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Add Transparency to Plots

Create unobstructed views of multiple components of one plot or lighten a single plot component against the background.

Using 2D Plots...

Create a plot

Use Plot to create a graph of x^2:

Wolfram Language code: eq = x ^ 2
Wolfram Language code: Plot[eq, {x, -2, 2}]

Add options to the plot

Use the PlotStyle option with Opacity to make the plot 70% transparent:

Add different transparency settings for plots of multiple functions:

Wolfram Language code: eq2 = -x ^ 2

Using 3D Plots...

Create a plot

Use Plot3D to create a graph of the polynomial x^4-5x^2y^2+y^4:

Wolfram Language code: eq = x ^ 4 + y ^ 4 - 5 x ^ 2 * y ^ 2
Wolfram Language code: Plot3D[eq, {x, -3, 3}, {y, -3, 3}]

Add options to the plot

Use the PlotStyle option with Opacity to make the plot 70% transparent:

Add different transparency settings for plots of multiple functions:

Wolfram Language code: eq2 = -100 - x ^ 4 - y ^ 4 + 5 x ^ 2 * y ^ 2

Using Graphics...

Create a disk graphic

Apply Graphics to Disk to render a unit disk:

Wolfram Language code: Graphics[Disk[]]

Add options to the graphic

Make a 75% transparent disk:

Opacity can have values between 0 and 1, with 0 corresponding to perfect transparency:

Wolfram Language code: Row[Table[ Graphics[{Opacity[n], Disk[]}, ImageSize -> Scaled[.1]], {n, 0.1, 1, 0.3}]]

Use Opacity with a color:

Wolfram Language code: Row[Table[ Graphics[{Red, Opacity[n], Disk[]}, ImageSize -> Scaled[.1]], {n, 0.1, 1, 0.3}]]

Notes

Opacity interacts well with other functions:
Wolfram Language code: Manipulate[RegionPlot[ {x - y ≥ t, x + y ≥ s}, {x, -3 Pi, 3 Pi}, {y, -3 Pi, 3 Pi}, PlotPoints -> 30, PlotStyle -> {Directive[Red], Directive[Blue, Opacity[0.5]]} ], Style["Solving the system of inequalities: x-y ≥ t and x +y ≥ s", Bold, 12], {{s, 0}, -20, 20}, {{t, 0}, -20, 20} ]