transparency of bodies when designing

[ddaum001]

I am wanting to know if I can set transparency of bodies while modeling?   I am looking for a "x-ray" type setting.  Existing bodies are all solid and cannot "see through" them for positioning to another body etc.

[innovatenate]

Have you tried editing the appearance of a body? There are some Glass Appearances that are very "x-ray." All you need to do is right click on a body in the browser and select appearance. You may also access the Appearance dialog via the Modify drop down menu in the Model work space.

I hope that helps. Please let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks,

[Oceanconcepts]

I frequently use the opacity setting to alter the transparency of components. Right click on the component in the browser and adjust the opacity setting.  This only works at the component level, but if you set the drawing up with this in mind it’s quite easy. 

[Anonymous]

Setting opacity on the component is great. But I find that I want to see the features internal to a body when I am sketching on a particluar surface of a body. As soon as i start sketching the body surface turns opaque and I cant see the internal features. Is there a way to do that?

[Anonymous]

I applied an acrylic material from the Appearance menu - and it does what I want it to do.

However - now I have to change all my mateirals when I go to render 😞

[tenplus66]

I find the opacity control both useful and frustrating. Whilst you can control the transparency of the body, the hidden lines are shown at full opacity, which is rarely what I need. For this reason, using acrylic material as @Anonymous said is way better:

I applied an acrylic material from the Appearance menu - and it does what I want it to do.

However - now I have to change all my mateirals when I go to render 😞

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I feel it would be an improvement to have the opacity control also control the opacity of the hidden lines.