3.14. Save Picture Command

To save the current contents of the viewer window to a file, select File > Save Picture from the main menu or click Save Picture  . The Save Picture dialog box is displayed.

Options Tab

The Options tab has the following settings:

File

Enables you to specify the filename of the file. You may enter the filename and path into the File field, or click the Browse   icon and search for the directory in which the file is to be saved.

Files are always saved with the file extension corresponding to the selected graphics format.

Format

To choose a file format, click  . When creating a new image file, the file format you choose affects the quality of the image:

PNG

Portable Network Graphics is a raster file format (*.png) that supports lossless image compression.

AVZ (3D)

Ansys Viewer Format is a file format (*.avz) used to present interactive three-dimensional views. It can be displayed using the Ansys Viewer.

JPEG

A compressed file format (*.jpg) developed for compressing raw digital information. File sizes are relatively small. Due to compression artifacts, this format is not recommended for line drawings.

PPM

Portable Pixel Map is a file format (*.ppm) with uncompressed data and is not recommended for large images.

PostScript and Encapsulated PS

PostScript (*.ps) and Encapsulated PS (*.eps) are generally recommended for output to a printer or line drawings. However, some graphics objects and features can cause the PS/EPS to output as a very large bitmap file, in which case a PNG file would be a more efficient alternative. Note that the Ansys logo and the axis do not cause the PS/EPS output to become a bitmap.

Note:  Existing CFD-Viewer State (*.cvf) files previously generated can be converted by using an application supplied as part of the CFX, TurboGrid and CFD-Post installations:

<CFXROOT>\bin\cfx5cvfconvert <cvf-file>
Use GPU Rendering Check Box

If your graphics hardware is compatible with GPU rendering, selecting this option is strongly recommended. You can set the default value for this option using the following preference: Edit > Options > Common > Viewer Setup > Use GPU Rendering for Printing.

If Use GPU Rendering is selected, GPU rendering is used unless compatible GPU hardware is not found, in which case all saved pictures are instead software rendered (by the CPU).

When you save a picture with GPU rendering, your graphics hardware renders an image that closely matches what is shown in the viewer.

If GPU rendering is not used, software rendering is used instead. Software rendering is relatively slow and does not always render as shown in the viewer. One benefit of software rendering is that it has no graphics hardware requirements.

White Background Check Box

You can save the current image with a white background by selecting White Background.

When White Background is selected, certain white objects may be colored black and certain black objects may be colored white in the image file. Objects that are not affected can usually be manually colored by editing them.

Note:  You can adjust the viewer background colors in the preferences (Edit > Options > CFX-Pre > Graphics Style).

Transparent Background Check Box

Transparent Background specifies a transparent background for a PNG image.

Note:  GPU rendering is required to support transparent backgrounds. If playing a session file in batch mode to save PNG images using CFX-Pre (or TurboGrid), transparent backgrounds are disabled because GPU rendering is not available in batch mode (software rendering is used).

Enhanced Output (Smooth Edges) Check Box

Note:  This setting is available only when using software rendering. Note that software rendering can be slower than GPU rendering and does not correctly render some graphics objects (that is, OpenGL shader graphics). It is recommended that you use GPU rendering whenever possible. You can turn GPU rendering on and off from the preferences (Edit > Options > Common > Viewer Setup > Use GPU Rendering for Printing).

When Enhanced Output (Smooth Edges) is selected, the image is processed by antialiasing.

Use Screen Size Check Box

When Use Screen Size is selected, the output has the same width and height, measured in pixels, as shown in the viewer. You can clear the check box to specify the width and height using other options.

Image Size

With Use Screen Size not selected, you can set Image Size to one of the following options:

  • HD: 1280 pixels wide and 720 pixels high

  • FHD: 1920 pixels wide and 1080 pixels high

  • QHD: 2560 pixels wide and 1440 pixels high

  • 4k: 3840 pixels wide and 2160 pixels high

  • 8k: 7680 pixels wide and 4320 pixels high

  • Custom: Set Width and Height in pixels.

Width/Height

With Use Screen Size not selected, and with Image Size set to Custom, you can specify the width and height of the image in pixels by entering values for Width and Height.

Scale (%)

Scale (%) is used to scale the size of bitmap images to a fraction (in percent) of the current viewer window size. This option is available when Use Screen Size is selected.

Image Quality

Image Quality is available only for the JPEG format. A value of 100 specifies the highest image quality; a value of 1 specifies the lowest image quality.

Tolerance

Note:  This setting is available only when using software rendering. Note that software rendering can be slower than GPU rendering and does not correctly render some graphics objects (that is, OpenGL shader graphics). It is recommended that you use GPU rendering whenever possible. You can turn GPU rendering on and off from the preferences (Edit > Options > Common > Viewer Setup > Use GPU Rendering for Printing).

Tolerance is a non-dimensional value used in face sorting when generating pictures. Larger values result in faster generation times, but may cause defects in the resulting output.

Click Save to save the current viewer contents to an image file.