Hmm, i never played with transparency at all really because i found it too abstract to work on different layers. I might play around with it when i find time.
In the meantime there is another mat. Sort of dark hence the name:
(Doh, wheres Jantim? 
would love to see some more killer mats!pleasepleaseplease!)
ZBrush can do this (if I understand you correctly) but you need your two objects on different layers for the transparency to work. You must also switch off Flatten in the Render options. Draw your first object on one layer and Mark it. Create a second layer, switch off the Material option in the Marker palette and all the other options on. Choose your transparent material then click on the marker and your object will be redrawn. You can then use the Gyro to scale. Do a best render to see the effect. (For some materials you may need to switch layers before they update.)
Thanks Marcus for the working work flow and for reading the info from someone who doesn’t know the jargon for the mats etc
A few questions:
1 When I tried moving the top layer marker tool the marker tool on the other layer did not move with the top layer marker tool - how do I combine the two into one ztool to place in a comp on the canvas?
2 Does the transparent mat top layer have to be on the top layer or can this be changed to put the transparent mat on the first layer render and then on the second layer maker tool use a different mat.and scale so that the transparent marker tool becomes a glow for the top layer marker tool?
Took a break from the transparent mats and did your work flow with markers with some other mats and got a walking out the shadow effect that I guess could be done to look like walking out of liquid with other types of zmats. Just a show the effect image experiment.
And the refraction, still try but no effect…? 
SpaceMan -
Here is another mat that might be a little closer to what you need for your outer material. It’s as close to metalic gold as I can get on a transparent mat. This render is done with the default lights. Also turn flatten off and turn on shadows and best render. A good starting point for a metalic gold color is - Red = 150, Green = 80, Blue = 15.
Refraction is a whole other story. It is not possible with transparency in ZBrush. There are tut’s on the subject but I can’t recall any names right now.
there is refraction in zbrush
http://www.zbrushcentral.com/zbc/showthread.php?t=032481
it was metioned here, i eaven posted a screen of it :]
:o I was not very clear - sorry. Yes, refraction is possible but not with this type of material. Also I can only get it to refract what is on the same layer. In this example you can see that when you place a translucent object inside of a transparent one it disappears. I don’t know any way around this. Since transparency is only possible with the transparent item on another layer I don’t think they can be used together. If there is a way it would be great. Does anyone know if that can be done???:qu:
tred to marge the leyers, and then use refract ?
:o :o :o Now I really feel dumb. It is possible.
This looks great Blaine! Have to try that out…
Lemo
wow!!! Blaine(BATMAN)91555 cool gold mat and refraction image
I used your new gold trans mat over a translucent mat
Update and a warning. This only works while the object on the second layer is still in edit mode. When I exited edit mode the object in the first layer became opaque.
There are som great effects here! 
You can’t do this with objects on different layers. If you use Multimarkers (or Marker Master) to group objects together they can only be drawn on one layer at a time. If you want to move two objects on two layers you need to repeat the draw/marking method for each layer.
2 Does the transparent mat top layer have to be on the top layer or can this be changed to put the transparent mat on the first layer render and then on the second layer maker tool use a different mat.and scale so that the transparent marker tool becomes a glow for the top layer marker tool?
There isn’t a ‘top layer’ or ‘bottom layer’ in ZBrush. All the layers occupy the same 3D space and the numbering is simply to help you keep track of which layer you are working on. What matters is where in 3D space you draw your objects. For transparency to work the transparent object must be in front of the objects you wish to see through it (as well as on a separate layer). You can move all the objects on a layer forward or backward by adjusting the Displace Z slider in the Layer palette.
Sometimes switching layers can cause a loss of transparency. Switch back to the layer with the transparent object, do a best render and all should be well.
For translucency and refraction effects the objects need to be on the same layer. Sometimes baking the layer after achieving the effect you’re after can be useful before applying a transparent object on a different layer.
Thanks Marcus - I had not thought of baking the first layer.
Arggg, finally, I’ve done the refraction with Z, I’m happy now… I’ve still problems to import displacement map in Carrara, but I try many things in Z, and I will post new shaders … thank you for the hands and for these material, very instructive…
wait and see
Thanks Marcus
the scaling of the trans is not to easy to do - here’s an image trying to scale it right - the jpeg lost a lot of the shiney look when I save it to fit on the forum
SpaceMan,
That looks good! The scaling will always be a problem if you are trying to fit two identical objects inside each other as the relative proportions remain the same.
smileman,
There is a displacement in Carrara tutorial at eovia3d.net which you may find useful. (You may need to register at eovia3d to view it).
Cheers,
Thanks Marcus I am starting to get into the work flow:)
I think we could use a scale micro incerment - + button for fine detailing:lol:
You can scale a model numerically by input to the Transform>Info sliders. These sliders change their propeties depending on which Transform mode you are in. So, with the Gyro showing and the Scale button pressed, values can be entered to adjust scale; with Rotate button pressed rotation can be adjusted; and Move button, the model moved. Adjust precisely by clicking on a slider and then input a value from the keyboard. Press TAB to move to the next slider down. Obviously for scale you will generally want to enter the same value for all three sliders.
HTH,
