Make layers "transparent"

Some daylight indicators require parts of the model to be made completely transparent. For example for the Horizontal Sight Angle it is necessary to remove all the constructions around the building studied. For the Sky Factor, it is a question of measuring a deviation before / after a modification.

The usual method is to use the layer visibility feature of SketchUp. The method proposed here achieves the same result from the computational point of view: making a layer transparent consists in practice of not exporting its content to the Radiance simulation.

It is of course possible to mix the two approaches, invisible layers via SketchUp and transparent layers.

The interest of this functionality is above all graphic: a layer marked transparent remains visible on the model, with a very low opacity.

• Example 1: transparency of a height extension of a building.
  
• Example 2: transparency of constructions around the project.
  

Define transparent layers

The management of transparent layers is done from the toolbars via the icon or from the menu Extensions -> De Luminae -> [name of extension] -> Define transparent layers.

• For each layer selected, transparency is immediately activated.
• Transparency is linked to the active extension. Each extension therefore has its own list of transparent layers.
• When a layer takes on the transparent status, the results of its surfaces are erased, and of course these cannot be part of the surfaces to be calculated.