Reordering the layers in an overlay plot

Context:

You can rearrange the order in which the layers are plotted, and you can apply a small offset to all the layers in the screen Z-direction (perpendicular to the plane of the screen) to separate them in the display and eliminate any undesirable visual effects. If you apply a positive offset, the layers are drawn in the viewport in the order shown in the Overlay Plot Layer Manager (the last layer in the manager is the topmost layer in the viewport). If you apply a negative offset, the drawing order is reversed. Figure 1 shows an example of an overlay plot with different offset values applied.

Figure 1. Overlay of undeformed and contour plots: positive offset on left, negative offset on right.

Create an overlay plot using the procedure described in Producing an overlay plot.
Reorder the layers using one of the following methods:
- Select the layer you wish to reorder by clicking in the Name or Object column in the Overlay Plot Layer Manager. Click Move Up to move the layer up in the manager; click Move Down to move the layer down in the manager.
- Drag the Layer offset slider to a positive or negative value to shift the layers in the positive or negative screen Z-direction. You may have to experiment with the offset values to achieve your desired display.
Abaqus/CAE applies your settings to the overlay plot in the current viewport.
With the overlay plot displayed in the viewport, you can click Plot Single in the Overlay Plot Layer Manager to exit the overlay plot state.
The overlay plot disappears from the viewport, and the display returns to the previous plot state; but the Overlay Plot Layer Manager remains open. Click Dismiss to close the Overlay Plot Layer Manager.
Tip: You can also click the tool in the toolbox to switch between the single plot and overlay plot state at any time.