Viewing Options for Surface Rendering (SR) Objects

A SR object only consists of a surface. Its properties define how the surface is represented in the scene.

The Visible box determines whether or not the object is shown. The texture selection allows to switch off texturing (No Texture), or to select one of the loaded image series for coloring the surface. If no texture is active, the surface color can be defined using the Color selection.

There are three Modes how to render a surface: solid, as a wire frame, and by points. The wire frame and the points modes have the advantage that inner objects are visible. The examples below illustrate the different modes without and with (lower row) texturing.

Transparency

To also allow viewing into solid objects it has a transparency property. High transparency settings can be used to make enclosed objects partly visible. Currently there are two ways how transparency is implemented.

1. The standard way (Screen door, box not checked) is to punch holes into the surface. The higher the transparency, the bigger the holes.
2. The other way (Blended, box checked), which provides a smoother view, is only available as long as no VR objects are generated, and if Java3D 1.4 or above is in use.

The check box next to the transparency slider allows switching the two modes.

Note: Property changes of SR objects are immediately reflected in the scene.