Translucent appearance

Light passes through the surface and forms behind it appear soft.

Visual traits

• Light transmission
• Indistinct inner form
• Soft depth

Expected changes

• Forms behind are more likely to appear less than fully clear
• Light is more likely to seem to pass through the surface

Definition

Translucent appearance transmits light while not showing forms behind it with full clarity. It does not determine a particular material, liquid, color, lighting, or numeric opacity.

In more detail

It adds light transmission and softly perceived depth. Material, reflectance, color, and thickness remain separate choices.

Includes

• Light-transmitting appearance
• Indistinct forms behind

Excludes

• Perfectly clear glass
• Fully opaque surface
• A particular material or liquid

What this does not imply

• A particular material
• color
• or liquid
• Perfect transparency
• Emission

Variability

Color, thickness, reflectance, and light strength can be adjusted separately.

Usage

• Use a light-transmitting appearance
• Specify material and color separately

Distinguish similar expressions

• Specify transparency separately when a fully clear appearance is intended

Typical uses

• Give figures
• objects
• or natural forms a light-transmitting appearance

Possible failure modes

• It becomes fully transparent or opaque
• Contours become blurred