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Why aren't both sides of a surface equally opaque?

• To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
• Subject: [mg80974] Why aren't both sides of a surface equally opaque?
• From: "David Park" <djmpark at comcast.net>
• Date: Thu, 6 Sep 2007 05:38:13 -0400 (EDT)

The following illustrates a strange behavior of surfaces with respect to 
opacity. The code draws a narrow cylinder with a red line on the inside of 
the cylinder and a black line on the outside of the cylinder. The cylinder 
is completely opaque. The inside red line does not show through the 
cylinder, which is proper behavior. However, the black outside line does 
show through the back face for a considerable range, which is certainly 
improper behavior.

cylinder =
  First[ParametricPlot3D[{5 Cos[\[Theta]1], 5 Sin[\[Theta]1],
     z}, {\[Theta]1, 0, 2 \[Pi]}, {z, -1, 1},
    PlotStyle -> {FaceForm[Orange, LightGray]},
    PlotPoints -> {41, 5},
    Mesh -> None]];

outsideline =
  First[ParametricPlot3D[{5.1 Cos[\[Theta]1], 5.1 Sin[\[Theta]1],
     0.2}, {\[Theta]1, 0, 2 \[Pi]},
    PlotStyle -> {Black},
    PlotPoints -> 41]];

insideline =
  First[ParametricPlot3D[{4.9 Cos[\[Theta]1],
     4.9 Sin[\[Theta]1], -0.2}, {\[Theta]1, 0, 2 \[Pi]},
    PlotStyle -> {Red},
    PlotPoints -> 41]];

Show[Graphics3D[
  {cylinder,
   outsideline,
   insideline}],
 Lighting -> "Neutral",
 ViewPoint -> {1.718, -2.747, 0.975},
 Boxed -> False


-- 
David Park
djmpark at comcast.net
http://home.comcast.net/~djmpark/

• Follow-Ups:
  • Re: Why aren't both sides of a surface equally
    • From: Chris Hill <chill@wolfram.com>