Defining Rendering Modes

You can define different sets of environment or visual ambiance for your environment.

Before you begin:
  • Depending on the performance profile you selected, not all options are available.
  • It is recommended to select the High Quality profile prior to modifying rendering parameters, especially 3D effects.
See Also
Managing Performance Profiles
Setting Date and Time
  1. From the View section of the action bar, click Rendering Modes .
  2. From the Rendering Mode list, select the set of environment or visual ambiance to be applied to your experience.

    The profiles mentioned below are not defined by default. Therefore, consider them as no more than that: just examples.

    ModeDescription
    PlasterDisplays the environment without textures (buildings have a white color and trees a unified texture):



    Realistic Displays the environment with textures applied:



  3. Optional: Click the + sign to create your own profile, then enter the new profile name.

    Inversely, when a profile is selected in the list, you can click the - sign to remove it.

  4. Set the lighting type.
    OptionDescription
    Sun Balances lighting with sun light. The higher the value, the brighter the sun.
    Important: Pay attention to the selected time. For an optimized diffuse lighting, it is recommended to choose a midday sun in winter or summer solstice (try both). Then, you can make adjustments according to your needs. This type is relevant when shadows are needed (such as procedural textures).
    Ambient Defines the intensity of light emitted in any direction by the environment even if not lit by light sources. Objects can then react more or less to this lighting depending on their own rendering profile.

    This type is relevant for textures with a natural shadow.
  5. Modify the available effects.

    The activation or deactivation of a given effect is defined by the performance profile. Therefore, an effect is active only if it is available in the selected performance profile (and not disabled), and if it is activated in the selected rendering mode (either by default, or by the user).

    OptionDescription
    Bloom Applies a glow-like effect on brightly lit objects.

    No bloom Bloom




    Anti-Aliasing Makes jagged lines and edges appear smoother to improve the visual quality.

    No anti-aliasing Anti-aliasing




    Shadows Simulates the projections of the objects on the ground.

    No shadows Shadows




    Depth Of Field Makes portions of the scene away from the camera focal point appear blurred.

    No DoF DoF




    Ambient Occlusion Produces enhanced realism by taking into account light attenuation due to occluding objects. With this technique, the scene is equally lit with soft shadows and small surface details are accentuated to give more relief.

    No ambient occlusion Ambient occlusion




    Tone Mapping Converts the tonal values of an image from a high range to a lower one.

    Tone mapping set to a low value Tone mapping set to a high value




    Screen-Space Local Reflections Makes windows and water reflect their surrounding environment. Only objects that are visible in the current frame can be reflected.
    Important: When Screen-Space Local Reflections is turned on, the rendering performance are lowered.

    Reflections Off Reflections On

    Realistic Water Applies a water-like effect instead of orthographic images. For more information on this effect, see Setting Experience Preferences.

    No water effect Water effect




    The changes are simultaneously applied to the 3D view and the corresponding effect icon is activated in the Settings section of the action bar.
  6. To close the panel, Rendering Modes .