Managing the View Modes

You can modify the current view using either predefined shading modes, or by tuning some specific parameters. You can also apply predefined appearances to your objects.

This task shows you how to:

Before you begin: From the View section of the action bar, click View Modes... .

Click Play to watch the video:

Define Model Options

You can define shading and edges options, and apply default appearances to your scene.

Before you begin: When the panel opens, the current shading mode used in the viewer is activated by default. When you click a shading mode, the list of available options with their associated values dynamically update from top to bottom in the panel.

Inversely, if you activate or deactivate some of these options, the corresponding shading mode is activated.

  1. Click the appropriate preset icon to apply the corresponding shading mode.

    Shading Shading with Edges without Smooth Edges Shading with Edges and Hidden Edges Shading with Edges Shading with Material Wireframe
    Shades the surfaces of the object without edges. Shades the object's surfaces with its edges, except the smooth ones. Shades the object's surfaces with all its edges (sharp and smooth), whether hidden or not. Shades the object's surfaces with its edges, whether smooth or not. Displays the materials applied onto the object.

    When no material is applied, the Basic default appearance is used.

    		 Uses simple geometry, such as a point, line, or curve to represent the outline of the 3D object.

  2. In the Shading list, specify the default shading.

    Option Description
    Shading Shaded Wireframe Illustration
    Shades the surfaces of an object with or without edges, depending on what you click in the Edges list. Only the edges are visible.
    Note: This amounts to clicking Wireframe in the Presets area.
    		 Applies a wireframe mode in which:

    • Visible edges are displayed in a black color.
    • Object outlines are displayed.
    • The scene background (background color and floor plane) is visible through the model's surface. Objects located behind are hidden.
    • Hidden edges and hidden outlines are not displayed.

    Note: This mode is available for 3DPlay Web App only.

  3. In the Edges list, specify if and how edges are displayed.

    Option Description
    Edges No edges All edges With edges and hidden edges Only sharp edges
    Displays the object without any edge.

    This mode is used by Shading.

    		 Displays the object with all its edges (smooth and sharp).

    This mode is used by Shading with Edges.

    		 Shades the object's surfaces with its edges.

    Smooth edges are displayed with the same color but with a 0.5 transparency so that they are less visible than sharp edges.

    This mode is used by Shading with Edges and Hidden Edges.

    		 Shades the object's surfaces with its edges, except the smooth ones.

    This mode is used by Shading with Edges without Smooth Edges.

  4. Use the Display materials option to display or not the materials applied onto the object.

    This option is automatically activated when you click Shading with Material in the presets.

  5. In the Default appearance area, specify the default material used for all objects.

    Option Description
    Default Appearance Basic Basic for design (default)
    Note: Depending on your graphics card, the Basic appearance might be used instead.
    Clay White mat plaster Grey shiny plastic
    Cast aluminum Machined Aluminum
    Cast steel Brushed steel Machined stainless steel
    Copper Brass

  6. Use the Outline option to specify whether the outline is displayed or not.

    No Outline Outline

    This mode is especially useful when working with surfaces of revolution (such as shafts or cylinders) but there is a price to pay in memory usage when using this mode.

Define Visibility Options

You can filter the display of points and lineic elements.

Activate the appropriate filter options.

Points Axis Planes Wires
Hides or shows the origin and sketch points. Hides or shows the lines of the reference axis. Hides or shows the reference planes. Hides or displays the wire elements.

Define Scene Options

You can change the current ambience and apply a perspective or parallel view.

  1. In the Ambience list, specify the current ambience.

    Except for Basic and Blue Design, these ambiences listed below use the SSAO (Screen Space Ambient Occlusion) lighting technique. This technique is a simplified calculation of the global indirect illumination that produces enhanced realism by taking into account the light attenuation because of occluding objects. With this technique, the scene is equally lit with soft shadows, and small surface details are accentuated to give more relief.

    Important:
    • The last used ambience is restored after refreshing the browser, or when you start a new session in the same browser.
    • The current ambience is global and shared between apps. This means that changing the ambience in an app changes the ambience in all the other apps whenever they are refreshed.
    • For ambiences using a mirror effect, shadows, or the SSAO lighting technique, there is a price to pay in performance.
    Pure White

    This ambience contains a ground, a shadow, and a mirror effect.

    White Mirror

    This ambience contains a white ground, a shadow, and a mirror effect.
    White Review

    This ambience contains a ground, a shadow, and has no mirror effect.

    This ambience is for objects that you can seize (for example a phone, or small furniture) and for objects used in a photo studio. It is inspired from photo scenes used for shooting products.

    White Experience (default)

    This ambience contains a ground, a shadow, a mirror effect, and a background (with a cool area, a warm area, and 2 neon lights).

    IBL (Image-based Lighting) is activated with a result similar to the background but with more details and contrast.
    Studio

    This ambience contains a ground, a shadow, and a mirror effect.

    It is very similar to the White Mirror ambience. The main differences are the reflection map that is more adapted to the review, and the two light sources illuminating the scene. The first light source has a warm color, in contrast with the second light source that has a cool color.
    Dark Mirror

    This ambience contains a ground, a shadow, a mirror effect, and two light sources coincident with the neons, which enable to cast shadows on the ground.

    An High Dynamic Range (HDR) map is used for the background.
    Dark Review

    This ambience contains a ground and has no mirror effect.
    Indoor

    This ambience contains a ground shadow, three light sources, and a fuzzy mirror effect.

    The following properties are activated:

    • HDR (High Dynamic Range)
    • SSAO (Screen Space Ambient Occlusion)
    • Bloom effect
    • IBL (Image-based Lighting).
    City

    This ambience contains one light source, a ground shadow, and interobject shadows.

    The following properties are activated:

    • HDR (High Dynamic Range)
    • SSAO (Screen Space Ambient Occlusion)
    • Bloom effect
    • IBL (Image-based Lighting).
    Road

    This ambience contains one light source, a ground shadow, and interobject shadows.
    Outdoor

    This ambience contains a sky, a ground, and interobject shadows.
    Basic

    No ambience, a neutral environment is applied.

  2. Activate or deactivate the Perspective option to display your scene in a perspective view or in a parallel view.

    If this option is deactivated, the scene is displayed in a parallel view.

    Perspective Parallel

  3. Click View Modes... to exit the command.