Help creating a transparent mask or border for surface labels

[Anonymous]

Hello,  I am unsure if this is possible from messing with the styles and research i have done, but I am trying to add a transparent mask or border around my spot elevation labels. I have been able to create a mask surrounding the elevations by adding a text component to the bottom of the styles draw order and using blank spaces to set the width and height, but I need to be able to see underneath it. I also removed the mask, and turned on the border viability, but I also need border to be filled in. 

The first screenshot is what I have created so far, the second is a screenshot of what I am trying to accomplish but within Agtek 4d, and the rest are settings of what I have used. I am open to all suggestions and lisp routines if possible. I am using Civil 3D 2020, thank you.

[JRitner]

Steven,

A quick solution would be to define your labels to reside on a layer with transparency applied. That way, your background will be transparent. Of course, your label text and border will also have transparency, but if you use a text style with a little meat on it (like Arial) and assign a lineweight to that layer as well, it might come close to what you're trying to achieve.

Not a perfect fix, but a quick one.

[samir_rezk · Accepted solution]

Hi @Anonymous 

I have not tried this myself; but just thinking out loud!

Create a Block containing a Solid White Hatch Pattern with the Transparency setting you like (preferably ByLayer Transparency) sized to accommodate three lines of text, then add the Block as a component to your label, make sure the Block Linetype is ByLayer and remember to send to the bottom of the Label Draw order!)

I am curious how it pans out, let us know!

[MMcCall402]

As you've seen, placing the labels on a layer with a translucency setting will apply that translucency to the contents of the label as well as the mask.  To somewhat counteract this you can duplicate the contents of the label within the label style and the printing of those replications will combine to  produce text a lines that will appear solid.  In the replications of the contents be sure to turn off their masks, you only need one, the first one in the draw order of the label contents.  The number of replications depends on the level of translucency being used.

[Anonymous]

Thank you for your suggestion. It worked perfectly for what I needed.