Geometry
This setting is used in AutoCAD and Inventor to control the conversion of a model to meshes in Showcase. The results can display one level of detail (1LOD) with one mesh per object, or multiple levels of detail. Using a 1LOD setting provides improved rendering performance, and is suitable for multi-part models.
Options
- 001 - All Purpose. The default setting, and a good general choice. It creates three different LODs in a wide range. Most objects look good with this setting, though you may find it is best suited to exterior scenes with large objects, potentially with ground planes, where you might use moderate close-ups from time to time.
- 002 - Large Parts. Recommended for large-scale designs such as bridges and city views. This script creates three LODs, optimized for larger parts. Small details do not render as well, but this script produces fewer polygons than the All-Purpose script, and therefore can result in better performance for medium and large objects.
- 003 - Small Details. Recommended for small-scale designs such as hand-held consumer products. This script creates three LODs, optimized for smaller parts. More polygons are created, but this results in good quality for smaller scenes. It can also produce good results on moderate sized scenes that have many small details that are important to the user. Use this setting for small- to medium-sized models, like an ice skate or a dashboard; not recommended for large curved surfaces or shapes.
- 004 - 1LOD Low. One LOD with a smaller number of polygons. This option provides good performance for large models, with reduced quality in close-ups.
- 005 - 1LOD Medium. One LOD with a moderate number of polygons. This option is good for medium-sized models.
- 006 - 1LOD High. One LOD with a large number of polygons. This option is good for small models, but has a bigger impact on performance.
Visual Style (abstract and realistic)
These options are of two general types: abstract and realistic. Abstract styles are recommended for conceptual designs or work in progress, as they clearly show the relative sizes and proportions of objects. Realistic styles are recommended for more advanced designs, as these styles show details more clearly.
Options
- Realistic - No Shadows. Provides faster performance.
- Realistic - Ambient Shadows. Screen space ambient occlusion (SSAO) is active, providing soft shadows. Directional environment shadows are disabled.
- Realistic - Shadows. Directional environment shadows are active and ambient shadows are disabled.
- Realistic - Both Shadows and Ambient Shadows.This is the default visual style. It enables both ambient and environment shadows for a more realistic hardware rendering of the scene.
- Realistic - Ray Tracing.This option produces the most realistic visual style. With ray tracing, objects can reflect each other. Other benefits of ray tracing are more accurate rendering of transparency and scene illumination.
- Abstract - Flat Color. This option displays the model without shading. It turns on geometry edges and renders the materials as the average color of their textures. Ambient shadows, reflections, and the environment light are not displayed.
- Abstract - Toon Color. This option renders the scene as a cartoon illustration, using geometry edges and the average colors of the materials. Ambient shadows and reflections are not displayed.
- Abstract - Shaded Textures. This option generates a shaded look for the model. It displays the geometry edges and renders the materials with textures, but without reflections or bump. Ambient shadows and reflections are not displayed.
- Abstract - Tech. This is an ideal choice for illustrations of models with reflective materials. The textures and environment reflections are enabled. Ambient shadows are not displayed. Both the geometry and the environment are rendered as an illustration.
- Abstract - Realistic with Edges. This option renders the model realistically, and enhances the look by adding geometry edges. Ambient shadows and environment reflections are enabled.
Light style (Showcase Background Environment)
Match environment to current lighting style matches the lighting style of the currently active file.
These settings provide the visual context for your design. The environments are not simple background images. They cast light, so the surroundings can be reflected in the surfaces of your design. Choices are largely subjective, but some guidelines are provided. On the Showcase Environment menu, set the environment to use for smaller designs. In the next setting, If Model Is Larger Than, specify the maximum linear dimension in meters for a smaller design. On the Large-Scale Environment menu, set the environment to use for designs with a linear dimension that exceeds the specified value. Both the Showcase Environment and the Large-Scale Environment menus have the same options.
Match Environment to Current Lighting Style is an Inventor setting that automatically selects a suitable environment based on the lighting style. When selected, this setting disables the options for manually selecting an environment.
Showcase Environment and Large-Scale Environment Options
The following scale-independent environments use a back plate (BP), do not scale when you zoom out, and can be used with very large models.
- BP Black-White (Scale Independent - Abstract)
- BP Generic (Scale Independent - Abstract). Gray background.
- BP Gradient (Scale Independent - Abstract)
- Empty (Scale Independent - Abstract). No image, which is good for controlling color display.
The following environments are recommended for large designs, up to 70 m in size.
- Grass Field (Building Size - Realistic)
- White Room (Building Size - Abstract)
- Black Room (Building Size - Abstract)
The following environments are recommended for designs up to 7 m in size.
- Country Road (Car Size - Realistic)
- Daylight Gypsum Crater (Car Size - Realistic)
- Desert Dawn Road (Car Size - Realistic)
- Docks (Car Size - Realistic)
- Dry Lake Bed (Car Size - Realistic)
- Exhibit Hall (Car Size - Realistic)
- Night Plaza (Car Size - Realistic)
- NIght Street (Car Size - Realistic)
- Old Warehouse (Car Size - Realistic)
- Sepulveda (Car Size - Realistic)
- Stuttgart (Car Size - Realistic)
- Generic (Car Size - Abstract)
- Green Room (Car Size - Abstract)
- Photo Studio (Car Size - Realistic)
The following environments are recommended for small designs, up to 1 m in size.
- Empty Lab (Chair Size - Realistic)
- ID Hardwood (Chair Size - Realistic)
- ID Bloom (Chair Size - Abstract)
- ID Box Sweep (Chair Size - Abstract)
- ID Simple Skylight (Chair Size - Abstract)
- ID Speed (Chair Size - Abstract)
- ID Tech (Chair Size - Abstract)
Environment Ground Plane Level (Environment Ground Level in Revit) specifies the ground level in relation to the model. The ground plane receives shadows from the model. This plane can be placed at the bottom of the model, match the Inventor Ground Plane, or can be specified by the user (AutoCAD and Revit only). Asking the user for this detail is useful for buildings, which can have underground details.
Center Environment on Model is a recommended setting, as it centers the environment without moving the model. Moving the model is not recommended when you import Inventor constraints or when you assemble the scene out of multiple files.
Object Animation
Create Animated Behavior from Constraints is available only for Inventor. This setting allows you to choose the constraints to be converted into animated behaviors. It works well with machinery models, as it enables you to show different constraints in action, and to add triggers and behaviors to slides.