Transparency and DepthBuffer

The answer to this problem is straightforward, but the solution is not. You have to draw the objects or polygons from furthest from the camera to closest.

There are a few ways of doing this.

A:
If only a few objects or polygons in your scene are transparent, put a m_bTransparency flag or something on their object and when you come across them during rendering, put them in a list and render them after everything that doesn't have the flag set is rendered. (And put the in their order in distance from camera)

B:
If you're unsure of what will be transparent in your world it gets harder. You can partition your world out using BSP (Binary Space Partitioning) or a similar method and draw the spaces that are furthest away from the camera to closest. That should solve your problem.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Binary_space_partitioning

Quote:

Original post by iSina Say A is behind B and B is transparent but if A is rendered before B then this blending method does not work due to depth buffer.

So A has a greater distance to the camera than B? It should work then, except you don't have GL_LESS or GL_LEQUAL depth compare mode (GL_LESS being default).

What are the results you get? Any screenshots?


Like cmptrgy412 said, the way to get "correct" blending is to draw the transparent objects after the opaque ones and in back-to-front order.