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Transparency Overview

Japanese

Transparent objects

Related nodes

Blend (EX9.RenderState Advanced)
ZWriteEnable (EX9.RenderState)
AlphaTest (EX9.Renderstate)
Group (EX9)
Group (EX9 Priority)

If you first (high priority) drew a transparent object near the camera and after that (lower priority) draw a solid object behind it, the depth buffer check would just reject the drawing of the solid object behind the transparent one - because it knows nothing about semitransparent objects.

Make sure to draw all objects with alpha textures after everything else (that last sentence exactly describes the problem).

Using a Group (EX9) or the drawing order is determined by the order of inputs on the group node: left (first drawn) to right (last drawn). A Group (EX9 Priority) node allows you to change the drawing order/priority programmatically via the "Priority" pins that are associated with each "Layer" input pins.

If this turns out to be difficult, DirectX supports one classic computer graphics hack for dealing with transparent objects drawn in arbitrary order -- vvvv exposes this hack with the AlphaTest (EX9.Renderstate) node.

Basically it allows one to skip processing for all pixels whose alpha value is below a given reference value. This means these pixels are neither rendered nor written into the depth buffer. Connect the AlphaTest node to the render node in question, enable it, set the compare function to less (or was it greater?), and play with the "reference alpha" pin. this should cut out all transparent areas in your objects. Consult the Microsoft DirectX documentation for details.

Obviously this method will not give you smooth antialiased borders, but it is somehow better than nothing.

See also:

Transparent background

Related nodes

DX9Texture (EX9.Texture)
SetAlpha (Color)

The image rendered by a Renderer can be retrieved as a texture via the DX9Texture (EX9.Texture). This is useful if you need to write it to disk, post-process the image (aka TextureFX) or use it in a feedback-loop.

In order to render on a transparent background the alpha in Background Color of the Renderer (DX9) must be <1 and the Format of the Renderer or the DX9Texture (EX9.Texture) must contain an alpha channel as well. Typically choose A8R8G8B8.

Examples in your vvvv\girlpower\ directory:

  • Graphics\DX9\Texture\TransparentTexture.v4p

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Shoutbox

~4d ago

~7d ago

joreg: The Winter Season of vvvv workshops is now over but all recordings are still available for purchase: https://thenodeinstitute.org/ws23-vvvv-intermediates/

~14d ago

schlonzo: Love the new drag and drop functionality for links in latest previews!

~22d ago

joreg: Workshop on 29 02: Create Sequencers and Precise Clock Based Tools. Signup here: https://thenodeinstitute.org/courses/ws23-vvvv-08-create-sequencers-and-precise-clock-based-tools-in-vvvv-gamma/

~29d ago

joreg: Workshop on 22 02: Unlocking Shader Artistry: A Journey through ‘The Book of Shaders’ with FUSE. Signup here: https://thenodeinstitute.org/courses/ws23-vvvv-12-book-of-shaders/

~1mth ago

joreg: Talk and Workshop on February 15 & 16 in Frankfurt: https://visualprogramming.net/blog/vvvv-at-node-code-frankfurt/

~1mth ago

woei: @Joanie_AntiVJ: think so, looks doable

~1mth ago

xd_nitro: Anyone remember who increased projector brightness by removing some components that product the color?

~1mth ago

Joanie_AntiVJ: This looks super interesting (vectors over network) would anyone here know how to implement this in beta? https://github.com/madmappersoftware/Ponk