Selecting an occluded textured geometric element through partially transparent textures

Similarly to selecting occluded geometric elements through alpha channels, you can select a geometric element in the background through partially transparent textured geometric elements in the foreground by using the Easy Selection button () in the Viewer toolbar or its keyboard shortcut (Alt + Shift + A), and by specifying the textures' transparency threshold.

Note: All keyboard shortcuts associated with actions within the Viewer window require the Viewer window to be in an active state.

Important: To use a texture's alpha channel and transparency, the geometric element requires a shader (such as the Lighted shader) with its Transparency setting type set to other than No Transparency.

To display in the Viewer window the transparency threshold of textures via the Viewer window:

1. In the Viewer toolbar, click the Easy Selection button () or use the keyboard shortcut Alt + Shift + A to toggle the Easy Selection button on ().
2. Click anywhere in the Viewer window to make the Viewer window active.
3. Press Shift + A.
   The following figure shows the transparency threshold of textures for all geometric elements in the scene.

   

To display in the Viewer window the transparency threshold of textures via the Properties Resources window:

1. In the Navigator window, expand System, expand Core, then click Renderer.
   
2. In the Resources window, click the Properties tab.

   The Renderer's properties are displayed.

   

   Renderer's Property Resources
3. In the Renderer's Properties, enable IDBufferDisplay.

To select an occluded geometric element in the Viewer window through a geometric element's partially transparent texture:

Important: The geometric element that occludes the geometric element you want to select requires a partially transparent texture and an alpha channel.
1. In the Viewer toolbar, click the Easy Selection button () or use the keyboard shortcut Alt + Shift + A to toggle the Easy Selection button on ().
2. In the Viewer window, click a partially transparent textured geometric element.
   The following figure shows the foremost geometric element is selected.

   

   Selected elements are shown with a highlighted border.

3. Press Shift + A to display the textures' transparency threshold (enabling the Renderer's IDBufferDisplay property).
   The textures' transparency threshold value is shown in the Renderer's IDBufferPickingAlpha property field. The following figure shows the textures' transparency threshold is set to 0.50.

   

   IDBufferPickingAlpha property specifies the textures' transparency threshold

   Setting the textures' transparency threshold to 0.50 means that 50% of the textures' transparency is considered when selecting occluded geometry. See the result in the following figure.

   
4. Press Shift + A+ scroll the mouse wheel to change the texture's transparency threshold value.
   Tip: You can adjust the textures' transparency threshold value (ID buffer) via the Renderer's IDBufferPickingAlpha property field.
   The following figure shows the textures' transparency threshold is set to 1, meaning 100% of the textures' transparency is considered when selecting occluded geometry.

   

   Setting the textures' transparency threshold to 1 enables you to easily select through any of the partially transparent geometry.

1. Access the IDBufferPickingAlpha property.