[Visualize] Import Settings

To begin any sort of project in Visualize, you'll have first to have a model in your project. You can create very basic models through the Visualize UI; however, for the most part, you'll most likely be importing geometry from another piece of software like Solidworks. This article will cover the basic geometry importation process as well as a basic overview of the different Import Settings you have at your disposal.

To begin, we can import geometry in two different ways:

• Going to Project -> Models -> Import Model

• Clicking on the "Models" tab in your Palette and clicking on the "Import Model."

After you've used either of the methods above, you'll see the "Import Settings" dialog box:

Here you can make certain changes to the different import settings that Visualize offers, including how you want your Model Tree to be organized, the image quality of your geometry when inserted, what appearances you want to import into Visualize, and whether or not you'd like to import any animations, cameras, environments, and decals.

To choose whether or not to import any of the above categories, you can simply click on the checkboxes in each tab head.

Geometry

The Geometry tab contains options for the part grouping of your project as well as the overall image quality of your imported geometry.

You can find more information on Part Grouping here: How Import Settings Affect Your Model Tree.

You can find more information on Tessellation and Image Quality settings here: Tessellation And Image Quality.

Appearances

For more information on how these options affect your project, see this article here: Importing Appearances into Visualize.

Animation

The animation tab is a simple toggle for you to import any animations associated with the file that you're importing. It's important to note, however, that animations in Solidworks 3D CAD are actually Motion Studies and Motion Studies are not actually tied to the Solidworks Model geometry that's being imported. Because of this, checking on the checkbox for Animations in the Import Settings will NOT automatically import your motion studies/animations from Solidworks into Visualize! You'll have to use the Visualize add-in in Solidworks to do this.

If you'd like to know how to import animations from Solidworks to Visualize, take a look at this article here: Importing Motion Studies into SOLIDWORKS Visualize Professional 2017

Cameras, Environments, Decals

By default, Visualize will automatically attempt to import all cameras, environments, decals, and lights from your source file into the current project. There ARE a few caveats to this though:

1. Cameras made in Solidworks will not be brought into Visualize versions 2017 and older. This was a software limitation in Visualize 2016 and 2017 that has been rectified in a Visualize 2018. Starting from Visualize 2018, any camera made in Solidworks 2018 or newer should be imported into Visualize. Cameras from other Visualize projects should be imported without any issues.

2. Checking on the "Environments" checkbox will import the last active Background (backplate) and environment used in the source file.

3. If the source file is a Solidworks model, decals using Planar/Projection, Label, Cylinder, or Spherical mapping styles are all supported in Visualize 2018 and above. Visualize versions older than 2018 only allow Projection mapped decals to be imported.

4. Lights will not be imported into Visualize versions 2017 and older. Visualize 2018 and newer should import lights made in Solidworks without any issues.

If you have any further questions on what each of these Import Settings and options do, feel free to contact Hawk Ridge Systems Technical Support at 877.266.4469 (US) or 866.587.6803 (Canada).