By default, the transparency of an object is determined by its layer color and whether or not the object is a surface. Surfaces are displayed as semi-transparent to visually distinguish them from solids. You can override the transparency of objects using the Color tool.
In a graphics editing application, color is assigned to an Alpha channel (ARGB, for example). DesignSpark Mechanical follows this standard convention and also treats transparency as a property of the object's color.
The hierarchy of rendering overrides is as follows:
- The opacity setting for the layer is used if no other transparency is set for the object.
- The transparency setting from the Color tool or Style Painter overrides the transparency of the layer.
- Style Override makes the object opaque or transparent, regardless of face or layer settings. These overrides are automatically deselected when you change the transparency of an object using the Color tool or Style Painter.
To change the transparency of an object
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Select one or more solids, surfaces, faces, curves, or components in the Design window or Structure tree.
Hold the Ctrl key to select more than one object.
If you select a component, then the color of all of the component's children will be changed.
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Click Color in the Style group on the Display tab.
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Move the Opacity slider.
To override an object's transparency
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Select one or more solids, surfaces, faces, curves, or components in the Design window or Structure tree.
Hold the Ctrl key to select more than one object.
If you select a component, then the color of all of the component's children will be changed.
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Click
Style Override in the Style group on the Display tab. -
Select one of the options:
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Transparent to make the object 35% transparent.
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Opaque to make the object completely opaque.
Deselect so neither override is selected if you want to use the object's transparency setting.
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To reapply the layer color and transparency
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Select one or more solids, surfaces, faces, or curves in the Design window or Structure tree.
Hold the Ctrl key to select more than one object.
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Select Remove Color Override from the Color tool on the Display tab's Style ribbon group. You can see this option in the image of the Color tool above.