I stumbled across this by accident today at work.

I have a template that has object and material properties that are pre-set. One of the pre-sets for the layer is that it is a 50% transparent material and a solid color object property.

After I had joined all of the surfaces into one polysurface I thought that I should check out the smoothness using the EMap feature. I was expecting the usual chrome finish. Not this time.

This is the shaded image ...

I must not fear.
Fear is the mind killer.
Fear is the little death that brings total obliteration.
I will face my fear.
I will permit it to pass over me and through me.
And when it has gone past, I will turn the inner eye to see its path.
When the fear has gone there will be nothing.
Only I will remain. 

 Frank Herbert, author of Dune