Labeling Nodes in 3D Diagrams: Using Transparency for Text Legibility and Node Visibility

In scientific and information visualization 3D diagrams are now more common. Text or name labels in any kind of diagram play an important role. In this work we combine both 3D diagrams and text labels by evaluating the legibility of text on 3D shaded diagram elements. The focus is on using a transparent background for the text labels on the nodes. The investigation seeks to determine whether a transparent background for the node labels can result in better readings of the text and nodes in the diagrams. The results show that using a transparent background on the labels can considerably improve text legibility and maintain node visibility.