OpenGL Edges on Objects with Transparency

[Andy Broomell]

I need OpenGL edges to appear on all objects, even if they're using a texture with transparency. Currently if the texture has any transparency the edges are no longer drawn.

 

This could be a checkbox if some users prefer the current functionality.

[Markvl]

Could you post an image/pic of what you are reffering to @Andy Broomell?

 

Thanks.

[zoomer]

Me tooooooo ....

[Andy Broomell]

In the top image it's hard to tell there are floating glass panels in the foreground. In the bottom it's more apparent (the bottom image is a viewport with Hidden Line foreground render, but I want to have the lines in OpenGL so I can interactively use the Walkthrough tool on the Design Layer).

[Markvl]

Yes.  Right.  I too would like to be able to see the edges of such textured items.

[AlanW]

@Andy BroomellHi, would be nice to do automatically with glass if needed, but a way to do it is to set your texture to Overall Glass and sides something else and in this case I used Plastic semi gloss. See panel in centre, left all glass texture and picture of how it looks in real life.

HTH

Edited December 28, 2016 by Alan Woodwell

[Andy Broomell]

I don't want it to render any differently; I only want edge lines in OpenGL. But that's surely a workaround in some situations.

 

Here's another example - there are glass globes which are practically invisible in OpenGL. Would much prefer the bottom look, especially when using the Walkthrough tool and a 3DConnexion mouse to navigate a model interactively with a client or colleague.

 

[AlanW]

@Andy BroomellHi, I situations like this I tend to make my own textures. See attached, 2 on left texture and right the glass default. HTH

Lights & Glass.vwx

[Andy Broomell]

Not quite the solution I need, but again, thank you for the suggestions.  

 

I guess my purpose in the original post was to eventually have a built-in solution for the edges rather than pursuing workarounds. In this case, for example, if I adjust the texture for OpenGL purposes then it won't render how I want it to; I want to leave the texture exactly as it is. There are a number of workarounds I can think of, but it's not the same as what the original request would achieve.

[joerg]

i agree to Andy  AND i would like to to be able to set linecolour to grey so it is visible on dark elements... i work arround this mith hidden line foregroundrender it would just make things easier...

( ps i like the Glas sheet trick  of Alan! i allways worked arround with a dublicate in place with no fill at all....)

[PVA - Jim]

Agreed! I would absolutely like this as an option in OpenGL settings. Request Submitted: VE-96212

[MrPilot]

+1 from me on this. I use OpenGL for most of my 3D work, so I would see this as a great improvement.

[Amorphous - Julian]

We run into this problem a lot. Very frustrating 

[Claes Lundstrom]

On 2/16/2017 at 3:44 PM, PVA - Jim said:

Agreed! I would absolutely like this as an option in OpenGL settings. Request Submitted: VE-96212

I have submitted a complaint about this years ago in the past and was told that it worked as designed and they did not intend to fix it.

 

In my opinion a really bad decision.  

 

Clunky as it is, my solution has always been to make a copy of the transparent parts and set these copies to No Fill. So one filled transparent object and one wireframe version on top of that.