Selecting overall element and surface edge color

You can customize the color in which Abaqus/CAE displays element and surface edges. With the exception of contour plots, edge color is plot state–independent; that is, you set it once for all undeformed, deformed, symbol, and material orientation plots. You can choose a different edge color for certain render styles, and you can set the edge color that Abaqus/CAE will apply to the undeformed shape when the deformed shape is superimposed on it. For contour plots you can choose a different edge color for certain contour types.

Related Topics
Controlling element and surface edge visibility
Customizing element and surface edge style
Choosing background colors

Context:

You can choose one display color for your entire model, or you can optionally override this display color for selected items, such as particular elements. For example, you can display your model in green, with a group of elements shown in red. For more information on individual item coloring, see Customizing the display color of individual objects.

  1. Locate the edge color options (common, superimposed, or contour) that you want to customize.

    • For all plots except superimposed and contour plots:

      From the main menu bar, select OptionsCommon; then click the Color & Style tab in the dialog box that appears.

      The Color options are at the top of the Color & Style page.

    • For contour plots:

      From the main menu bar, select OptionsContour; then click the Color & Style tab in the dialog box that appears. Click the Model Edges tab.

    • For the undeformed shape in a superimposed plot:

      From the main menu bar, select OptionsSuperimpose; then click the Color & Style tab in the dialog box that appears.

      The Color options are at the top of the Color & Style page.

  2. Choose the color of the element and surface edges for wireframe and hidden render style plots and line-type contours. (For all of these plots Abaqus/CAE does not display model faces.)

    1. Click the color sample , which is labeled either Edges in wireframe/hidden plots or In line plots.

      Abaqus/CAE displays the Select Color dialog box.

    2. Use one of the methods in the Select Color dialog box to select a new color. For more information, see Customizing colors.
    3. Click OK to close the Select Color dialog box.

      The color sample changes to the selected color. The new color does not appear in the viewport until you click OK or Apply in the Plot Options dialog box.

  3. Choose the color of the element and surface edges for filled and shaded render style plots and banded- and quilt-type contour plots. (For all of these plots Abaqus/CAE displays model faces.)

    1. Click the color sample , which is labeled either Edges in filled/shaded plots or In banded/quilt plots.

      Abaqus/CAE displays the Select Color dialog box.

    2. Use one of the methods in the Select Color dialog box to select a new color. For more information, see Customizing colors.
    3. Click OK to close the Select Color dialog box.

      The color sample changes to the selected color. The new color does not appear in the viewport until you click OK or Apply in the Plot Options dialog box.

  4. Toggle Allow color code selections to override options in this dialog off to display all edges in the color specified above. Toggle it on to override this color using color code selections. The default is on. This option is not available for contour plots.

  5. Click Apply to implement your changes.

    The edge color changes according to your specification. If you specify an edge color for wireframe, hidden, or line plots that is the same color as the viewport background, Abaqus/CAE draws the edges in a contrasting color so that your plot will not disappear. Edges drawn in the viewport background color in filled or shaded plots may obscure the corresponding model faces if you zoom out or if the faces are so small that the edges begin to overlap.

    By default, your changes are saved for the duration of the session and will affect all subsequent plots in the current viewport and in any new viewports created from the current viewport. If you want to retain the changes you applied for subsequent sessions, save them to a file. For more information, see Saving customizations for use in subsequent sessions.