EnSight provides several sophisticated tools for extracting computational surfaces from meshes. For model parts or clipped surfaces with a defined axis of rotation (such as those created with the quadric clipping tools), the surface can be developed or unrolled onto a plane. All variables defined on the clip are properly interpolated onto the developed surface.

A clip can be developed based on curvilinear (radius, z), (theta, z), or (meridian, theta) coordinate projections. The seam of the clip can be specified interactively.

A model part must have its seam, its longitudinal axis and origin defined appropriately in the Feature Detailed Editor (developed surface settings). To do this, right-click on the part, choose Edit and then pick the developed surface icon in the top of the window that pops up and define the entities appropriately.