Transparent panels

[pperly]

How do you create a transparent "panel" of an image? I've seen it numerous times, especially as elements or building blocks of components, but can't find a link for instructions.

I need to create a transparent panel, double sided, that has (for example) a photograph of something, say a flower. The panel can be rotated and you see the same flower on reverse side. The rest of the panel is clear transparent.

Thanks,
Paul P.

[d12dozr]

Use a PNG (or another image format that supports transparency) that has the background deleted, and apply it to both sides of a face in Sketchup.

Does that help?

[Gaieus]

Even easier (than to applying on both sides) to import such an image as "Image" (not texture), scale it to your needs then right click > Explode (or leave it as an image entity).

This will make sure you have the same image applied (and mirrored) on both sides of the face correctly.

Although... SU is set (by default) to apply a png with transparent areas on the back face, too, anyway...

[pperly]

Got it! Didn't know that about PNG formats.

Thanks!!

Paul

[Gaieus]

SketchUp supports two image file types that can have transparency; png and tif. Png is a more useful format (in general) however as it is smaller in file size and also generally supported by internet browsers so can be used in several environments.

[d12dozr]

@gaieus said:

Even easier (than to applying on both sides) to import such an image as "Image" (not texture), scale it to your needs then right click > Explode (or leave it as an image entity).

My Duh! moment...thanks Gaieus!