Object Opacity

[niegrau]

I'm trying to model a lamp, in the tutorial it says we turn on the opacity, and it doesn't show how he does that, probably he uses a shortcut. I'm wondering if I can apply an opacity to an editable poly !? (not through mapping though)

 

the object is in the image shown.

View Screen Capture

 

 

btw, how can I zoom in to see the inner side of this lamp without any changes to view modes !? the polygons blocks the view. I can't recall this one, I am sure of this tool that it would work like it cuts through the while zooming.

[Cad64]

Select the object and then hit Alt+X to make it semi transparent.

 

Or

 

Here's a little trick I learned a long time ago, which I still use today, for controlling material opacity from the timeline slider.

 

1. Open your material editor and apply a standard default material to your object.

2. Click the little button at the bottom right hand side of your screen that says "Auto Key". This should turn your timeline slider bar red.

3. Grab the timeline slider on the bottom left side of your screen, which currently says "0/100", and drag it all the way over to the right, to the end of the timeline so that it now says "100/100"

4. Back in the material editor, change the material opacity to "0"

5. Turn off "Auto Key"

 

Now you can control the opacity of your material by moving the slider from 0 to 100.

[tzframpton]

Nice tip Cad64!!

[niegrau]

such a great tippppp thankssss

but anyway my Alt+X doesnt work for me.

 

 

 

 

Select the object and then hit Alt+X to make it semi transparent.

 

Or

 

Here's a little trick I learned a long time ago, which I still use today, for controlling material opacity from the timeline slider.

 

1. Open your material editor and apply a standard default material to your object.

2. Click the little button at the bottom right hand side of your screen that says "Auto Key". This should turn your timeline slider bar red.

3. Grab the timeline slider on the bottom left side of your screen, which currently says "0/100", and drag it all the way over to the right, to the end of the timeline so that it now says "100/100"

4. Back in the material editor, change the material opacity to "0"

5. Turn off "Auto Key"

 

Now you can control the opacity of your material by moving the slider from 0 to 100.

[Cad64]

but anyway my Alt+X doesnt work for me.

 

Then go to the "Customize" menu and select "Customize User Interface".

 

In the Customization dialog, go to the "Keyboard" tab and then scroll down through the command list until you get to "Display as See-Through". Check to see what "Hotkey" is assigned to this command. If no hotkey is assigned, just click in the "Hotkey" box and then press Alt+X to set it. Then click the "Assign" button, then click the "Save" button and save over your existing MaxStartUI.kbd file. Note: Make a backup copy of your MaxStartUI file before saving over it, in case you ever need to revert back to it.

Edited August 14, 2013 by Cad64

[niegrau]

I checked it out, it was already set up. I wonder why it doesn't work on my viewport, there must be sth going on as when I also use ActiveShade it doesn't work.

for the transparency I had to use your other technique of 0-100

 

 

 

Then go to the "Customize" menu and select "Customize User Interface".

 

In the Customization dialog, go to the "Keyboard" tab and then scroll down through the command list until you get to "Display as See-Through". Check to see what "Hotkey" is assigned to this command. If no hotkey is assigned, just click in the "Hotkey" box and then press Alt+X to set it. Then click the "Assign" button, then click the "Save" button and save over your existing MaxStartUI.kbd file. Note: Make a backup copy of your MaxStartUI file before saving over it, in case you ever need to revert back to it.

[Cad64]

I checked it out, it was already set up. I wonder why it doesn't work on my viewport

 

Is your object selected when you hit Alt+X? Only selected objects will become transparent.

 

Also, what display driver are you using? DirectX or OpenGL? Go into your Preferences Settings, Viewports tab and click "Choose Driver". Whatever you're using, try using the other. I've tried both on my machine and they both work for me, but maybe there is an issue on your machine?

[Cad64]

Actually, before you start messing with your display driver, go to the "Views" menu and select "Viewport Configuration". In the Configuration dialog, under the "Rendering Method" tab, in the "Transparency" section, make sure you're set to "Simple" or "Best", then in the "Apply To" section, make sure you're set to "All Viewports", then click OK.