# Giving an object an alpha transparency

**URL:** https://discussions.unity.com/t/giving-an-object-an-alpha-transparency/392144
**Category:** Shaders & Materials
**Created:** [May 19, 2009, 6:33am UTC](https://discussions.unity.com/t/giving-an-object-an-alpha-transparency/392144 "2009-05-19T06:33:37Z")
**Posts on this page:** 5
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![anon\_42666482](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@anon\_42666482](https://discussions.unity.com/u/anon_42666482)
#### Post date: [May 19, 2009, 6:33am UTC](https://discussions.unity.com/t/giving-an-object-an-alpha-transparency/392144/1 "2009-05-19T06:33:37Z")

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Hello,

I’ve looked through the forums and script reference, and I can’t find a simple example of making an object transparent.

I’ve tried:

```auto
renderer.material.color = Color.clear;

// and

renderer.material.color = Color(1.0, 1.0, 1.0, 0.5);

// and

renderer.material.color.a = 0.5;

```

None of which make the object transparent. What am I doing wrong?

Thanks!

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### Author: ![Eric5h5](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/unity/user_avatar/discussions.unity.com/eric5h5/32/44225_2.png) [@Eric5h5](https://discussions.unity.com/u/Eric5h5)
#### Post date: [May 19, 2009, 6:50am UTC](https://discussions.unity.com/t/giving-an-object-an-alpha-transparency/392144/2 "2009-05-19T06:50:50Z")

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You need to use a shader with transparency. Otherwise alpha does nothing.

–Eric

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<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![anon\_42666482](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@anon\_42666482](https://discussions.unity.com/u/anon_42666482)
#### Post date: [May 19, 2009, 7:23am UTC](https://discussions.unity.com/t/giving-an-object-an-alpha-transparency/392144/3 "2009-05-19T07:23:55Z")

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Thanks for the reply - a shader or a material?

How do I apply a shader with transparency?

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<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![Eric5h5](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/unity/user_avatar/discussions.unity.com/eric5h5/32/44225_2.png) [@Eric5h5](https://discussions.unity.com/u/Eric5h5)
#### Post date: [May 19, 2009, 8:02am UTC](https://discussions.unity.com/t/giving-an-object-an-alpha-transparency/392144/4 "2009-05-19T08:02:40Z")

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> [@""](#):
>
> Thanks for the reply - a shader or a material?

A material with a shader that uses transparency.

> [@](#):
>
> How do I apply a shader with transparency?

Transparent/Vertex-Lit, Transparent/Diffuse, etc.

–Eric

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<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![anon\_42666482](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@anon\_42666482](https://discussions.unity.com/u/anon_42666482)
#### Post date: [May 19, 2009, 8:21am UTC](https://discussions.unity.com/t/giving-an-object-an-alpha-transparency/392144/5 "2009-05-19T08:21:24Z")

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Great, thanks!