The 3ds Max graphics pipeline can use a dual plane technique for speeding up viewport redraws. When only few objects are changing, the graphics subsystem can take a snapshot of the viewport DIB bitmap showing only the non-changing objects which are flagged as background. After that, the graphics pipeline evaluates only the changing objects and draws on top of the background bitmap. These objects are internally flagged as foreground.

The flagForeground method controls the disposition of scene nodes in the viewport foreground/background planes, so you can influence interactive performance on a node. Nodes placed in the foreground plane are redrawn individually and so interactive changes to them through spinners in scripted rollout panels are much faster.

flagForeground

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