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BLBlender

Set Opacity - Make Blender Transparent

by To The Grid Studio·Workflow

Images © To The Grid Studio. Used for product review; image policy.

Why we like it

Earns its place for a single-slider take on a common reference workflow: making Blender's window transparent instead of switching windows. It is listed for Windows, distributed under the GPL license.

What is Set Opacity - Make Blender Transparent?

Set Opacity - Make Blender Transparent is an addon from To The Grid Studio that makes Blender's window see-through, so reference images, mood boards, or concept art can show underneath while you sculpt, model, animate, or texture. It draws on ZBrush's see-through feature and brings the idea into Blender.

Control lives in one slider in the viewport header. Drag left to make Blender transparent, down to 50 percent, and drag right to return it to opaque. Changes apply instantly as you drag, there is no configuration, and the addon works right after installation. It is lightweight, with no reported performance impact on your scene.

From version 1.1 onward, multi-window support gives each Main Window its own independent opacity. The addon is listed for Blender 2.8 through 5.0, runs on Windows, and is distributed under the GPL license.

Who is Set Opacity - Make Blender Transparent best for?

Set Opacity - Make Blender Transparent is best for character artists keeping reference sheets visible while sculpting, environment artists comparing a blockout with concept art, texture artists viewing material references, and concept modelers matching proportions against sketches underneath.

How much does Set Opacity - Make Blender Transparent cost?

Set Opacity - Make Blender Transparent is completely free to download and use.

Key features

  • Single opacity slider, always visible in the viewport header
  • 50 to 100 percent transparency range
  • Instant response as you drag the slider
  • Zero setup — works right after installation
  • Lightweight, with no reported performance impact on the scene
  • Multi-window support with independent opacity per Main Window (v1.1+)

Tags

#reference#viewport transparency#opacity control#sculpting#see-through#Blender addon#workflow

Frequently asked questions

Does Set Opacity work on macOS or Linux?

Set Opacity is listed as Windows only, so it does not cover macOS or Linux in the current release. On a Windows machine, it makes Blender's window see-through so reference images, mood boards, or concept art can show underneath while you work. There is one slider in the viewport header — drag left to go transparent, drag right to return to opaque. For current platform support, check the developer's page before installing.

Which Blender versions does Set Opacity support?

Set Opacity lists compatibility with Blender 2.8 through 5.0, covering a wide span of releases. It adds a single opacity control to the viewport header and works right after installation with no configuration. Because it is a lightweight addon with no reported performance impact on your scene, it stays out of the way while you sculpt, model, animate, or texture. Version support can shift with updates, so confirm the current range on the developer's page before you download.

How transparent can Set Opacity make the Blender window?

Set Opacity offers a 50 to 100 percent range, meaning you can fade Blender down to half opacity but never make the window fully disappear. The single slider sits in the viewport header and responds instantly as you drag — left for more transparency, right to return to solid. That lets references, mood boards, or concept art stay visible underneath while you keep working. The design mirrors ZBrush's see-through feature, brought over to Blender.

Is Set Opacity free to use?

Set Opacity is listed as free in this catalog, and it is distributed under the GPL license. Pricing and licensing terms can change over time, so the developer's page is the place to confirm current details before you download. Once installed, the addon needs zero setup — a single opacity slider appears in the viewport header, ready to use immediately. From version 1.1 onward it also supports multiple windows, with each Main Window keeping its own independent opacity.

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