This is **Blender 2.83.3 (Debian Linux, AMD64), but the issue herein dates back to at least 2.80.Version**
Broken: version 2.80+
Worked: version 2.79
I have my key map and themes all set up to mimic the look and behavior of 2.79b, which I had already customized to my liking. Among other things, that includes the coloring of things in Wireframe view mode, the background, the grid floor**Short description of error**
In blender 2.79, and so on.
First, here's a model shown in 2.79bthe wireframe of objects selected or in edit-mode was drawn in front of the wireframe of all other objects in the scene.
In blender 2.80 onwards, with my usual theme:this doesn't happen anymore.
Here's a model shown in 2.79b, with my usual theme:
{F8716690}
Seen here is a back corner of a 3D printer model I'm tinkering with, with one object selected and Edit Mode active on it (edge selection mode). That object is buried behind numerous other objects (as it forms a rear corner of the machine's frame).
As you can see, the object being edited is basically drawn in front of everything when in Wireframe view mode,The object in edit mode is behind the objects seen with gray wireframe. with a niceBut because it is in edit mode, high contrast due to myit is drawn in front of theme settings, making it easy to see and easy to edit others.
The same is true if the object is in object-mode but selected.
Now compare the same model in 2.8x:
{F8716703}
Here the same object is selected,seem in edit-mode. but now the objectNow it is drawn behind everything else, which creates a noisy, low-contrast appearance, making it hard to see and sometimes hard to edit.
Sometimes it forces me to rotate the view to get other things out of the way (especially if the foreground objects have a lot of detail/geometry). This holds true whether I'm in Edit Mode or Object Mode (though the latter is somewhat easier to see since I have that selection color set to yellow-orange).
The same problem exists with the default "factory" theme, but it's even worse there, as the object that's being edited is drawn in the same color as those that are not selected.
The best I've managed to do is enable thick line mode in the Preferences, and then turn on "Hidden Wire" mode in the Overlays menu. While thick lines stand-out from the background better, "Hidden Wire" has at least one bug that renders it unusable for me (loss of face shading, which I believe has been fixed since 2.83.3 came out). Both together help a little, but foreground objects are still drawn in front, just less egregiously:
{F8716735}
If you zoom in real close on an area where a foreground object overlaps the selection, snap a screenshot, and then scale or zoom the image, you can see how the foreground object is definitely being drawn in front of the active one:
{F8716738}
Bottom line: In my opinion, in a normal view mode like Solid or Lookdev/Material, the selection of course should remain behind everything else (unless changed via its Object properties), but in Wireframe view mode the selected object should appear in front of other stuff.
Perhaps an option is needed the Preferences to force the old 2.79b draw order.
Note: by "Wireframe", I mean the global view mode, not the option in an item's "Object Properties" tab.**Exact steps for others to reproduce the error**
- Open attached file
- Change the wire theme to something gray (or use the attached theme).
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The original model is probably too big to upload here, but I guess you really wouldn't need it (any collection of objects will likely show the issue). Still, if desired, you can get it from the git repo I use to manage the related project, : https://gitlab.com/VanessaE/my-hypercube-files-big-version-320x320/-/blob/master/mockups-models/Hypercube%20printer%20model%20(320x320%20bed,%20540x510x540%20frame).blend