Forums >> Revit Systems >> Technical Support >> Transparency of elements and rendering

Gyvven

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Joined: Wed, Dec 19, 2007
69 Posts

I'm putting this in the Systems forum because that's primarily what I use, but if there's a solution I'm sure it will apply to all disciplines. Using Revit MEP 2013.

I'm trying to find a way to take my Realistic view with it's transparency settings for walls and ceilings - to show piping and ductwork beyond - and render it exactly as I have it set up. Unfortunately, all categories and materials revert to their original opaque settings when using Render. Is there a way, without editing every material to be transparent, to render a view using the transparency settings already applied? This would be especially handy in creating a walk-thru where you'd like to show systems hidden behind the finished materials.

Thanks,

Gyv

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sllana

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Joined: Wed, Mar 2, 2011
106 Posts

Excelent question, Revit promotes itself showing images like its opening presentation (attachment) but they are impossible to do. I feel as if they were lying to us.

Attached Images

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Gyvven

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Joined: Wed, Dec 19, 2007
69 Posts

Here's a shot that only took me a few minutes to set up. Ceilings and Roofs are off, Walls and such set to 50%, Ductwork set to 30%. I think this looks great and demonstrates to a client what we're going to provide. I have no idea how I'd get it to render like this without spending days editing materials. I'm playing with it in 3ds MAX but that has the same limitations.

Attached Images

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sllana

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Joined: Wed, Mar 2, 2011
106 Posts

Beautiful !  But i didn't understand. . . . where did you set those 50% and 30%. Is that mep 2013 transparencies? If so, how can I do it in 2012?

Ah! that's a realistic view, not a render. isnt it?

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Gyvven

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Joined: Wed, Dec 19, 2007
69 Posts

Yes, this is done in 2013. 2012 can do something similar, in Visibility Graphics there's the option to check Ghost Surfaces. This is a straight 50% transparency. In 2013 they provide a slider that lets you set the percentage. Not a huge improvement, but pretty nice if you want something to stand out just a little bit more.

I think I could get this looking even better if I played with the transparency of sub-categories. But then I'd have to play with the Arch model to  add subcategories for interior and exterior walls, or break it into 2 models. There's a ton you can do, but you still can't make a walk-thru that looks like this.

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