To Make an Image Transparent

When you add a raster image to a map using Data Connect, it appears in a Display Manager layer. You can edit the properties of this layer to add an “opacity” property, and then set that opacity property to a value below 1 to change the transparency of the layer.

To make a raster image transparent

1. Add the raster to AutoCAD Map 3D.

   You can use any type of raster, including a WMS image. The image does not need to be transparent or have an opacity setting already.

2. Right-click the layer containing the image and choose Save Layer.

   Save the layer to a .layer file.

3. Open the resulting .layer file in a text editor, such as Notepad, and find the <FeatureName> entry.
4. Just under the <FeatureName> entry, add the opacity setting, using the following syntax:

   <Opacity>0.6</Opacity>

   An opacity setting of 1 makes the layer completely opaque. A setting of .1 makes it virtually transparent.

5. Save the .layer file.
6. In AutoCAD Map 3D, switch the Task Pane to Display Manager and remove the original raster layer.
7. Add any other entities to your map that will appear on layers beneath the translucent image, and theme or style those layers.
8. Click DataLoad Layer and select the .layer file you edited.

   The translucent raster image overlays the opaque layers, and they appear beneath it.