Visualizing Gradient Properties

In Assembly Visualization, you can use a spectrum that blends colors gradually to help you visualize a numerical property, such as Mass that has value changes in irregular increments.

To visualize the assembly:

  1. On the Assembly Visualization tab , click a column header to sort the components by that property.
  2. On the left side of the panel, click the vertical bar to turn on the color spectrum.
    The vertical bar displays a spectrum of colors from red to blue. In the graphics area, each component changes to its adjacent color in the Assembly Visualization panel. The colors reflect the relative value of the property for each component.

    You can move the color sliders to modify the color distribution.

    If there are multiple properties in the sort hierarchy, the colors correspond to the leftmost sorting property.
    Color sliders are not available for property values that have Link color to property value selected. You can clear this option in the Custom Column dialog box.

    To access the dialog box, click the arrow to the right of the column headers and click More.

  3. To add another color to the spectrum:
    1. Click in the blank area to the left of the vertical bar.
    2. In the Color dialog box, select another color and click OK.

    Another slider is added to the spectrum. The parts change color in the graphics area.
    You can move the color sliders up and down to modify the color distribution in the spectrum. You can right-click a color slider and change its color or delete it. To return to the original two sliders, right-click any slider and click Reset all.
  4. Under the column headers, drag the horizontal bar down and position it below the components that you want to hide.
    You can also right-click a component and click Roll up component or Roll down component to hide components.

    In the graphics area, the components above the bar are hidden.

  5. At the bottom of the list, drag the horizontal bar up and position it above the components that you want to hide.

    In the graphics area, the components below the bar are hidden. The spectrum adjusts to the visible components, showing their relative values.

    To return a bar to its original position, right-click it and click Roll to Top or Roll to End.
  6. Save the assembly to save the Assembly Visualization settings.