This thread is intended to combine questions and discussions about the technical aspects of working with MD. The below Sway may serve as a starting point.

Just got Marvelous Designer 6.5 and am trying to figure out how to make my material in the 2D window transparent so I can see the shadow avatar under the material. The tutorial I'm watching was done in version 4 I think so a lot of commands are different. She is showing how to put a hole in the fabric to the avatar's head sticks out, but I can't see the shadow underneath the material to know where to place the hole. Also, how the heck do you change the avatar to a different model? Comes in with the male and I want the female. Not talking about bringing in a Daz or Poser model, just the avatars that come with the program. Have tried the manual and google and nothing. Thank you in advance, Marque

So I found the opacity slider but don't think that's what she is using, her material on the avatar is not see through, but the patterns are. How do I make the pattern see through without changing the opacity on the cloth in the 3D window? Thank you, Marque

The method of handling fabric transparencies (and many other fabric properties) did change in V. 5. Now, you do have to change the transparency of the whole fabric choice, (and not just one pattern piece). I like to keep an otherwise un-used fabric choice just for such purposes. Use it to see through to the lower layers on the 2D window, for tracing, etc., and when I have the pattern 'cut out' properly, then I switch it's fabric choice to something opaque.

As for changing the avatar, I just finished answering that question in Lori's forum, but will copy it here for anyone else who may have the same problem.

At the moment, both the Library flyout tab, and the menu Avatar>Avatar Editor, seem to be non-functional. However, if you use the menu path of File>Open>Avatar or (CTRL-SHFT-A) you should be taken to the default directory folder for the MD avatars. There are three female choices there "A", "B", and "C". (Same for the male avatars, but only one option for a kiddy size avatar, though.)

Also, if you plan to use one avatar shape as your primary avatar, you can set it as an easily accessed file, by adding it to a scene, then saving a 'project' file where you can easily locate it each time. That way you don't have to go through the search for the avatar every time.

You are my hero! Just got this and really excited about it. Hoping that someone updates the MakeHuman export to Blender and I will dance around my den. Glad it's a bug and not just me on the changing avatar, was driving me crazy, (short drive these days), so you have helped save the sanity of an old woman. Pat yourself on the back and grab yourself a latte, you deserve it. 8^) Bought Lori's book but won't be here until tomorrow night so hard to wait for the good things. Marque

In 6.5 there also is a nifty little button that toggles visibility of textures in the 2D window: When not lit, it shows pattern outline only, when lit, it shows the texture.

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