches, then please let us continue with that more easy drawing (so no need to describe with hundreds of objects which objects A in front of object B does not look well). modify that drawing, send it back and please describe what you expect.

I have also attached a PDF that shows how it looks like on my system, in case you get different results we might need to look more into your AutoCAD settings than into the settings of your dwg-file.

- alfred -

Re: object transparency

SEANT61 — Sat, 11 May 2019 07:55:24 GMT

I don't think Legacy Hidden allows working with transparency in that fashion. If true, some 'composite' technique (similar to what you have already done) may be required to achieve that glass effect.

Re: object transparency

SEANT61 — Sat, 11 May 2019 09:24:00 GMT

Here's a quick composite. The glass 3dSolids needed separate processing, then the light green solid hatch was used as an underlay - hence no transparency at all.

If the PDF printer allows, a similar technique could be used to add transparent hatches as overlays.

Re: object transparency

Anonymous — Mon, 13 May 2019 05:00:34 GMT

This looks good!

What shade plot did you use?

I still haven't been able to get the glass objects to plot as transparent.