Change the display mode for objects

You can change the display mode that determines how Maya draws all geometric objects in a view panel.

These display modes are set per view panel, so you can display a different one in each panel. However, you can set the options in the Shading menu in one view panel as you like, then choose Shading > Apply Current to All to apply the settings from the current view panel to all other view panels.

To display objects as Do this

Wireframe

Press 4

or

Click the icon in the panel toolbar.

or

Choose Shading > Wireframe in the view panel.

Shaded

Press 5

or

Click the icon in the panel toolbar.

or

Choose Shading > Smooth Shade All

You can also choose Shading > Smooth Shade Selected Items to shade only selected objects.

Shaded with hardware-rendered textures

Press 6

or

When Smooth Shade All is on:

Click the icon in the panel toolbar

or

Choose Shading > Hardware Texturing

Wireframe on Shaded

When Smooth Shade All is on:

Click the icon

or

Choose Shading > Wireframe on Shaded

Default material

When Smooth Shade All is on:

Click the icon

or

Choose Shading > Use Default Material

X-ray mode

X-ray shading automatically displays objects with slight transparency to let you see and select things behind opaque surfaces.

There are three X-ray display modes:

  • All objects: click the icon or choose Shading > X-Ray

  • Active components: click the icon or choose Shading > X-Ray Active Components
  • Skeleton joints: click the icon or choose Shading > X-Ray Joints
    • Tip: Use Alt + A to toggle through all these modes.

Bounding box

Choose Shading > Bounding Box

Flat (faceted) shading

Choose Shading > Flat Shade All or Flat Shade Selected Items

Constant shading

Select Lighting > Use Flat Lighting.

You can also turn on Shading > Wireframe on Shaded to see the geometry wireframe on the objects.

Related topics

Parent topic: Change the display of objects