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How to get a part to have a faded portion

Question asked by Bob Smith on Jun 13, 2017
Latest reply on Jun 13, 2017 by Bjorn Hulman

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I have an assembly where - for demonstration purposes - I'd like the top half of the assembly to sort of fade away (not dynamically - just to have portions faded). I've mocked some images of the effect below on a part (but really I'd like this for an entire assembly)

Here the part fades away to a line drawing

And here it fades to an outline then to nothing.

I'm not after an animation, just some display state that puts focus on a certain portion of the model/assembly, but hints at the rest of it being present. And ideally it will fade completely as in the second image (for reasons I could explain in more detail, as it may help direct out-of-the-box solutions, if the people reading this can fully grasp my design intent)

So far the closest tool I've found is "Transparent Section Bodies" in the Cross section view,

which is fairly close but 1) does not transition gradually & 2) Does not fade completely.

Any improved suggestions?

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Bjorn Hulman Jun 13, 2017 5:56 AM
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Hi Bob,
to my knowledge there is no out of the box function in SW to give you the output you're after. You could invest in Composer if you plan on doing this sort of thing a lot, it appears to do what you're after SOLIDWORKS Composer.

Or you can Photoshop it.

EDIT:
I wouldn't be surprised if that image they use on that website to sell composer is actually doctored elsewhere.
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Bob Smith Jun 13, 2017 6:24 AM
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Another workaround if the cross section method isn't ideal, is to set individual component display states within the assembly. Still has the same drawbacks as before, but perhaps a bit more flexible.
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- Bjorn Hulman @ Bob Smith on Jun 13, 2017 6:28 AM
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  you can do that, but it won't give you the fade you're after.
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John Stoltzfus Jun 13, 2017 8:36 AM
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The way I would do it is a multiple step process for every wire.. Go to Tools/System Options/Color and change your screen color to Gradient and take a snap shot and save it. Do the same for both colors, then after your part is completed, open File Explorer and drag the saved jpg on to the feature and edit the appearance and the mapping..

Or... Open any draw program or maybe a Microsoft program and change the Gradient to closer match what you need.

edited - Peter Brinkhuis You can make a difference changing or adding lighting in SW
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Peter Brinkhuis Jun 13, 2017 7:41 AM
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I though you could maybe get this effect by playing with the lights in SolidWorks, but I didn't even come close.

My best guess would be to make two screenshots of the extremes, overlay them in an image editing tool and add a gradient that changes the transparency. My tool of choice (Paint.net) can't do this however.
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- Bjorn Hulman @ Peter Brinkhuis on Jun 13, 2017 8:27 AM
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  try GIMP - GNU Image Manipulation Program
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  - John Stoltzfus @ Bjorn Hulman on Jun 13, 2017 8:29 AM
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    GIMP is really good - would love to use that everyday
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    - Bjorn Hulman @ John Stoltzfus on Jun 13, 2017 8:30 AM
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      Gets a bit sweaty for my liking.
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- Bob Smith @ Peter Brinkhuis on Jun 13, 2017 9:15 AM
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  How'd you think I made the original screenshots
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Bjorn Hulman Jun 13, 2017 8:35 AM
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Anyhow, that went downhill.
What is the level of outcome you are after? If your after a high level of finish, I'd setup a camera to the view you require. I'd then render it out full colour, I'd then render it out as contours. I'd overlay them in photoshop (or GIMP) and add transparency where wanted.
The beauty of using a camera is you can hide parts and the view will remain exactly the same, as where with a perspective view it will be altered depending on the bounding area of the visible parts. Therefore you could render out individual parts and overlay them if you really wanted.
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- Bob Smith @ Bjorn Hulman on Jun 13, 2017 9:20 AM
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  Well unfortunately what I'm really after is a 3D model that exhibits the effect, not a 2D image. It was easy to GIMP the desired effect with a couple of screenshots but the Cross Section/ Component properties methods are the only 3D approaches I've found. Perhaps lighting might be a way of getting close.
  If it helps, photoview 360 & an integrated preview could be used to combine the 3D manipulation requirement with 2D graphics flexibility.
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  - John Stoltzfus @ Bob Smith on Jun 13, 2017 9:24 AM
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    If it's easy to Gimp the desired effect - then create your effect and add that image to the feature in the model, then do like I mentioned edit the appearance.
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  - Bjorn Hulman @ Bob Smith on Jun 13, 2017 9:28 AM
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    You'd need a composite material(appearance) like in 3D Studio Max. Maybe one day in SW, but I wouldn't hold my breath.
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How to get a part to have a faded portion

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