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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.

enter image description here enter image description here enter image description here

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    $\begingroup$ Try to unplug the Color input of Transparent BSDF. Set it's color to pure white. $\endgroup$
    – Paul Gonet
    Sep 12, 2016 at 15:12
  • $\begingroup$ @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. $\endgroup$
    – DarkDestry
    Sep 12, 2016 at 15:16

1 Answer 1

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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.

enter image description here

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):

enter image description here

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. $\endgroup$
    – DarkDestry
    Sep 12, 2016 at 15:45
  • $\begingroup$ Transparency is based on the value of the color (black-->white). The alpha doesn't do anything: I've updated my answer. $\endgroup$
    – JakeD
    Sep 12, 2016 at 15:47
  • $\begingroup$ 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? $\endgroup$
    – DarkDestry
    Sep 12, 2016 at 15:52
  • $\begingroup$ Yes, RGB tints the transparency...the amount of transparency is determined by the grayscale value. I will add a color demo to my answer. $\endgroup$
    – JakeD
    Sep 12, 2016 at 15:53
  • $\begingroup$ Great clarification. Thanks for the explanation. $\endgroup$
    – DarkDestry
    Sep 12, 2016 at 16:18

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