CAD Geometry Coloring

 

in:Flux classifies geometry coloring in one of three methods listed under the Appearance header in the Properties Panel:

  1. Entity - when a CAD file is made or exported the coloring of the objects and layers are saved to the geometry file. Choosing this option will set the colors to be as they are originally defined in the CAD geometry. The Color option in the properties panel is ignored and the icon next to the geometry name will have a colored swatch (Picture 4).

  2. Layer - choosing this option will color the geometry by the color showing in each of the layers. To view the layers of a CAD model, click the small triangle next to the geometry name (shown by the red arrow below). The number of layers in a geometry will be displayed in light-gray text at the end of the geometry name in the project items tab (shown by the blue arrow below). The Color option in the properties panel is ignored and the icon next to the geometry name will have a colored swatch (Picture 5).

     

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    Tutorial 6 - Figure 01 - Indication of where to view the layers for a geometry (red arrow) and the number of layers present in the geometry (blue arrow)

     

    Picture 7

    Tutorial 6 - Figure 02 - Expanded view of geometry "Offshore Module.dwg" showing the 15 layers of the geometry file.

     

  3. Geometry - will set the entire geometry to be the same color that is specified in the Color property of the selected geometry file. The image below shows the selection of Geometry as the Color Method in the properties panel for a CAD geometry. This will change the entire geometry to be colored Gray as it is selected as the color.

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Tutorial 6 - Figure 03 - Selection of 'Geometry' as the Color Method to set the entire CAD file to be colored Gray

 

  1. Whichever color is selected in the Color property will color the entire geometry. The transparency of the CAD file can be changed using this method also.

  2. Once the Color Method has been selected to Geometry, change the Color by clicking the dropdown menu to open the color swatch selection

  3. Click on Advanced and move the alpha-channel to be less than 255. We find that a value of "150" is a good placement to balance opacity while still retaining visibility of the geometry. Each file and color will appear slightly different for the same alpha-channel value. Change the slider to what you think is best for your file.

 

 

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Tutorial 6 - Figure 04 - Choosing an opacity value for the geometry file. Making the entire geometry slightly transparent.

 

 

Right-clicking the geometry header in the project items tab will give more options for selecting colors such as lightening or darkening all of the colors (under the Adjust Colors option) of the geometry or even setting random colors to the varying layers or geometry files in the event that the currently visible ones are not appealing.

 

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Tutorial 6 - Figure 05 - Right-Click menu for Geometry header in project items tab