Transparent 3D objects in one layer making objects behind also transparent -

[Anonymous]

If making a 3D model using objects in several layers. When an object in a layer that is transparent, is in front of other objects that are not supposed to be transparent, the part of the objects that are behind the transparent object also becomes transparent. Not sure if this is supposed to happen, but it can be quite confusing if it’s not expected. It's also quite inconsistent, as the same objects in the same drawing, with the same angle of view, are displayed with different parts being transparent. I'm using AutoCAD Electrical 2015.

[nestly2]

Transparency is a pretty graphics intensive process.  Does your system support Hardware Acceleration?  ... and is it enabled?  (GRAPHICSCONFIG)

[Anonymous]

Hi nestly2, No, my machine does not support hardware acceleration since I upgraded to 2015. Looking at your gif, it looks like that may be the problem. What it doesn't explain is that it is such a seemingly random occurrence. I've attached another view of the same set of fill-point boxes, but have moved the transparent door partway down. Note how each one is different.

[Anonymous]

Just opened it in 2013, which does have h/w acceleration (on the same PC), no problems exist.

[Anonymous]

While a reason for this problem has been more or less established, it would not qualify as a "solution" - possibly a resolution.

It's more of a case that the hardware that I have does not meet the standards for hardware accelleration with AutoCAD 2015, where it did with AutoCAD 2013.

My PC has a NVIDIA Quadro FX 1800 video card, which is likely not on the list of approved cards for 2015.

[nestly2]

The FX1800 is a capable (and Certified) card for any version of AutoCAD.  LINK

What indicates that it doesn't support hardware acceleration?  Can you post a screencap of your Graphics Performance dialog (GRAPHICSCONFIG command) and/or the tuner log (accessible from the bottom of the Graphics Performance dialog box)

[Anonymous]

Hi nestly2, Well, attached is the GRAPHICSCONFIG screen snip.

[Anonymous]

Hi Nestly2,

Attachment didn't work in Chrome, so trying in IE.

Also updated graphics card driver, with no apparent difference.

[Anonymous]

This is the "tuner Log" for above issue;

Card name: NVIDIA Quadro FX 1800
Driver version: 9.18.13.4052
Tuning Date: 23/12/2014
Virtual device: gdi12.hdi (Software)
                The card and driver does not meet the minimum requirement.

Display Adapters:
 NVIDIA Quadro FX 1800(Primary)
 NVIDIA Quadro FX 1800
 RDPDD Chained DD
 RDP Encoder Mirror Driver
 RDP Reflector Display Driver
 DameWare Development Mirror Driver 64-bit

Certification:
 Hardware Available     False
 Hardware Recommended   False
 Status                 5
 Hardware ID            8
 Hardware Feature Level 0
 Software Feature Level 50
 Failed Devices         D3D11D3D11,D3D9D3D11,D3D9

General Options:
 Adaptive Degradation           True
 Discard Backfaces              True
 Dynamic Tessellation           True
 Generate Vertex Normals        False
 Handedness                     Right
 Maximum LODs                   6
 Redraw on Window Expose        True
 Surface Tessellation Tolerance 92
 Transparency                   MediumQuality

Additional System Information:
 ComputerSystem
  Manufacturer        Hewlett-Packard
  Model               HP Z400 Workstation
  NumberOfProcessors  1
  TotalPhysicalMemory 8572342272

 Processor
  MaxClockSpeed             2661
  Name                      Intel(R) Xeon(R) CPU           W3520  @ 2.67GHz
  NumberOfCores             4
  NumberOfLogicalProcessors 4
  Revision                  6661

 OperatingSystem
  Name                    Microsoft Windows 7 Professional |C:\Windows|\Device\Harddisk0\Partition2
  OSLanguage              1033
  ServicePackMajorVersion 1
  ServicePackMinorVersion 0
  TotalSwapSpaceSize      
  TotalVirtualMemorySize  20925852
  Version                 6.1.7601

 DiskDrive0
  Model ST3500418AS
  Name  \\.\PHYSICALDRIVE0
  Size  500105249280

 DiskDrive1
  Model SAMSUNG GT-I5503T Card USB Device
  Name  \\.\PHYSICALDRIVE1
  Size  8027873280

 DesktopMonitor0
  MonitorManufacturer (Standard monitor types)
  MonitorType         Generic PnP Monitor
  Name                Generic PnP Monitor
  ScreenHeight        1080
  ScreenWidth         1920

 DesktopMonitor1
  MonitorManufacturer 
  MonitorType         Default Monitor
  Name                Default Monitor
  ScreenHeight        1080
  ScreenWidth         1920

 DisplayConfiguration
  DeviceName       NVIDIA Quadro FX 1800
  DisplayFrequency 60
  DriverVersion    
  PelsHeight       768
  PelsWidth        1024

 VideoController0
  AdapterDACType              Integrated RAMDAC
  AdapterRAM                  805306368
  ConfigManagerErrorCode      0
  CurrentHorizontalResolution 1920
  CurrentVerticalResolution   1080
  DriverDate                  20140702000000.000000-000
  DriverVersion               9.18.13.4052
  InstalledDisplayDrivers     nvd3dumx.dll,nvwgf2umx.dll,nvwgf2umx.dll,nvd3dum,nvwgf2um,nvwgf2um
  Name                        NVIDIA Quadro FX 1800
  Status                      OK
  TimeOfLastReset             
  VideoArchitecture           5
  VideoModeDescription        1920 x 1080 x 4294967296 colors

 VideoController1
  AdapterDACType              
  AdapterRAM                  
  ConfigManagerErrorCode      0
  CurrentHorizontalResolution 1920
  CurrentVerticalResolution   1080
  DriverDate                  20080314000000.000000-000
  DriverVersion               1.1.0.0
  InstalledDisplayDrivers     
  Name                        DameWare Development Mirror Driver 64-bit
  Status                      OK
  TimeOfLastReset             
  VideoArchitecture           5
  VideoModeDescription        1920 x 1080 x 4294967296 colors

 PageFile
  FileName pagefile
  FileSize 12857638912

Process Information:
 Loaded ARX and CRX Modules
  acapp.arx
  acapp.crx
  acautoloader.arx
  accloudconnect.crx
  acconnectwebservices.arx
  acvmtools.crx
  vl.crx
  aclaunchnfw.arx
  wd_mdb.arx
  AceMDIGblManager.arx
  AcePageMan.arx
  AcePmClientApp.arx
  AcePmDefun.arx
  ACE_MB.arx
  wd_dlg.arx
  AceCircuitBuilder.arx
  acsiui.arx
  wd_dcenter.arx
  wd_utils.arx
  wd_dwg.arx
  aceshellextension.arx
  acejumper.arx
  aceterminalstripeditor.arx
  acedialogs.arx
  aceaudit.arx
  aceaip.arx
  acewiretype.arx
  acecompui.arx
  acedataexchange.arx
  acesymbuilder.arx
  aceprojectcatalog.arx
  acemarkingmenus.arx
  acepublish.arx
  acpublish.crx
  acsign.arx
  acopm.arx
  Acpi.arx
  acobjclassimp.arx
  AcOcSchemaUtil.arx
  acopmext.arx
  AcFdUi.arx
  AcPEXCtl.arx
  acxrefesw.arx
  AcXrefService.arx
  acISMui.arx
  acismui.crx
  acdgnui.arx
  acdgnui.crx
  acdgnlsdraw.crx
  acvisualstylesmanager.arx
  acexperience.arx
  acjscorestub.crx
  acdim.arx
  acdim.crx
  acdwfmarkupcore.crx
  accmmgr.crx
  acparameter.crx
  acgsconfig.arx
  acgsconfig.crx
  acvmtools.arx
  attedit.arx
  acidropmgr.arx
  aceattedit.arx
  acplotgui.arx
  acpltstamp.crx
  aceplotx.crx
  acoscale.arx
  acpurge.arx
  acpurge.crx

Effects:
 ACAD_LineSmoothing      supported     turned on
 ACAD_PerPixelLighting   not supported turned off
 ACAD_AdvancedMaterial   not supported turned off
 ACAD_FullShadows        not supported turned off
 ACAD_TextureCompression not supported turned off

[nestly2]

Try forcing AutoCAD to use DirectX 9... LINK

Seems to have worked for multiple people with the same problem (even your same card) HERE.

[Anonymous]

Hi Nestly2,

COOL!! that worked a like a charm.

Now running using Direct X9, and have not noticed any issues with it yet - only just changed the settings though.

Attached is a screen snip of the same cabinet as before, looking much smoother and not randomly transparent.

If the software crashes more often that it does now, might need to change back again, but we'll see how it goes for now.

Cheers & Merry Christmas.

Drafty01.