I'm attempting to overlay a transparent PNG texture over a plane to create a glowing cutout effect. However, the transparent regions of the cutout aren't actually transparent and are casting a shadow on the floor below. Below are the top, side and node setup of the plane with the texture.
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3$\begingroup$ Try to unplug the Color input of Transparent BSDF. Set it's color to pure white. $\endgroup$– Paul GonetSep 12, 2016 at 15:12
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$\begingroup$ @PaulGonet Thanks. That worked. Could you put it in the answer while explaining what the color input of the transparent shader actually do? I would appreciate it if you explain when it should be used. $\endgroup$– DarkDestrySep 12, 2016 at 15:16
1 Answer
Set the transparent bsdf to one color (solid white: 1, 1, 1...alpha is disregarded). For this shader to be truly "transparent," the color must be so.
Transparency color levels from left to right: 0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, and 1 (yes, there is an invisible monkey on the end).
Here is the demo blend:
And here is a link to the transparent shader in the manual:
https://www.blender.org/manual//render/cycles/nodes/types/shaders/transparent.html
The color can also be used to tint (it doesn't have to be the same for R, G, and B channels):
From left to right, the RGB color is as follows: (0.5, 0, 0), (0, 0, 1), (0, 0.75, 0), (0.75, 1, 0.75), (1, 1, 0).
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$\begingroup$ Does the transparent shader take in RGB or RGBA? If its RGBA like you said, then whats the alpha channel doing if the RGB determines transparency? I am currently assuming that the transparency is the saturation of the color. $\endgroup$ Sep 12, 2016 at 15:45
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$\begingroup$ Transparency is based on the value of the color (black-->white). The alpha doesn't do anything: I've updated my answer. $\endgroup$– JakeDSep 12, 2016 at 15:47
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$\begingroup$ As I understand Color is 3 values. How is transparency determined? (Unless its the grayscale value) Also, I assume the RGB tints the transparent material? $\endgroup$ Sep 12, 2016 at 15:52
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$\begingroup$ Yes, RGB tints the transparency...the amount of transparency is determined by the grayscale value. I will add a color demo to my answer. $\endgroup$– JakeDSep 12, 2016 at 15:53
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$\begingroup$ Great clarification. Thanks for the explanation. $\endgroup$ Sep 12, 2016 at 16:18