Customizing the View Mode

This tasks explains how to use the customize and apply view parameters.
When edges and points are displayed, the color applied to edges is the color defined in the part body's graphic properties (right-click the part body then select Properties and access the Graphic tab) and, more precisely, it is computed as follows: 50% from the edge color and 50% from the dominant color of the object's faces (i.e. the color that is most applied to the faces of an object).
For instance, two pads created in the same solid are considered as one surface and only one dominant color is computed for both pads. Therefore, changing the color of one of the pads changes the color applied to the smooth edges of the second pad.
Note that this behavior also applies when Hidden edges and points and Dynamic hidden line removal are selected but not when Colored edges from faces is selected.

  1. Click Customize View Parameters in the View toolbar.

    Note that you can also select View > Render Style > Customize View Parameters.
    The View Mode Customization dialog box appears.

    If this is the first time you are using the command, the view settings for the current document are selected in the dialog box:
    In our example, the Shading check box is selected: this means that the view mode for the current document is Shading.

  2. Define your own view parameters by selecting or clearing the appropriate options.

    In certain cases, selecting one option may also select other options. Each time you select or clear an option, the current view is updated dynamically to take your settings into account.

    Lines and points

    Edges and points

    This area lets you display objects in shading mode with points and edges. You can choose among the following visualization modes (do not
    forget to activate Edges and points to be able to activate the visualization modes available in this area):

    All edges

    Displays objects with all edges, whatever their type (smooth or not). You can also use Shading with Edges.
    When All edges is activated, you can deactivate Shading to display the object in Wireframe (NHR). In this mode, only the object's edges are visible.
    Note that you can also use Wireframe (NHR).

    Half visible smooth edges

    Displays partially smooth edges. In this mode, smooth edges are drawn in such a way that they are less visible than sharp edges:
    Note that:
    • If Shading is cleared, Half visible smooth edges has no impact (all edges are displayed)
    • Selecting Material has no impact on the color applied to edges. The color used is still the one defined in the part body's graphic
      properties.

    No smooth edges

    Hides smooth edges on your objects. You can also use Shading with Edges without Smooth Edges.

    All points

    Displays edges and all their points, including vertices. By default, this mode is activated.

    No vertices

    Deactivates the display of vertices for edges. Only free points are displayed and can be selected.
    This enhances the overall readibility when working with complex models because it can be confusing when all the vertices are displayed.
    Selecting this option has a positive impact on performance because some elements in the model are not visible.

    Note that this option, as any other customizable option (e.g. Outlines), does not alter the behavior of predefined rendering styles (Wireframe, Shading with Edges, etc.). For instance, if you activate No vertices then select Shading in the View toolbar, vertices reappear.

    Colored edges from faces

    Colors edges (border edges, internal smooth or sharp edges) according to the color applied to the object's faces. Selecting this option automatically activates Edges and points. See also Rendering Styles.
    Note that:
    • If you are working with V4 models, internal smooth edges are not drawn
    • This option increases the amount of memory used in order to compute the color for each edge in the model
    • You cannot activate both Colored edges from faces and Outlines, these options are mutually exclusive
    • Colored edges from faces cannot be used in conjunction with the options available in the Mesh area: selecting one of these options automatically clears the Colored edges from faces check box, and inversely.

    Outlines

    This option is useful if you always want to display outlines for parts created from surfaces of revolution, for example, shafts, and cylinders. This setting determines whether you see outlines or not.
    Whereas edge display is computed by your workstation's graphic adapter, outline display is computed by the display software.
    Note that there is a price to pay in memory usage and, in large assemblies, displaying outlines might affect display performance. You may want to switch outline display off in this case.

    Line-on-line

    This option enables you to visualize superimposed lines by displaying them in a different color. It is recommended to set a dark color
    background for better visibility.

    Note that when this option is activated, you cannot select the Shading check box.

    Isoparametrics

    This option is used in conjunction with Enable isoparametrics generation available in the Performance tab.

    No wires, No axes, No points

    These three options let you deactivate the display of wires, axis systems and points, respectively.

    However, note that:

    • These options have no impact on the following features: FTA features, 2D Layout features (neither in the 3D, nor in the 2D window), 3D annotations, sketches in the Sketcher workbench, sketch axes for Working on support, Working on support and V4 FD&T features.
    • Axes from the Sketcher workbench cannot be filtered (whether in Visualization or in Design mode).
    • Axis systems can be filtered in Design mode only.

    Mesh

    Shading

    This area lets you define the type of shading to be used when displaying objects. You can choose among the following modes:

    Gouraud

    Displays objects in Gouraud shading. This surface-shading technique interpolates linearly a color or a shade across a polygon in order to
    make the object appear smoother.
    This shading mode is the default visualization mode. You can also use Shading .

    Material

    Lets you visualize materials that have been applied onto your objects. You can also use Shading with Material .
    Refer to Applying Materials in the Version 5 - Real Time Rendering User's Guide for detailed information on how to use materials.

    Triangles

    Displays the triangles on the object's faces:

    Transparent

    Enables you to display the whole object in transparency mode provided that Shading is activated:

    Hidden edges and points

    This option displays objects in shading mode with points and edges, whether they are hidden or not. You can also use Shading with Edges and Hidden Edges .

    Dynamic hidden line removal

    This option displays objects in quick hidden line removal mode. In this mode, 3D faces visually blank out any element located behind them, including 1D elements (such as wireframe elements):

    Options

    Rendering style per object

    This option lets you take into account the rendering style of elements when visualizing them in a 3D window.
    Refer to Rendering Style per Object for detailed information.

  3. Select OK if you want to save your customized view parameters, or Cancel to exit without saving them.

When you click OK, your view parameters are stored with your settings.

You can then apply these settings to the current document by clicking Customize View Parameters in the View toolbar or by selecting View > Render Style > Customize View Parameters : this re-opens the View Mode Customization dialog box with the options you have previously activated. Click OK to validate and apply the view parameters to your document.