diff --git a/games/devtest/mods/basenodes/init.lua b/games/devtest/mods/basenodes/init.lua
index 249c7fbd8..50143b9a6 100644
--- a/games/devtest/mods/basenodes/init.lua
+++ b/games/devtest/mods/basenodes/init.lua
@@ -157,7 +157,7 @@ minetest.register_node("basenodes:water_flowing", {
 		"Drowning damage: 1",
 	drawtype = "flowingliquid",
 	waving = 3,
-	tiles = {"default_water_flowing.png"},
+	tiles = {"default_water_flowing.png"..WATER_ALPHA},
 	special_tiles = {
 		{name = "default_water_flowing.png"..WATER_ALPHA,
 			backface_culling = false},
diff --git a/games/devtest/mods/testitems/init.lua b/games/devtest/mods/testitems/init.lua
index bde9cc6d9..54bbf600e 100644
--- a/games/devtest/mods/testitems/init.lua
+++ b/games/devtest/mods/testitems/init.lua
@@ -105,3 +105,9 @@ minetest.register_craftitem("testitems:telescope_stick", {
 		return itemstack
 	end,
 })
+
+minetest.register_craftitem("testitems:translucent_item", {
+	description = S("Translucent item (translucent inventory & wield image)"),
+	inventory_image = "testitems_translucent.png",
+	wield_image = "testitems_translucent.png",
+})
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/games/devtest/mods/testitems/textures/testitems_translucent.png b/games/devtest/mods/testitems/textures/testitems_translucent.png
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..71f8649a6
Binary files /dev/null and b/games/devtest/mods/testitems/textures/testitems_translucent.png differ
diff --git a/games/devtest/mods/testnodes/performance_test_nodes.lua b/games/devtest/mods/testnodes/performance_test_nodes.lua
index 3eaed614b..ee3c1578c 100644
--- a/games/devtest/mods/testnodes/performance_test_nodes.lua
+++ b/games/devtest/mods/testnodes/performance_test_nodes.lua
@@ -2,29 +2,22 @@
 
 local S = minetest.get_translator("testnodes")
 
--- Complex mesh
-minetest.register_node("testnodes:performance_mesh_clip", {
-	description = S("Performance Test Node") .. "\n" .. S("Marble with 'clip' transparency"),
-	drawtype = "mesh",
-	mesh = "testnodes_marble_glass.obj",
-	tiles = {"testnodes_marble_glass.png"},
-	paramtype = "light",
-	use_texture_alpha = "clip",
+for use_texture_alpha, description in pairs({
+	opaque = S("Marble with 'opaque' transparency"),
+	clip = S("Marble with 'clip' transparency"),
+	blend = S("Marble with 'blend' transparency"),
+}) do
+	minetest.register_node("testnodes:performance_mesh_" .. use_texture_alpha, {
+		description = S("Performance Test Node") .. "\n" .. description,
+		drawtype = "mesh",
+		mesh = "testnodes_marble_glass.obj",
+		tiles = {"testnodes_marble_glass.png"},
+		paramtype = "light",
+		use_texture_alpha = use_texture_alpha,
 
-	groups = {dig_immediate=3},
-})
-
--- Complex mesh, alpha blending
-minetest.register_node("testnodes:performance_mesh_blend", {
-	description = S("Performance Test Node") .. "\n" .. S("Marble with 'blend' transparency"),
-	drawtype = "mesh",
-	mesh = "testnodes_marble_glass.obj",
-	tiles = {"testnodes_marble_glass.png"},
-	paramtype = "light",
-	use_texture_alpha = "blend",
-
-	groups = {dig_immediate=3},
-})
+		groups = {dig_immediate=3},
+	})
+end
 
 -- Overlay
 minetest.register_node("testnodes:performance_overlay_clip", {
diff --git a/src/client/hud.cpp b/src/client/hud.cpp
index c5e71b853..f02a1e561 100644
--- a/src/client/hud.cpp
+++ b/src/client/hud.cpp
@@ -1145,7 +1145,6 @@ void drawItemStack(
 			}
 
 			video::SMaterial &material = buf->getMaterial();
-			material.MaterialType = video::EMT_TRANSPARENT_ALPHA_CHANNEL_REF;
 			material.Lighting = false;
 			driver->setMaterial(material);
 			driver->drawMeshBuffer(buf);
diff --git a/src/client/shader.cpp b/src/client/shader.cpp
index dae53ff96..6b9f2698c 100644
--- a/src/client/shader.cpp
+++ b/src/client/shader.cpp
@@ -526,26 +526,7 @@ ShaderInfo ShaderSource::generateShader(const std::string &name,
 	shaderinfo.name = name;
 	shaderinfo.material_type = material_type;
 	shaderinfo.drawtype = drawtype;
-	switch (material_type) {
-	case TILE_MATERIAL_OPAQUE:
-	case TILE_MATERIAL_LIQUID_OPAQUE:
-	case TILE_MATERIAL_WAVING_LIQUID_OPAQUE:
-		shaderinfo.base_material = video::EMT_SOLID;
-		break;
-	case TILE_MATERIAL_ALPHA:
-	case TILE_MATERIAL_PLAIN_ALPHA:
-	case TILE_MATERIAL_LIQUID_TRANSPARENT:
-	case TILE_MATERIAL_WAVING_LIQUID_TRANSPARENT:
-		shaderinfo.base_material = video::EMT_TRANSPARENT_ALPHA_CHANNEL;
-		break;
-	case TILE_MATERIAL_BASIC:
-	case TILE_MATERIAL_PLAIN:
-	case TILE_MATERIAL_WAVING_LEAVES:
-	case TILE_MATERIAL_WAVING_PLANTS:
-	case TILE_MATERIAL_WAVING_LIQUID_BASIC:
-		shaderinfo.base_material = video::EMT_TRANSPARENT_ALPHA_CHANNEL_REF;
-		break;
-	}
+	shaderinfo.base_material = MaterialType_to_irr(material_type);
 	shaderinfo.material = shaderinfo.base_material;
 
 	bool enable_shaders = g_settings->getBool("enable_shaders");
diff --git a/src/client/tile.cpp b/src/client/tile.cpp
index 1870547da..3f8db6235 100644
--- a/src/client/tile.cpp
+++ b/src/client/tile.cpp
@@ -18,31 +18,54 @@ with this program; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation, Inc.,
 */
 
 #include "tile.h"
+#include "EMaterialTypes.h"
+#include "SMaterial.h"
 
-// Sets everything else except the texture in the material
-void TileLayer::applyMaterialOptions(video::SMaterial &material) const
+void MaterialType_to_irr(MaterialType material_type,
+		video::E_MATERIAL_TYPE &irr_mat_type, f32 &irr_mat_param)
 {
 	switch (material_type) {
 	case TILE_MATERIAL_OPAQUE:
 	case TILE_MATERIAL_LIQUID_OPAQUE:
 	case TILE_MATERIAL_WAVING_LIQUID_OPAQUE:
-		material.MaterialType = video::EMT_SOLID;
+		irr_mat_type = video::EMT_SOLID;
+		irr_mat_param = 0.0f;
+		break;
+	case TILE_MATERIAL_ALPHA:
+	case TILE_MATERIAL_PLAIN_ALPHA:
+	case TILE_MATERIAL_LIQUID_TRANSPARENT:
+	case TILE_MATERIAL_WAVING_LIQUID_TRANSPARENT:
+	default:
+		irr_mat_type = video::EMT_TRANSPARENT_ALPHA_CHANNEL;
+		irr_mat_param = 0.0f;
 		break;
 	case TILE_MATERIAL_BASIC:
+	case TILE_MATERIAL_PLAIN:
 	case TILE_MATERIAL_WAVING_LEAVES:
 	case TILE_MATERIAL_WAVING_PLANTS:
 	case TILE_MATERIAL_WAVING_LIQUID_BASIC:
-		material.MaterialTypeParam = 0.5;
-		material.MaterialType = video::EMT_TRANSPARENT_ALPHA_CHANNEL_REF;
-		break;
-	case TILE_MATERIAL_ALPHA:
-	case TILE_MATERIAL_LIQUID_TRANSPARENT:
-	case TILE_MATERIAL_WAVING_LIQUID_TRANSPARENT:
-		material.MaterialType = video::EMT_TRANSPARENT_ALPHA_CHANNEL;
-		break;
-	default:
+		irr_mat_type = video::EMT_TRANSPARENT_ALPHA_CHANNEL_REF;
+		irr_mat_param = 0.5f;
 		break;
 	}
+}
+
+video::E_MATERIAL_TYPE MaterialType_to_irr(MaterialType material_type) {
+	video::E_MATERIAL_TYPE res;
+	f32 unused;
+	MaterialType_to_irr(material_type, res, unused);
+	return res;
+}
+
+void MaterialType_to_irr(MaterialType material_type, video::SMaterial &material) {
+	MaterialType_to_irr(material_type,
+			material.MaterialType, material.MaterialTypeParam);
+}
+
+// Sets everything else except the texture in the material
+void TileLayer::applyMaterialOptions(video::SMaterial &material) const
+{
+	MaterialType_to_irr(static_cast<MaterialType>(material_type), material);
 	material.BackfaceCulling = (material_flags & MATERIAL_FLAG_BACKFACE_CULLING) != 0;
 	if (!(material_flags & MATERIAL_FLAG_TILEABLE_HORIZONTAL)) {
 		material.TextureLayers[0].TextureWrapU = video::ETC_CLAMP_TO_EDGE;
diff --git a/src/client/tile.h b/src/client/tile.h
index d761eefdd..ddb0b5fcb 100644
--- a/src/client/tile.h
+++ b/src/client/tile.h
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ with this program; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation, Inc.,
 
 #pragma once
 
+#include "EMaterialTypes.h"
 #include "irrlichttypes.h"
 #include <ITexture.h>
 #include <vector>
@@ -39,6 +40,11 @@ enum MaterialType{
 	TILE_MATERIAL_PLAIN_ALPHA
 };
 
+void MaterialType_to_irr(MaterialType material_type,
+		video::E_MATERIAL_TYPE &irr_mat_type, f32 &irr_mat_param);
+video::E_MATERIAL_TYPE MaterialType_to_irr(MaterialType material_type);
+void MaterialType_to_irr(MaterialType material_type, video::SMaterial &mat);
+
 // Material flags
 // Should backface culling be enabled?
 #define MATERIAL_FLAG_BACKFACE_CULLING 0x01
diff --git a/src/client/wieldmesh.cpp b/src/client/wieldmesh.cpp
index 66f89efb1..5ca794041 100644
--- a/src/client/wieldmesh.cpp
+++ b/src/client/wieldmesh.cpp
@@ -18,8 +18,9 @@ with this program; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation, Inc.,
 */
 
 #include "wieldmesh.h"
+#include "EMaterialTypes.h"
+#include "SMaterial.h"
 #include "settings.h"
-#include "shader.h"
 #include "inventory.h"
 #include "client.h"
 #include "itemdef.h"
@@ -29,7 +30,6 @@ with this program; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation, Inc.,
 #include "mapblock_mesh.h"
 #include "client/meshgen/collector.h"
 #include "client/tile.h"
-#include "log.h"
 #include "util/numeric.h"
 #include <map>
 #include <IMeshManipulator.h>
@@ -41,6 +41,56 @@ with this program; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation, Inc.,
 #define MIN_EXTRUSION_MESH_RESOLUTION 16
 #define MAX_EXTRUSION_MESH_RESOLUTION 512
 
+/*!
+ * Applies overlays, textures and optionally materials to the given mesh and
+ * extracts tile colors for colorization.
+ * \param mattype overrides the buffer's material type, but can also
+ * be NULL to leave the original material.
+ * \param colors returns the colors of the mesh buffers in the mesh.
+ */
+static void postProcessNodeMesh(scene::SMesh *mesh, const ContentFeatures &f,
+	std::vector<ItemPartColor> *colors)
+{
+	const u32 mc = mesh->getMeshBufferCount();
+	// Allocate colors for existing buffers
+	colors->clear();
+	colors->resize(mc);
+
+	for (u32 i = 0; i < mc; ++i) {
+		const TileSpec *tile = &(f.tiles[i]);
+		scene::IMeshBuffer *buf = mesh->getMeshBuffer(i);
+		for (int layernum = 0; layernum < MAX_TILE_LAYERS; layernum++) {
+			const TileLayer *layer = &tile->layers[layernum];
+			if (layer->texture_id == 0)
+				continue;
+			if (layernum != 0) {
+				scene::IMeshBuffer *copy = cloneMeshBuffer(buf);
+				copy->getMaterial() = buf->getMaterial();
+				mesh->addMeshBuffer(copy);
+				copy->drop();
+				buf = copy;
+				colors->emplace_back(layer->has_color, layer->color);
+			} else {
+				(*colors)[i] = ItemPartColor(layer->has_color, layer->color);
+			}
+
+			video::SMaterial &material = buf->getMaterial();
+			if (layer->animation_frame_count > 1) {
+				const FrameSpec &animation_frame = (*layer->frames)[0];
+				material.setTexture(0, animation_frame.texture);
+			} else {
+				material.setTexture(0, layer->texture);
+			}
+
+			if (tile->world_aligned) {
+				u32 n = buf->getVertexCount();
+				for (u32 k = 0; k != n; ++k)
+					buf->getTCoords(k) /= layer->scale;
+			}
+		}
+	}
+}
+
 static scene::IMesh *createExtrusionMesh(int resolution_x, int resolution_y)
 {
 	const f32 r = 0.5;
@@ -193,10 +243,55 @@ class ExtrusionMeshCache: public IReferenceCounted
 
 static ExtrusionMeshCache *g_extrusion_mesh_cache = nullptr;
 
+static scene::SMesh *getExtrudedMesh(ITextureSource *tsrc,
+	const std::string &imagename, const std::string &overlay_name)
+{
+	// check textures
+	video::ITexture *texture = tsrc->getTextureForMesh(imagename);
+	if (!texture) {
+		return NULL;
+	}
+	video::ITexture *overlay_texture =
+		(overlay_name.empty()) ? NULL : tsrc->getTexture(overlay_name);
+
+	// get mesh
+	core::dimension2d<u32> dim = texture->getSize();
+	scene::IMesh *original = g_extrusion_mesh_cache->create(dim);
+	scene::SMesh *mesh = cloneMesh(original);
+	original->drop();
+
+	//set texture
+	mesh->getMeshBuffer(0)->getMaterial().setTexture(0,
+		tsrc->getTexture(imagename));
+	if (overlay_texture) {
+		scene::IMeshBuffer *copy = cloneMeshBuffer(mesh->getMeshBuffer(0));
+		copy->getMaterial().setTexture(0, overlay_texture);
+		mesh->addMeshBuffer(copy);
+		copy->drop();
+	}
+	// Customize materials
+	for (u32 layer = 0; layer < mesh->getMeshBufferCount(); layer++) {
+		video::SMaterial &material = mesh->getMeshBuffer(layer)->getMaterial();
+		material.TextureLayers[0].TextureWrapU = video::ETC_CLAMP_TO_EDGE;
+		material.TextureLayers[0].TextureWrapV = video::ETC_CLAMP_TO_EDGE;
+		material.forEachTexture([] (auto &tex) {
+			tex.MinFilter = video::ETMINF_NEAREST_MIPMAP_NEAREST;
+			tex.MagFilter = video::ETMAGF_NEAREST;
+		});
+		material.BackfaceCulling = true;
+		material.Lighting = false;
+		material.MaterialType = video::EMT_TRANSPARENT_ALPHA_CHANNEL;
+		material.MaterialTypeParam = 0.0f; // render everything with alpha > 0
+		material.ZWriteEnable = video::EZW_ON;
+	}
+	scaleMesh(mesh, v3f(2.0, 2.0, 2.0));
+
+	return mesh;
+}
 
 WieldMeshSceneNode::WieldMeshSceneNode(scene::ISceneManager *mgr, s32 id, bool lighting):
 	scene::ISceneNode(mgr->getRootSceneNode(), mgr, id),
-	m_material_type(video::EMT_TRANSPARENT_ALPHA_CHANNEL_REF),
+	m_material_type(video::EMT_TRANSPARENT_ALPHA_CHANNEL),
 	m_lighting(lighting)
 {
 	m_enable_shaders = g_settings->getBool("enable_shaders");
@@ -248,7 +343,17 @@ void WieldMeshSceneNode::setCube(const ContentFeatures &f,
 	scene::IMesh *cubemesh = g_extrusion_mesh_cache->createCube();
 	scene::SMesh *copy = cloneMesh(cubemesh);
 	cubemesh->drop();
-	postProcessNodeMesh(copy, f, false, true, &m_material_type, &m_colors, true);
+	postProcessNodeMesh(copy, f, &m_colors);
+
+	// Customize materials
+	for (u32 i = 0; i < cubemesh->getMeshBufferCount(); ++i) {
+		// It suffices to look at the first layer;
+		// a special overlay layer needs to be consistent with it -
+		// otherwise we would be overwriting the material options of the fist layer
+		scene::IMeshBuffer *buf = cubemesh->getMeshBuffer(i);
+		f.tiles[i].layers[0].applyMaterialOptions(buf->getMaterial());
+	}
+	
 	changeToMesh(copy);
 	copy->drop();
 	m_meshnode->setScale(wield_scale * WIELD_SCALE_FACTOR);
@@ -295,7 +400,8 @@ void WieldMeshSceneNode::setExtruded(const std::string &imagename,
 		material.TextureLayers[0].TextureWrapU = video::ETC_CLAMP_TO_EDGE;
 		material.TextureLayers[0].TextureWrapV = video::ETC_CLAMP_TO_EDGE;
 		material.MaterialType = m_material_type;
-		material.MaterialTypeParam = 0.5f;
+		material.MaterialTypeParam = m_material_type_param;
+		material.ZWriteEnable = video::EZW_ON;
 		material.BackfaceCulling = true;
 		// Enable bi/trilinear filtering only for high resolution textures
 		bool bilinear_filter = dim.Width > 32 && m_bilinear_filter;
@@ -350,13 +456,11 @@ static scene::SMesh *createSpecialNodeMesh(Client *client, MapNode n,
 			}
 			scene::SMeshBuffer *buf = new scene::SMeshBuffer();
 			buf->Material.setTexture(0, p.layer.texture);
-			p.layer.applyMaterialOptions(buf->Material);
 			mesh->addMeshBuffer(buf);
 			buf->append(&p.vertices[0], p.vertices.size(),
 					&p.indices[0], p.indices.size());
 			buf->drop();
-			colors->push_back(
-				ItemPartColor(p.layer.has_color, p.layer.color));
+			colors->emplace_back(p.layer.has_color, p.layer.color);
 		}
 	return mesh;
 }
@@ -365,7 +469,6 @@ void WieldMeshSceneNode::setItem(const ItemStack &item, Client *client, bool che
 {
 	ITextureSource *tsrc = client->getTextureSource();
 	IItemDefManager *idef = client->getItemDefManager();
-	IShaderSource *shdrsrc = client->getShaderSource();
 	const NodeDefManager *ndef = client->getNodeDefManager();
 	const ItemDefinition &def = item.getDefinition(idef);
 	const ContentFeatures &f = ndef->get(def.name);
@@ -373,8 +476,16 @@ void WieldMeshSceneNode::setItem(const ItemStack &item, Client *client, bool che
 
 	scene::SMesh *mesh = nullptr;
 
+	const auto material_type = def.type == ITEM_NODE
+			? f.getMaterialType() : TILE_MATERIAL_ALPHA;
+	MaterialType_to_irr(material_type, m_material_type, m_material_type_param);
 	if (m_enable_shaders) {
-		u32 shader_id = shdrsrc->getShader("object_shader", TILE_MATERIAL_BASIC, NDT_NORMAL);
+		IShaderSource *shdrsrc = client->getShaderSource();
+		u32 shader_id = shdrsrc->getShader("object_shader",
+				material_type, def.type == ITEM_NODE ? f.drawtype : NDT_MESH);
+		// The shader gives a material ID (different from our material type) back.
+		// Strictly speaking, "m_material type" is a misnomer,
+		// since either a material type or ID is stored.
 		m_material_type = shdrsrc->getShaderInfo(shader_id).material;
 	}
 
@@ -463,7 +574,8 @@ void WieldMeshSceneNode::setItem(const ItemStack &item, Client *client, bool che
 		for (u32 i = 0; i < material_count; ++i) {
 			video::SMaterial &material = m_meshnode->getMaterial(i);
 			material.MaterialType = m_material_type;
-			material.MaterialTypeParam = 0.5f;
+			material.MaterialTypeParam = m_material_type_param;
+			material.ZWriteEnable = video::EZW_ON;
 			material.BackfaceCulling = cull_backface;
 			material.forEachTexture([this] (auto &tex) {
 				setMaterialFilters(tex, m_bilinear_filter, m_trilinear_filter,
@@ -624,8 +736,7 @@ void getItemMesh(Client *client, const ItemStack &item, ItemMesh *result)
 			} else
 				scaleMesh(mesh, v3f(1.2, 1.2, 1.2));
 			// add overlays
-			postProcessNodeMesh(mesh, f, false, false, nullptr,
-				&result->buffer_colors, true);
+			postProcessNodeMesh(mesh, f, &result->buffer_colors);
 			if (f.drawtype == NDT_ALLFACES)
 				scaleMesh(mesh, v3f(f.visual_scale));
 			break;
@@ -664,14 +775,17 @@ void getItemMesh(Client *client, const ItemStack &item, ItemMesh *result)
 		for (u32 i = 0; i < mesh->getMeshBufferCount(); ++i) {
 			scene::IMeshBuffer *buf = mesh->getMeshBuffer(i);
 			video::SMaterial &material = buf->getMaterial();
-			material.MaterialType = video::EMT_TRANSPARENT_ALPHA_CHANNEL;
-			material.MaterialTypeParam = 0.5f;
+			// Note: This overwrites material types / type params
+			// of plantlike extrusion meshes for alpha blending consistency.
+			// It suffices to look at the first layer; overlays need to be consistent.
+			f.tiles[i].layers[0].applyMaterialOptions(material);
+			material.ZWriteEnable = video::EZW_ON;
 			material.forEachTexture([] (auto &tex) {
 				tex.MinFilter = video::ETMINF_NEAREST_MIPMAP_NEAREST;
 				tex.MagFilter = video::ETMAGF_NEAREST;
 			});
 			material.BackfaceCulling = cull_backface;
-			material.Lighting = false;
+			material.Lighting = false; // no lighting in the inventory
 		}
 
 		rotateMeshXZby(mesh, -45);
@@ -685,109 +799,3 @@ void getItemMesh(Client *client, const ItemStack &item, ItemMesh *result)
 	}
 	result->mesh = mesh;
 }
-
-
-
-scene::SMesh *getExtrudedMesh(ITextureSource *tsrc,
-	const std::string &imagename, const std::string &overlay_name)
-{
-	// check textures
-	video::ITexture *texture = tsrc->getTextureForMesh(imagename);
-	if (!texture) {
-		return NULL;
-	}
-	video::ITexture *overlay_texture =
-		(overlay_name.empty()) ? NULL : tsrc->getTexture(overlay_name);
-
-	// get mesh
-	core::dimension2d<u32> dim = texture->getSize();
-	scene::IMesh *original = g_extrusion_mesh_cache->create(dim);
-	scene::SMesh *mesh = cloneMesh(original);
-	original->drop();
-
-	//set texture
-	mesh->getMeshBuffer(0)->getMaterial().setTexture(0,
-		tsrc->getTexture(imagename));
-	if (overlay_texture) {
-		scene::IMeshBuffer *copy = cloneMeshBuffer(mesh->getMeshBuffer(0));
-		copy->getMaterial().setTexture(0, overlay_texture);
-		mesh->addMeshBuffer(copy);
-		copy->drop();
-	}
-	// Customize materials
-	for (u32 layer = 0; layer < mesh->getMeshBufferCount(); layer++) {
-		video::SMaterial &material = mesh->getMeshBuffer(layer)->getMaterial();
-		material.TextureLayers[0].TextureWrapU = video::ETC_CLAMP_TO_EDGE;
-		material.TextureLayers[0].TextureWrapV = video::ETC_CLAMP_TO_EDGE;
-		material.forEachTexture([] (auto &tex) {
-			tex.MinFilter = video::ETMINF_NEAREST_MIPMAP_NEAREST;
-			tex.MagFilter = video::ETMAGF_NEAREST;
-		});
-		material.BackfaceCulling = true;
-		material.Lighting = false;
-		material.MaterialType = video::EMT_TRANSPARENT_ALPHA_CHANNEL;
-		material.MaterialTypeParam = 0.5f;
-	}
-	scaleMesh(mesh, v3f(2.0, 2.0, 2.0));
-
-	return mesh;
-}
-
-void postProcessNodeMesh(scene::SMesh *mesh, const ContentFeatures &f,
-	bool use_shaders, bool set_material, const video::E_MATERIAL_TYPE *mattype,
-	std::vector<ItemPartColor> *colors, bool apply_scale)
-{
-	const u32 mc = mesh->getMeshBufferCount();
-	// Allocate colors for existing buffers
-	colors->clear();
-	colors->resize(mc);
-
-	for (u32 i = 0; i < mc; ++i) {
-		const TileSpec *tile = &(f.tiles[i]);
-		scene::IMeshBuffer *buf = mesh->getMeshBuffer(i);
-		for (int layernum = 0; layernum < MAX_TILE_LAYERS; layernum++) {
-			const TileLayer *layer = &tile->layers[layernum];
-			if (layer->texture_id == 0)
-				continue;
-			if (layernum != 0) {
-				scene::IMeshBuffer *copy = cloneMeshBuffer(buf);
-				copy->getMaterial() = buf->getMaterial();
-				mesh->addMeshBuffer(copy);
-				copy->drop();
-				buf = copy;
-				colors->emplace_back(layer->has_color, layer->color);
-			} else {
-				(*colors)[i] = ItemPartColor(layer->has_color, layer->color);
-			}
-
-			video::SMaterial &material = buf->getMaterial();
-			if (set_material)
-				layer->applyMaterialOptions(material);
-			if (mattype) {
-				material.MaterialType = *mattype;
-			}
-			if (layer->animation_frame_count > 1) {
-				const FrameSpec &animation_frame = (*layer->frames)[0];
-				material.setTexture(0, animation_frame.texture);
-			} else {
-				material.setTexture(0, layer->texture);
-			}
-			if (use_shaders) {
-				if (layer->normal_texture) {
-					if (layer->animation_frame_count > 1) {
-						const FrameSpec &animation_frame = (*layer->frames)[0];
-						material.setTexture(1, animation_frame.normal_texture);
-					} else
-						material.setTexture(1, layer->normal_texture);
-				}
-				material.setTexture(2, layer->flags_texture);
-			}
-
-			if (apply_scale && tile->world_aligned) {
-				u32 n = buf->getVertexCount();
-				for (u32 k = 0; k != n; ++k)
-					buf->getTCoords(k) /= layer->scale;
-			}
-		}
-	}
-}
diff --git a/src/client/wieldmesh.h b/src/client/wieldmesh.h
index 6358a6665..7e3c8ce4d 100644
--- a/src/client/wieldmesh.h
+++ b/src/client/wieldmesh.h
@@ -118,6 +118,7 @@ class WieldMeshSceneNode : public scene::ISceneNode
 	// Child scene node with the current wield mesh
 	scene::IMeshSceneNode *m_meshnode = nullptr;
 	video::E_MATERIAL_TYPE m_material_type;
+	f32 m_material_type_param = 0.0f;
 
 	// True if SMaterial::Lighting should be enabled.
 	bool m_lighting;
@@ -146,17 +147,3 @@ class WieldMeshSceneNode : public scene::ISceneNode
 };
 
 void getItemMesh(Client *client, const ItemStack &item, ItemMesh *result);
-
-scene::SMesh *getExtrudedMesh(ITextureSource *tsrc, const std::string &imagename,
-		const std::string &overlay_name);
-
-/*!
- * Applies overlays, textures and optionally materials to the given mesh and
- * extracts tile colors for colorization.
- * \param mattype overrides the buffer's material type, but can also
- * be NULL to leave the original material.
- * \param colors returns the colors of the mesh buffers in the mesh.
- */
-void postProcessNodeMesh(scene::SMesh *mesh, const ContentFeatures &f, bool use_shaders,
-		bool set_material, const video::E_MATERIAL_TYPE *mattype,
-		std::vector<ItemPartColor> *colors, bool apply_scale = false);
diff --git a/src/nodedef.cpp b/src/nodedef.cpp
index 2914cc3aa..7ee2ca5dc 100644
--- a/src/nodedef.cpp
+++ b/src/nodedef.cpp
@@ -784,6 +784,80 @@ bool isWorldAligned(AlignStyle style, WorldAlignMode mode, NodeDrawType drawtype
 	return false;
 }
 
+void ContentFeatures::updateAlpha(bool translucent_liquids) {
+	if ((drawtype == NDT_LIQUID || drawtype == NDT_FLOWINGLIQUID) &&
+			!translucent_liquids)
+		alpha = ALPHAMODE_OPAQUE;
+}
+
+MaterialType ContentFeatures::getMaterialType() const
+{
+	MaterialType material_type;
+	switch (alpha) {
+	case ALPHAMODE_OPAQUE:
+		material_type = TILE_MATERIAL_OPAQUE;
+		break;
+	case ALPHAMODE_CLIP:
+		material_type = TILE_MATERIAL_BASIC;
+		break;
+	case ALPHAMODE_BLEND:
+	default:
+		material_type = TILE_MATERIAL_ALPHA;
+		break;
+	}
+	switch (drawtype) {
+	case NDT_LIQUID:
+	case NDT_FLOWINGLIQUID:
+		switch (alpha) {
+		case ALPHAMODE_OPAQUE:
+			return (waving == 3)
+				? TILE_MATERIAL_WAVING_LIQUID_OPAQUE
+				: TILE_MATERIAL_LIQUID_OPAQUE;
+		case ALPHAMODE_CLIP:
+			return (waving == 3)
+				? TILE_MATERIAL_WAVING_LIQUID_BASIC
+				: TILE_MATERIAL_LIQUID_TRANSPARENT;
+		case ALPHAMODE_BLEND:
+		default:
+			return (waving == 3)
+				? TILE_MATERIAL_WAVING_LIQUID_TRANSPARENT
+				: TILE_MATERIAL_LIQUID_TRANSPARENT;
+		}
+		break;
+	case NDT_ALLFACES_OPTIONAL:
+		if (waving >= 1)
+			return TILE_MATERIAL_WAVING_LEAVES;
+		break;
+	case NDT_PLANTLIKE:
+		if (waving >= 1)
+			return TILE_MATERIAL_WAVING_PLANTS;
+		break;
+	case NDT_MESH:
+	case NDT_NODEBOX:
+		switch (waving) {
+		case 1:
+			return TILE_MATERIAL_WAVING_PLANTS;
+		case 2:
+			return TILE_MATERIAL_WAVING_LEAVES;
+		case 3:
+			switch (alpha) {
+			case ALPHAMODE_OPAQUE:
+				return TILE_MATERIAL_WAVING_LIQUID_OPAQUE;
+			case ALPHAMODE_CLIP:
+				return TILE_MATERIAL_WAVING_LIQUID_BASIC;
+			case ALPHAMODE_BLEND:
+				return TILE_MATERIAL_WAVING_LIQUID_TRANSPARENT;
+			default:
+				assert(false);
+			}
+			break;
+		}
+		break;
+	default: break;
+	}
+	return material_type;
+}
+
 void ContentFeatures::updateTextures(ITextureSource *tsrc, IShaderSource *shdsrc,
 	scene::IMeshManipulator *meshmanip, Client *client, const TextureSettings &tsettings)
 {
@@ -810,11 +884,8 @@ void ContentFeatures::updateTextures(ITextureSource *tsrc, IShaderSource *shdsrc
 		tdef_spec[j] = tiledef_special[j];
 	}
 
-	bool is_liquid = false;
-
-	MaterialType material_type = alpha == ALPHAMODE_OPAQUE ?
-		TILE_MATERIAL_OPAQUE : (alpha == ALPHAMODE_CLIP ? TILE_MATERIAL_BASIC :
-		TILE_MATERIAL_ALPHA);
+	updateAlpha(tsettings.translucent_liquids);
+	MaterialType material_type = getMaterialType();
 
 	switch (drawtype) {
 	default:
@@ -825,16 +896,10 @@ void ContentFeatures::updateTextures(ITextureSource *tsrc, IShaderSource *shdsrc
 		solidness = 0;
 		break;
 	case NDT_LIQUID:
-		if (!tsettings.translucent_liquids)
-			alpha = ALPHAMODE_OPAQUE;
 		solidness = 1;
-		is_liquid = true;
 		break;
 	case NDT_FLOWINGLIQUID:
 		solidness = 0;
-		if (!tsettings.translucent_liquids)
-			alpha = ALPHAMODE_OPAQUE;
-		is_liquid = true;
 		break;
 	case NDT_GLASSLIKE:
 		solidness = 0;
@@ -879,13 +944,9 @@ void ContentFeatures::updateTextures(ITextureSource *tsrc, IShaderSource *shdsrc
 			for (TileDef &td : tdef)
 				td.name += std::string("^[noalpha");
 		}
-		if (waving >= 1)
-			material_type = TILE_MATERIAL_WAVING_LEAVES;
 		break;
 	case NDT_PLANTLIKE:
 		solidness = 0;
-		if (waving >= 1)
-			material_type = TILE_MATERIAL_WAVING_PLANTS;
 		break;
 	case NDT_FIRELIKE:
 		solidness = 0;
@@ -893,15 +954,6 @@ void ContentFeatures::updateTextures(ITextureSource *tsrc, IShaderSource *shdsrc
 	case NDT_MESH:
 	case NDT_NODEBOX:
 		solidness = 0;
-		if (waving == 1) {
-			material_type = TILE_MATERIAL_WAVING_PLANTS;
-		} else if (waving == 2) {
-			material_type = TILE_MATERIAL_WAVING_LEAVES;
-		} else if (waving == 3) {
-			material_type = alpha == ALPHAMODE_OPAQUE ?
-				TILE_MATERIAL_WAVING_LIQUID_OPAQUE : (alpha == ALPHAMODE_CLIP ?
-				TILE_MATERIAL_WAVING_LIQUID_BASIC : TILE_MATERIAL_WAVING_LIQUID_TRANSPARENT);
-		}
 		break;
 	case NDT_TORCHLIKE:
 	case NDT_SIGNLIKE:
@@ -914,17 +966,6 @@ void ContentFeatures::updateTextures(ITextureSource *tsrc, IShaderSource *shdsrc
 		break;
 	}
 
-	if (is_liquid) {
-		if (waving == 3) {
-			material_type = alpha == ALPHAMODE_OPAQUE ?
-				TILE_MATERIAL_WAVING_LIQUID_OPAQUE : (alpha == ALPHAMODE_CLIP ?
-				TILE_MATERIAL_WAVING_LIQUID_BASIC : TILE_MATERIAL_WAVING_LIQUID_TRANSPARENT);
-		} else {
-			material_type = alpha == ALPHAMODE_OPAQUE ? TILE_MATERIAL_LIQUID_OPAQUE :
-				TILE_MATERIAL_LIQUID_TRANSPARENT;
-		}
-	}
-
 	u32 tile_shader = shdsrc->getShader("nodes_shader", material_type, drawtype);
 
 	MaterialType overlay_material = material_type;
@@ -1082,6 +1123,7 @@ void NodeDefManager::clear()
 		f.name                = "air";
 		f.drawtype            = NDT_AIRLIKE;
 		f.param_type          = CPT_LIGHT;
+		f.alpha               = ALPHAMODE_CLIP;
 		f.light_propagates    = true;
 		f.sunlight_propagates = true;
 		f.walkable            = false;
diff --git a/src/nodedef.h b/src/nodedef.h
index de713a1ad..887366103 100644
--- a/src/nodedef.h
+++ b/src/nodedef.h
@@ -531,6 +531,8 @@ struct ContentFeatures
 	}
 
 #ifndef SERVER
+	void updateAlpha(bool translucent_liquids);
+	MaterialType getMaterialType() const;
 	void updateTextures(ITextureSource *tsrc, IShaderSource *shdsrc,
 		scene::IMeshManipulator *meshmanip, Client *client, const TextureSettings &tsettings);
 #endif