How to Create Custom Transparent Appearances in Inventor

If you want a custom wire mesh, expanded metal, or other see-through material in Inventor, with your own color or pattern, rather than the default library options, you can build it using the Appearance Editor's image and cutout maps.

Why the Default Expanded Metal Appearances Are See-Through

If you've used one of Inventor's built-in expanded metal appearances, you've probably noticed you can see through it, including features behind it in the model. This transparency comes from a cutout map: a black-and-white image where black areas are treated as fully transparent and white areas remain opaque. Combined with the actual image map that defines the pattern's color and texture, this is what creates the see-through wire mesh or expanded metal look.

How to Find the Images Behind a Built-In Appearance

To see how this works, open the Appearance Editor and edit one of the built-in expanded metal appearances. You'll find it references two images: the main texture image and a separate cutout image that defines the transparency pattern. Both are pulled from Inventor's shared material library folder, in a section specifically for expanded metals and mesh-type materials.

This shared folder contains many material swatches and appearance images used across the built-in library, and it's a useful reference if you want to build your own custom versions using the same approach.

Step 1: Create Your Custom Images

Using the built-in expanded metal images as a starting point, create your own version in image-editing software:

1. The appearance image - your custom texture, color, or pattern.
2. The cutout image - a black-and-white image defining which areas should be transparent (black) and which should remain solid (white).

Save both as separate image files.

Step 2: Duplicate the Appearance (Don't Edit the Original)

Rather than modifying one of Inventor's default appearances directly, duplicate it and give the copy a new name. This keeps the original library appearance intact for future use, while giving you a safe copy to customize.

Step 3: Point the New Appearance to Your Custom Images

Edit your duplicated appearance and update its image mapping:

1. Set the main appearance image to your custom texture file.
2. Set the cutout map to your custom transparency image.

Once both are set, apply the new appearance to your model in place of the original expanded metal appearance. You should see your custom color or pattern applied, with the transparency effect carrying over correctly from the cutout map.

Key Takeaways

• Transparency in Inventor's expanded metal and mesh appearances comes from a cutout map - a black-and-white image where black pixels are treated as transparent.
• Duplicate an existing appearance rather than editing it directly, so you always have the original library version available as a fallback.
• You need two custom images: one for the visible texture, and one for the transparency pattern (the cutout map).
• This same technique extends beyond wire mesh - any appearance that uses image and cutout maps can be customized this way.

FAQ: Custom Transparent Appearances in Inventor

How does transparency work in Inventor's material appearances? Transparency in appearances like expanded metal comes from a cutout map, a black-and-white image where black areas are rendered as transparent and white areas remain solid.

Can I create my own custom wire mesh material in Inventor? Yes. Duplicate an existing expanded metal or mesh appearance, then edit its image mapping to point to your own custom texture image and cutout (transparency) image.

Should I edit Inventor's default appearances directly? No. Duplicate the appearance you want to base your custom version on, and edit the copy instead. This keeps the original library appearance available if you need it later.

Does this technique work for materials other than wire mesh or expanded metal? Yes. Any Inventor appearance that uses image and cutout maps can be customized using this same approach. It isn't limited to mesh-type materials.

Want to build a fully custom material and appearance library for your team?

If you're looking to standardize custom appearances, materials, or other visualization assets across your team, our Inventor training courses cover these workflows in depth, and our Design Automation solutions team can help build out broader standardized content libraries.

Browse Inventor training courses →

Submitted by Kendred Cooper, Manufacturing Solutions Engineer, Hagerman & Company, Inc.