How to Change the Visual Style of Your 3D Model

How to Change the Visual Style of Your 3D Model

CAD Collaboration

Changing Visual Styles in the CAD Viewer


Whether you want to examine internal structures or display a model with a more artistic flair, our Visual Styles have you covered.
The CAD ROOMS Viewer provides multiple visual styles to help you inspect geometry, understand internal structures, and review designs more effectively—without opening native CAD software.
Visual styles can be switched instantly, allowing you to adapt the view based on your task: design review, clearance checks, manufacturing validation, or presentation.
 
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Accessing Visual Styles

 
In the CAD Viewer, click the Visual Style icon in the left toolbar to open the list of available rendering modes.
Each mode changes how geometry, edges, and surfaces are displayed.
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Visual Styles by Inspection Purpose

Instead of thinking in terms of rendering modes, it is often more useful to choose a visual style based on what you want to inspect.

General Design Review

Use these styles when you want a clear and familiar representation of the model:
  • Shaded
    • Fully shaded solid geometry with lighting
  • Wireframe on Shaded
    • Solid surfaces with visible wireframe edges
 
Best for:
  • High-level design reviews
  • Understanding overall shape and surface continuity

Geometry and Feature Inspection

Use these styles when edges, curves, and relationships are more important than surfaces:
  • Wireframe
    • Displays only edges and curves
  • Hidden Line
    • Shows visible edges while hiding obscured geometry
  • Without Hidden Line
    • Displays all edges equally, including hidden ones
       
      Best for:
    • Geometry validation
    • Understanding feature relationships
    • Reviewing dense or highly constrained models

Internal Structure and Clearance Checks

Use these styles when you need to see inside the model without cutting geometry:
  • X-Ray
    • Semi-transparent surfaces that reveal internal components
      Best for:
    • Internal inspection
    • Clearance and interference checks
    • Assembly validation without sectioning

Concept and Presentation Views

Use these styles when visual clarity or shape emphasis is more important than technical detail:
  • Gooch
    • Non-photorealistic shading with enhanced edge contrast
  • Toon
    • Simplified shading with strong outlines
      Best for:
    • Concept reviews
    • Presentations
    • Emphasizing form without material distraction

Quick Reference: Choosing a Visual Style

Task
Recommended Style
General design review
Shaded / Wireframe on Shaded
Geometry inspection
Wireframe / Hidden Line
Internal inspection
X-Ray
Clearance checks
X-Ray
Concept presentation
Toon / Gooch

Key Benefits

  • Switch visual styles instantly without reloading files
  • No CAD software required
  • Ideal for collaboration with non-CAD users
  • Consistent visualization across revisions and shared views

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