When you start a session, Abaqus detects the graphics hardware installed on your system and sets the graphics options accordingly. If your graphics hardware is not supported by Abaqus/CAE or if you wish to override the default graphics options, you can use the Graphics Options dialog box to tune display performance. Abaqus/CAE applies the settings to all viewports and saves the settings for the duration of the session. To use the customized settings each time you start an Abaqus/CAE session, modify the environment file (abaqus_v6.env). For additional information on the environment file, see the Abaqus Installation and Licensing Guide.

You can also use the Graphics Options dialog box to do the following:

• Choose the appearance of your model during rotation, pan, or zoom view manipulations. The appearance is related to the render style and can be set to Fast (wireframe) or As is.

• Choose whether Abaqus/CAE will auto-fit the image to the current viewport after you rotate the view. Automatically fitting the image to the viewport is equivalent to clicking the auto-fit tool in the View Manipulation toolbar. Auto-fit adjusts your view of the model so that the model fills the viewport and is centered within it. The orientation remains fixed, as indicated by the view triad.

• Choose whether Abaqus/CAE will optimize the display of translucent objects for performance, for accuracy, or for a level in between.

• Choose the viewport background color. Your selected color will be applied to all viewports in the current session of Abaqus/CAE.

• “Using display lists,” Section 7.2

• “Choosing a highlight method,” Section 7.4

• “Choosing a translucency mode,” Section 7.5

• “Controlling drag mode,” Section 7.6

• “Choosing background colors,” Section 7.7