If you've been trying to figure out how to put together a roblox custom x ray script without breaking your game or getting lost in a mess of confusing code, you're in the right place. It's one of those features that sounds a lot more complicated than it actually is, especially once you realize that Roblox has given us some pretty powerful tools to handle visual effects over the last couple of years.
Whether you're building a detective game where players need to see clues through walls, or you're just a developer looking for a better way to debug your maps, having a solid X-ray system is incredibly handy. We're going to dive into how this works, why some methods are better than others, and how you can tweak everything to make it look exactly how you want.
Why Do You Need a Custom Version Anyway?
You might be wondering why you'd bother writing a roblox custom x ray script from scratch when there are probably dozens of them floating around in the toolbox. Well, to be honest, a lot of those old scripts are outdated. They usually rely on changing the transparency of every single part in the workspace, which is a massive headache for performance. If your game has thousands of parts, your framerate is going to take a nose-dive the second someone hits the "on" switch.
A custom approach lets you control exactly what gets highlighted. Maybe you only want to see players through walls, or maybe just specific objective items. By keeping it custom, you avoid the "lag-fest" and ensure the visuals match your game's aesthetic. Plus, it's just more satisfying to know exactly how your code works instead of copy-pasting something and hoping for the best.
The Secret Ingredient: The Highlight Object
For a long time, making an X-ray effect was a bit of a nightmare. You had to use SelectionBoxes or weird ViewportFrame hacks to get that "see-through" look. But then Roblox introduced the Highlight object, and everything changed.
The Highlight instance is basically a gift to developers. It allows you to wrap an object in an outline and a fill color that can be seen through walls if you set the DepthMode correctly. This is the backbone of any modern roblox custom x ray script. Instead of messing with every part's transparency, you just slap a Highlight on the things you want to see, and the engine handles the rest. It's cleaner, faster, and honestly looks way better than the old-school methods.
Setting Up the Logic
When you start writing the script, you have to decide how you want to trigger the X-ray. Is it a tool? A keybind? An admin command? Most people go with a keybind—let's say the "X" key—because it feels the most natural for a player.
You'll want to use UserInputService for this. It's a standard way to listen for keyboard inputs in Roblox. Once the key is pressed, you need a way to find all the parts you want to "X-ray." This is where things can get a bit tricky if you aren't organized. If you try to loop through every single thing in the game every time someone presses a button, your game is going to stutter.
Instead, I'd suggest using CollectionService. You can "tag" specific objects in your game (like "XrayTarget") and then your script only has to look for those tags. It makes the whole process much more efficient.
Making it Look Good
A boring white outline is fine, but since we're making a roblox custom x ray script, we should probably make it look a bit more "pro." You can change the FillColor and OutlineColor to whatever fits your theme. A neon green or cyan usually gives off that classic techy X-ray vibe.
You can also play with the FillTransparency. If you make it too solid, it looks like a glitch. If you make it too faint, people won't be able to see it. Finding that sweet spot—usually around 0.5 or 0.6—makes the objects look like ghostly silhouettes behind the walls.
Handling Performance and Limits
One thing people often forget is that Highlight objects have a limit. Roblox only allows a certain number of them to be active at once (usually around 31). If you try to use a roblox custom x ray script on a hundred different items at the same time, some of them just won't show up, or the ones furthest away will start flickering.
To get around this, you have to be smart. Instead of putting a Highlight on every single item, you might only put them on the items closest to the player. Or, you could use a single Highlight for a whole model instead of individual parts. It's all about being clever with how you manage your resources. If you're building a massive map, you definitely don't want to ignore this, or your players are going to complain about the visuals being "buggy."
The Difference Between Local and Server Scripts
This is a big one. Your roblox custom x ray script should almost always be a LocalScript. Why? Because X-ray vision is usually something that only one player should see. If you run the logic on the server, everyone would see the X-ray highlights whenever anyone turned them on, which would be chaotic, to say the least.
Keeping it local also means the server doesn't have to do the heavy lifting. The player's own computer handles the rendering of the highlights. This keeps the game running smoothly for everyone else and prevents unnecessary network traffic. Just remember that if you're using it for something like a gameplay mechanic where the server needs to know what the player is looking at, you'll need to use RemoteEvents to pass that info back and forth.
Adding Some Polish
If you really want to go the extra mile, don't just make the X-ray snap on and off instantly. You can use TweenService to fade the colors in. It makes the transition feel much smoother and more professional. Imagine pressing the key and seeing the outlines slowly glow into existence—it's a small touch, but it really elevates the feel of the game.
Also, consider adding a sound effect or a UI notification. A little "hum" or a beep when the X-ray is active helps the player realize they've toggled it. It's those little UX (User Experience) details that separate a "meh" script from a great one.
Is This "Legal" for Players?
We should probably talk about the elephant in the room. A lot of people search for a roblox custom x ray script because they want to cheat in games like Murder Mystery 2 or Adopt Me. If you're a player trying to use a script like this in a game you didn't build, you're likely going to get banned. Most big games have "anti-cheat" measures that look for unauthorized scripts or weird behavior.
However, if you're a developer adding this to your own game, you're totally fine. It's a legitimate mechanic. Just be careful about how you implement it if your game is competitive. If some players have X-ray and others don't, it might ruin the balance. Maybe limit the usage with a "battery" or a cooldown timer so it's not exploited.
Wrapping Things Up
At the end of the day, creating a roblox custom x ray script is a fantastic way to learn more about how Roblox handles rendering and inputs. By using modern tools like the Highlight instance and CollectionService, you can create a system that's both visually impressive and light on performance.
Don't be afraid to experiment with the settings. Try different colors, play with the transparency, and see how it feels in-game. Every game is different, so what works for a sci-fi shooter might not work for a horror game. The best part about writing it yourself is that you have total control over every single pixel.
So, grab your code editor, start messing around with those Highlight properties, and see what you can come up with. It's a fun project, and once you get it working, you'll find all sorts of creative ways to use it in your future Roblox builds. Happy developing!