Modify the level of detail of surfaces

Learn how to change the level of detail for surfaces in a drawing.

The surface-level-of-detail view is a feature that allows you to choose between system performance of visual fidelity when working on surfaces in your drawing.

• Reduced Surface Level of Detail. Specifies reduced surface geometry triangles and surface regeneration. This allows for smoother system performance at the expense of visual fidelity.
• High Surface Level of Detail. Specifies the complete surface geometry triangles are rendered and allows for normal surface regeneration. This allows for better visual fidelity at the expense of system performance.

To specify level of detail for all surfaces

1. Right-click the Surfaces collection in the Prospector tree.
2. In the context menu, select either:
   • Reduced Level of Detail
   • High Level of Detail
3. All surfaces in the collection will change to the selected level of detail. The icon for each surface in the Prospector tree will change to the associated state: for Reduced Level of Detail and for High Level of Detail.

To specify level of detail for a specific surface

There are multiple ways to access the surface level of detail options for a specific surface.

Ribbon tool option:

1. Select the surface in canvas or with the Prospector tree.
2. Click either:
   • Surface tab Level of Detail panel Reduced Level of Detail
   • Surface tab Level of Detail panel High Level of Detail

   The selected surface changes to the selected level.

Prospector tree option:

1. In the Prospector tree, right-click the surface to be modified.
2. In the context menu, select Surface Level of Detail

The surface will change to the opposite level of detail of its current state (Reduced to High or High to Reduced).

In canvas context option:

1. Select the surface in canvas or with the Prospector tree.
2. Right-click the surface in canvas and select Surface Level of Detail

The surface will change to the opposite level of detail of its current state (Reduced to High or High to Reduced).

In all three of these options, the level of detail is displayed by its surface icon in the Prospector tree: for Reduced Level of Detail and for High Level of Detail.

To set the Reduced Level of Detail as default for the drawing

In some cases, you may want all newly created surfaces to be set to Reduced Level of Detail by default.

1. Select the Toolspace Settings tab.
2. Select the Active Drawing Settings View from the drop-down menu.
3. Right-click the Surface node.
4. Select Edit Feature Settings.
5. In the Edit Feature Settings - Surface dialog, expand the Surface Defaults node.
6. Set the value for the Default Reduced Level of Detail to Yes.
7. Optional: Lock the setting.
8. Click OK to confirm the setting and close the dialog.