Analyzing Using Isophotes

You can apply isophotes on a part to analyze the quality of its surface. The surface is considered to be reflective and the isophotes are the reflections of variable black and white stripes arranged in a predefined pattern around the part you are analyzing.

  • OpenGL shader technology can be used with this functionality, please refer to the Infrastructure Installation Guide documentation for more details on software & hardware prerequisites: Software Requirements.
  • The different mapping analyses of the same surfaces cannot be displayed simultaneously. You need to visualize them one after the other.

Before you begin:
  • Open an existing 3D shape.
  • Set discretization to a maximum: Click Tools > Options > General > Display, Performance tag and in the 3D Accuracy area, select Fixed and enter a value of 0.01.
  • Disable highlight of geometry selection: Click Tools > Options > General > Display, Navigation tag and clear Highlight faces and edges.
  • Set the visualization mode: Click View > Render Style > Shading With Edges.
  • Do one or both of the following:
    • Allow visualization of the analysis results on a selected element: Click View > Render Style > Customize View and then select Material.
    • Select No warning message if material mode is not ON under the General tab in Tools > Options > Shape > FreeStyle.

  • Click Tools > Options > General > Display, Performance tag and in the 3D Accuracy area, use the slider to set Curves' accuracy ratio to 0.10 x 3D accuracy.
Related Topics
Isophotes Mapping Analysis Parameters
Editing and Keeping a Point

  1. Click Isophotes Mapping Analysis

    The Isophote Analysis dialog box is displayed.



  2. In the Type Option area of the dialog box select Cylindric Mode.

  3. Click a surface in the 3D area.

    Isophotes representing cylindrical zebra stripes are applied on the surface.



  4. In the Type Option area select Analysis mapping on part.

    Isophotes are displayed on all surfaces of the part, irrespective of whether they are selected or not.

    Note: If you want isophotes on all of the part in the 3D area, use this method of global selection rather than using a trap.



  5. In the Type Option area of the dialog box select Spheric Mode.

    Isophotes representing spherical zebra stripes are applied on the surface.



  6. In the Zebra parameters area select Compass.

    The compass is repositioned at the center of the reference planes and a representation of the spherical 3D manipulator is displayed with its center located at the base of the compass.

  7. In the Type Option area of the dialog box select Cylindric Mode.

    The 3D manipulator changes to a cylindrical shape.

  8. In the Zebra parameters area select Hide the 3D manipulator.

    The 3D manipulator disappears, but the compass remains in the 3D area.

  9. Manipulate the compass to modify the orientation of the hidden 3D manipulator.

    Because the 3D manipulator orientation has changed, the orientation of the isophotes also changes.

  10. In the Type Option area select User eye.

    Note that Point Mode is selected automatically.


    • The User eye manipulator appears and it allows you to define another point of view independently from the screen point of view.
    • You can move the Eye User by dragging along its axes or by dragging its center.

      The isophotes mapping is modified according to the Eye User orientation.



    Note: If you right-click the Eye user manipulator a contextual menu appears which allows you to Edit its position or Keep this point.

  11. When you have finished working with this command, do one of the following:

    • To create the analysis, click OK.

      The analysis is added to the specification tree where it is identified as Command_Name.Analysis.x.

      The analysis will be updated automatically whenever you modify any of the elements in the analysis (for example when you deform an element using control points).

    • To abandon the analysis, click Cancel.