3D Modeling

3D Display

The 3D display provides the following features:


Dynamic View Manipulation

You can use the following methods to change your view dynamically:


For dynamic view rotation, zoom or pan all keys and/or mouse buttons must be held simultaneously, of course.


Rotating View Using the Arrow Keys

You can use the arrow keys to rotate the view around a specific axis. Press Shift, Ctrl, or both, and then press the following:

You can use the keys in combination to change the view angle.


3D View Tools

Left View - VLE
Right View - VRI
Front View - VFR
Back View - VBA
Top View - VTO
Bottom View - VBO
View to Plane - RNP

Sets the view perpendicular to a selected plane. This tool is useful especially when creating a 2D view export.

Rotate View Around X 90 Deg - X90
Rotate View Around X 180 Deg - X180
Rotate View Around X 270 Deg - X270

Rotates the view by the specified angle around the global X axis

Rotate View Around Y 90 Deg - Y90
Rotate View Around Y 180 Deg - Y180
Rotate View Around Y 270 Deg - Y270

Rotates the view by the specified angle around the global Y axis

Undo View - ZPR
Redo View - ZRD
Zoom Window - ZWI

Defines the zoom by specifying opposite display corners

Zoom All - ZALL

Adjusts the view to display all visible objects

Predefined View - PRV

Sets the view according to predefined angles.

Predefined View Settings - PVS

Predefined view is created from front view by rotation around X, Y and Z axes of display. This function defines the rotation angles.


Saving Views

You can save up to eight views that contain rotation, zoom and pan settings. The Predefined Tools toolbar enables you to easily restore these saved views.

Save View - click this icon and select the number of the saved view.

The other icons on this toolbar restore the numbered views. Your views are saved with the file.

Both the 2D and 3D components of a file can each contain eight saved views.



Predefined Views toolbar


Shaded and Wireframe Display

Shade/Wireframe Entire Display - SHW

Switches the display from shaded to wireframe or vice versa.


3D Display Settings

3D Shading and Edges Settings - 3DS

Enables you to change how 3D objects are displayed. You can define:


Colors and Wires of Solids - SCO

This function defines:


You may also select different colors for entire groups of objects. Thus, the objects are distinguished easily from the rest. This option overrides objects' own colors, if turned on. Turned off, the objects are displayed again in their own colors.

You may select a distinct color for:



Solid display settings window


View Rotation - Arrow Keys - S3K

Sets the increments of view rotation when Shift, Ctrl, and arrow keys are used.

Auto View Rotation Center - VCN

Sets the view rotation center to the center of gravity of all visible solids.

Define View Rotation Center - VCNI

Sets the view rotation center to a specified location.


Precise Displaying

Precise Rendering - SRD

Renders 3D objects precisely. Smoothly rendered images are more realistic and can be used in product presentation materials such as brochures. For this type of rendering, it is recommended to work in true-color mode. You can use a graphics application to capture VariCAD screens. Once selected, precise rendering persists until any 3D edit function is used. It means that you can use all functions working with display, like standard views, view rotation etc. and precise rendering is still present. Some settings are similar to standard display settings, however set values can be different for each display mode.

For precise rendering, you can set the following attributes:


Surface Shading

For surface shading, you can set the following attributes:


It is recommended to combine precise displaying with selection of the proper color palette. All values can be easily changed, effect is seen immediately and values can be reset whenever.



Shading surface settings window


Setting 3D Display Performance

OpenGl Settings - OGL

You can tune up performance of 3D objects displaying. This function allows you to select between two different approaches to OpenGl display-lists:


Other settings are related to the method of objects displaying. They can be commonly set to two levels:


Settings related to the method of displaying can be performed individually, according to the current system behavior. For most of the hardware, the default settings are the best option.


Setting Graphic Adapter

We recommend that you set the graphic adapter (graphic card driver) to obtain the best display of 3D objects. The setting must be done from your operating system and depends on the currently used driver. Usually, the accelerated adapters allow you a lot of settings. The following images show you settings of a NVIDIA adapter. The other types (like ATI) allow you similar settings.



Typical default settings



Recommended settings


Do not set Antialiasing-setting value to more than 8. Otherwise, detection of 3D edges may not work properly. Without antialiasing, the edges and boundaries of shaded objects are jagged, if displayed under an angle close to 0 or 90 degrees.


Example of the aliased display method


Example of the antialiased display method


Test of Hardware - HWTEST

This function is useful if you want to compare performance of different hardware, like graphic adapters, main boards, processors etc. You can also use this function for comparison of the safe and fast modes set in “OpenGl Settings”. Basically, hardware test prepares solids for 3D display and displays them. Time of both tasks is measured.


Results are only informative and can vary with different VariCAD versions. To obtain correct values, use rather large assemblies or more complex objects. For comparison of results, use always the same unchanged file, 3D view, graphic resolution and settings.