A Brief Review of SolidWorks Photoview

This add-in provides the user with a better rendering experience, best lighting options and the optimal image setting.

Do you intend to buy SolidWorks Professional or SolidWorks premium? If yes, then you're lucky enough to get an add-in SolidWorks Photoview with them. This add-in produces photo-realistic renderings of the Solidworks models. It can of great use in visualisation and rendering images.

What exactly is SolidWorks Photoview?

As said above, Photoview is an add-in in two of SolidWorks products. It is highly integrated in SolidWorks for image rendering and doing animation works. Unlike, other tools out there in the market, this add-in is easy to use. It doesn't require any expertise, only some basic knowledge of the features and their working is required.

SolidWorks Photoview allows the users to explore product such as large machinery and structures. Besides that, it makes easier for the users provide details and showcase various designs to the customers, vendors, resellers, partners, colleagues, and co-workers.

The SolidWorks Photoview add-in was first integrated in SolidWorks 2011 and later on it continued even in Solidworks 2012. This was to enable the 3D design software users and CAD design software users to perform more effectively and efficiently.

Why you should have SolidWorks Photoview?

Enhance Rendering Experience – To enhance rendering experience, SolidWorks Photoview provides two ways to preview renders - one in the graphics area, and two in a separate window. As a result, an individual user can assess and make appropriate changes before full render is done.

This is simple and is possible through multiple controls that are easy to use. A user doesn't have to understanding of the controls in order to use them, just notice their effects and continue if they find it appropriate.

Best Lighting Options – The lighting options which you find in SolidWorks Photoview cannot be found elsewhere. The options are of great use in editing the images, especially the lighting properties of the images. This is what all you can do with the lighting options present with SolidWorks Photoview:

You can modify the color, intensity, and the position of the directional light. Directional light is nothing but the light coming from far distance from the object from one direction. Mostly, it results in damaging the light properties of the image. Therefore, with Photoview you can make changes you want.

You can also modify the color, intensity, and position of the light coming from a small source. Generally referred to as 'point light', in this, light comes from small source yet reflects in different direction, thus having an impact on image lighting properties. SolidWorks Photoview allows you do change the lighting properties.

You can also adjust the light coming from a spot light. With spot lights, light is focused on one area of the model and not all, thus making one area bright and other areas dull. Using SolidWorks Photoview, you can adjust the angles; modify the color, and positions to make the images look amazing.

Output Image Setting - Image setting can be rightly done with the help of multiple settings such as dynamic help, default image path, image format, use background aspect ratio, use camera aspect ratio, etc. Each setting helps to improve the image output. You can format the image using the settings, and even modify the lighting properties using the property manager.

Where you can buy SolidWorks Photoview?

SolidWorks Photoview is an add-in. To have access to it, you'll have to buy the latest version of SolidWorks Professional and SolidWorks Premium because Photoview is integrated in them. If you use any of SolidWorks products with no Photoview add-in, just update them to have access to the Photoview.

Whatever SolidWorks product you use, if it has SolidWorks Photoview, then you're sure to have a great experience.