10 Replies Latest reply on Dec 15, 2018 3:04 PM by Kristina Smith

How can you improve the 3D model line quality?

James Abshire Mar 19, 2018 6:40 AM

I just started using SolidWorks 2018. The lines on the 3D models don't render very well (see attachment). I adjusted the display and image quality settings in SolidWorks but it didn't make a difference. I am using a GTX 1070 in Windows 10. I also adjusted the anti-aliasing settings in the nVidia Control Panel but that didn't help either. I have been searching for a solution to this for several hours and can't find anything relevant.

SolidWorks Line Quality.jpg 320.1 KB

Re: How can you improve the 3D model line quality?

Dave Laban Mar 19, 2018 8:02 AM (in response to James Abshire)

Is anti-aliasing enabled in SW?

Also your graphics card is unsupported for SW so this may be the first of many graphics struggles for you.
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Re: How can you improve the 3D model line quality?

Glenn Schroeder Mar 19, 2018 8:15 AM (in response to James Abshire)

I'd guess it's your graphics card. See Why am I getting weird graphics issues?
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Re: How can you improve the 3D model line quality?

Doug Seibel Mar 19, 2018 8:56 AM (in response to James Abshire)

Options, Document Properties, Image Quality...
Optimize edge length
Improve curve quality at higher settings

Most likely the problem is your graphics card. It's a gaming card, not a CAD card. Replace it with a NVIDIA Quadro card. Gaming cards are of little to no benefit for CAD software. Your card is not even certified to work with Solidworks.

Gaming Cards = DirectX

Workstation Cards = OpenGL

Completely different. Take the winning vehicle & driver from the Indy 500 and put them in the Baja 500...they will lose. Take the winning vehicle & driver from the Baja 500 and put them in the Indy 500...they will lose. Gaming graphics cards and workstation graphics cards are optimized for completely different graphics requirements.
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- Re: How can you improve the 3D model line quality?
  
  James Abshire Mar 19, 2018 2:22 PM (in response to Doug Seibel)
  
  Thanks to all for the replies. In response:
  
  Yes, anti-aliasing is enabled.
  
  I increased the Image Quality sliders as much as possible without going into the red and checked the optimization options but it did not help.
  
  I confirmed my current nVidia driver supports OpenGL 4.4 and I ran the OpenGL tests with OpenGL Viewer just to confirm there are no problems. (Regardless, afterwards I checked "Use software OpenGL" in the Performance section just to try it, but that did not help either.)
  
  It is extremely disappointing that the problem may be an incompatibility between the software and graphics card. I am using SW on my home computer so changing the video card is not an option. The GTX 1070 is rock solid with all my other graphics software, including Photoshop, Painter, AutoCAD, AutoCAD Inventor, and 3DS Max.
  
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  - Re: How can you improve the 3D model line quality?
    
    Kristina Smith Mar 19, 2018 2:39 PM (in response to James Abshire)
    
    It's a different kind of program, so while your card may do well with stuff like Photoshop and Painter, it may not necessarily play nice with SW. While I understand the irritation (expensive card, expensive program ), does it stutter or make the program unusable in some way? It's hard to get a read on it just from a screenshot.
    
    If it's the same thing I get when using Solidworks on my Surface Pro (also not certified for use with solidworks like yours), it only seems to happen when I rotate the camera around and at certain curved edges, but it doesn't prevent me from using the program at all.
    
    It doesn't seem to affect rendering in something like photoview 360 or keyshot though, it's just a weird graphical quirk with your card and solidworks, so it won't hurt your ability to send/share the file or anything.
    
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    - Re: How can you improve the 3D model line quality?
      
      James Abshire Mar 19, 2018 2:59 PM (in response to Kristina Smith)
      
      The program runs very smoothly and there are no quirks other than the way curved lines are rendered. I may end up installing it on my backup computer with a "certified" card, but that will be a major inconvenience.
      
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      - Re: How can you improve the 3D model line quality?
        
        Kristina Smith Mar 19, 2018 3:14 PM (in response to James Abshire)
        
        Honestly? I wouldn't bother installing it on a secondary computer if it runs well on your primary computer. It's not like you NEED to use SW on a computer with a certified card. The certification is just a guarantee that they've tested SW on those cards and can guarantee that the program works (and looks) as intended. This particular graphical quirk is so minor and it doesn't (or shouldn't, I guess) impact your ability to view or change the model at all.
        
        If the edge bothers you that much that it would benefit you to install it on a separate computer and mix that into your workflow then go for it. I know what may seem minor to me may be a critical flaw to you. Your brain probably blocks out things that would drive me nuts too.
        
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  - Re: How can you improve the 3D model line quality?
    
    Paul Salvador Mar 19, 2018 3:20 PM (in response to James Abshire)
    
    Hey James,.. since 2017, the anti-aliasing within SW has changed.. it's something I see every once in a while as well using a GeForce (your driver may vary) but it does NOT effect the data/model... it's visual nuisance.
    
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Re: How can you improve the 3D model line quality?

andrey pavlov Dec 15, 2018 1:20 PM (in response to James Abshire)

Yes the line quality sucks bad and we need to find a SW developer who actually knows the real deal to comment on this issue because it is so bad I am trying to make a move over to Onshape. Here is my thread poor quality edge lines on models
I am using a Nvidia Geforce GTX 1080 and yes it supports all the tech used to build the graphics side of SW. And the difference in architecture of the workstation SW approved cards are not enough to say outright that that is the issue. For test model use a aluminum extrusion with many ridges as my picture shows. That is the common framing extrusions made popular by companies such as 80/20 and there are others. Anyway download one example extrusion and throw that in the face of as many SW developers as possible and say how to fix this graphics issue.
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- Re: How can you improve the 3D model line quality?
  
  Kristina Smith Dec 15, 2018 3:04 PM (in response to andrey pavlov)
  
  I understand you're frustrated but this thread is from March, and it doesn't seem to match the visual issue you've posted pictures of in your own thread. Try not to revive unrelated threads
  
  Not ALL Nvidia cards are "certified" to work flawlessly with Solidworks. The current supported Nvidia cards are all quadro and tesla. Geforce is not on the current list. Here is the "Solidworks Hardware Certification" page that lists certified cards and supported features: SOLIDWORKS Hardware Certification | Hardware & System Requirements | SOLIDWORKS
  
  It looks like you're just suffering from a visual quirk. As long as it doesn't really affect usability, you should be fine, regardless of the line looking janky. I also use an unsupported card, and the odd line edges depending on my viewing angle/zoom level do not actually affect the properties of the parts or assemblies in any way, nor does it affect rendering. IE, if you rendered it out in pv360, it wouldn't be full of jagged lines and blacked-out parts.
  
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