You can customize how your model appears in undeformed, deformed, contour, symbol, and material orientation plots. For each of these plot modes you can choose a render style and fill color; and you can customize element and surface edges, model shape, and the appearance of model labels and node symbols. Use the Options menu in the main menu bar to choose from these plot mode-dependent customization options.
In addition to these plot mode-dependent customization options, you can select plot mode-independent options governing colors for individual elements, the appearance of display bodies, the movement of the camera, the display of various model entities, the smoothness of curved edges, the color of elements with no results, and model sweeping and extrusion. Select Tools
Color Code from the main menu bar to color individual elements. Select OptionsDisplay Body from the main menu bar to customize the appearance of all display bodies in your model. Select ViewView Options from the main menu bar to customize the movement of the camera. To choose from the remaining plot mode-independent options, select ViewODB Display Options from the main menu bar.
Note: Displaying model labels and/or symbols in the viewport can increase the amount of time needed to refresh the display for plots and animations.
Select FileSave Options from the main menu bar to save both your plot mode-dependent and plot mode-independent customization options. Saving your customization options allows you to apply them to subsequent ABAQUS/CAE sessions. For more information, see “Saving your display options settings,” Section 50.12.
ABAQUS/CAE provides the following customization options:
Render style
Render style is the style in which ABAQUS/CAE displays your model. Render style is a plot mode-dependent option; that is, you control it separately for undeformed, deformed, contour, symbol, and material orientation plots. Render style choices include wireframe, filled, hidden, and lightsource-shaded, although some choices are not applicable to every plot mode. For more information, see “Customizing render style, translucency, and fill color,” Section 37.2.
Element and surface edge style and visibility
Edge style is the line style and thickness of element and surface edges; edge visibility is the extent to which ABAQUS/CAE displays these edges. Edge style and visibility options are plot mode-dependent. For more information, see “Customizing element and surface edges,” Section 37.3.
Element and surface edge color
You can control the overall color of element and surface edges using the plot mode-dependent Color & Style options. In addition, you can customize the edge color of individual elements and surfaces using the plot mode-independent Color Code dialog box. For more information on overall edge coloring, see “Selecting overall element and surface edge color,” Section 37.3.3. To learn more about individual item edge coloring, see “Coloring individual elements,” Section 37.4. Individual item edge coloring applies only to wireframe and hidden render style plots.
Element face and surface fill color
You can control the overall fill color of element faces and surfaces using the plot mode-dependent Color & Style options. In addition, you can customize the face color of individual elements using the plot mode-independent Color Code dialog box. For more information on overall fill color, see “Selecting overall fill color,” Section 37.2.3. To learn more about individual item color filling, see “Coloring individual elements,” Section 37.4. Individual item fill coloring applies only to filled and shaded render style plots.
Model shape
For contour, symbol, and material orientation plots you can choose to display your results on the undeformed or the deformed model shape. Additional model shape options allow you to scale coordinates, scale deformations, and shrink elements and surfaces. All model shape options are plot mode-dependent. For more information, see “Customizing model shape,” Section 37.5.
Model labels and node symbols
You can change the visibility and customize the color and font of element, node, and face labels and the color and style of node symbols. All of these options are plot mode-dependent. For more information, see “Customizing model labels,” Section 37.6.
Element and surface normals
For undeformed and deformed plots you can choose to display arrows representing the element or surface normals in the model. You can control the arrow size, color, and arrowhead style. For more information, see “Displaying element and surface normals,” Section 37.7.
Display body appearance
You can customize the render style; edge visibility, color, and style; fill color; scaling; and translucency for all display bodies in your model. These options are plot mode-independent when applied to display bodies. For more information, see “Customizing the appearance of display bodies,” Section 37.8.
Camera movement
You can select a coordinate system and match the motion of that coordinate system with the camera. You can also make the camera follow the rotation of the selected coordinate system. If you are using the camera in movie mode, you can also position the camera in the model at the origin of the coordinate system. For more information, see “Customizing camera movement,” Section 37.9.
Entity display
You can control the display of symbols representing various model entities, including boundary conditions, coupling constraints, connectors, coordinate systems, and point elements. Entity display options are plot mode-independent. For more information, see “Controlling the display of model entities,” Section 37.10.
General model display options
ABAQUS/CAE offers several other plot mode-independent general model display options. These options include:
Sweep & Extrude to control the three-dimensional display of two-dimensional models. For more information, see “Sweeping and extruding your model,” Section 37.11.1.
Curved Lines & Faces to control how quadratic and cubic element edges and faces are displayed. For more information, see “Refining curved edges and faces,” Section 37.11.2.
Elements with No Results to control the color of elements having no results (for example, rigid surfaces) in contour plots. For more information, see “Coloring elements with no results,” Section 37.11.3.