Options Dialog: Graphics Tab

Control the display of graphics and text in the drawing area.

Option Description
Warnings Provides information about your video card and supported hardware.

If your video card is not supported, a link provides access to a list of supported graphics hardware.

You can also access the list here: http://www.autodesk.com/revit-graphicshardware

Graphics mode
Use Hardware Acceleration (Direct 3D®) Provides the following performance improvements:
  • Faster display of large models upon refresh
  • Faster switching between windows of views

For more information, see Hardware Acceleration.

Draw visible elements only Generates and draws only the elements that are visible in each view (also called occlusion culling). Elements that are obscured by other elements are not drawn or rendered, thus improving performance. 3D views with many obscured elements will experience the greatest performance improvements.

This feature requires the following:

  • A graphics card that supports shader model 5.0 or higher.
  • Enable the Use Hardware Acceleration option.

After changing this setting, close and reopen views to see the effects of the change.

Note: This feature is available only to students and to Autodesk Maintenance and Desktop Subscription customers for Revit 2016 software releases.
Allow navigation during redraw Interrupts the drawing of model elements to allow view navigation (pan, orbit, and zoom). Use this option to improve performance when you are navigating views in large models.

For more information, see Allow Navigation During Redraw.

Smooth lines with anti-aliasing Improves the quality of lines in views, making edges display more smoothly. By default, this option is enabled so you can turn on anti-aliasing for individual views. For details, see Smooth Lines with Anti-Aliasing.
Note: To experience the best performance when using anti-aliasing, enable hardware acceleration. If you disable hardware acceleration but enable anti-aliasing, you may notice slow performance when zooming, panning, and manipulating a view.
Colors
Background Changes the color of the background and elements in the drawing area. Click the color value to specify a new background color. Darker colors will cause elements to display as white.

Selection Defines the color used to display selected elements in the drawing area. Click the color value to specify a new selection color.

Semi-transparent Allows you to see elements that are positioned behind selected elements.
Pre-selection Defines the color used to display highlighted elements when you move the cursor over an element in the drawing area. Click the color value to specify a new pre-selection color.

Alert Defines the color used to display elements that are selected when a warning or error occurs. Click the color value to specify a new alert color.

Temporary dimension text appearance
Size Defines the font size for text in temporary dimensions.

Background Specifies the background for text in temporary dimensions: transparent or opaque.