How to | Add Transparency to Plots

Transparency is useful in plots when you need an unobstructed view of multiple components of one plot, or simply want to lighten a single plot component against a white background. Mathematica uses the graphics directive Opacity to apply transparency to graphics objects. Opacity can be used with most visualization functions.

Here is a 2D plot:

In[50]:=

Out[50]=

Use the PlotStyle option with Opacity to make the plot 70% transparent:

In[51]:=

Out[51]=

Here is a 3D plot:

In[1]:=

Out[1]=

Make the plot 60% transparent:

In[2]:=

Out[2]=

Add different transparency settings for plots of multiple functions:

In[54]:=

Out[54]=

Here is a 2D region determined by two inequalities:

In[55]:=

Out[55]=

Make the plot 50% transparent:

In[56]:=

Out[56]=

Use Opacity to see the inner parts of a plot:

In[4]:=

Out[4]=

Use the ContourStyle option of ContourPlot3D with Opacity:

In[5]:=

Out[5]=

You can also add transparency to graphics.

Make a 75% transparent disk:

In[21]:=

Out[21]=

Opacity can have values between 0 and 1, with 0 corresponding to perfect transparency:

In[42]:=

Out[42]=

Use Opacity with a color:

In[41]:=

Out[41]=

Opacity interacts well with other Mathematica functions:

In[6]:=

Out[6]=

Play Animation ▪