Opacity and transparency in 3D art are limited to surface treatments, whereas in 2D art, they can be used to create the illusion of multiple layers.

3D art relies solely on material properties for opacity and transparency, while 2D art uses color theory to achieve these effects.

In 3D art, opacity and transparency interact with actual light sources, creating real shadows and depth, while in 2D art, these effects are simulated through visual techniques.

Transparency in 3D art is always uniform throughout the object, unlike in 2D art where it can vary across the composition.