Creo Parametric Tip: How to Add and Assign an Appearance to a Model

Creo Parametric allows you to customize the default system colors of parts and/or features. The Appearance Gallery is used to create, delete, modify, and save the appearance of parts and surfaces.

The Appearances icon    is located on the View tab under the Appearance group. Alternatively, you can access the Appearance Gallery palette using the (<CTRL + <SHIFT> + A) keys.

Below is an image of the default appearance gallery palette.

In Creo, you can define different appearance states for part and assembly models using the Appearance tab in the View Manager dialog box. With this functionality, you can define different appearance states and switch between the different appearance combinations for your designs.

Below are examples of the View Manager dialog box for part and assembly models.  

You can not change the Master Appearance. According to PTC, the purpose of the Master Appearance is to clear appearances. However, you can change the Default Appearance.

Use the following steps to change the Default Appearance:

1.  Open your model.

2.  Click on the    (View Manager) icon from the View tab or the In-Graphics toolbar.

3.  Click on the Appearance tab.

4.  Right-click on the Default Appearance and select Activate.

5.  Select     from the View tab.

6.  Select an appearance from the palette.

7.  Select the model, features, or surfaces on the model to change their appearance.

8.  Click      from the Select dialog box.

As stated earlier, you can define different appearance states for part and assembly models.

Use the following steps to create an appearance state:

1.  Open your model.

2.  Launch the View Manager dialog box by clicking on    (View Manager) from the View tab or the In-Graphics toolbar.

3.  Click on the Appearance tab.

4.  Click   .

5.  Enter a name for your appearance state.

6.  Select     from the View tab.

7.  Select an appearance from the palette.

8.  Select the model, features, or surfaces on the model to change their appearance.

9.  Repeat steps 4-8 for as many different combinations of colors, etc. that you need.

More information about this topic can be found in our Creo Parametric Introduction to Solid Modeling and Creo Parametric Advanced Part Design courses.

About the Author

Technical Training Engineer<br><br>Natasha joined the company in 2000 and has extensive experience sharing her CAD expertise through delivering webcasts, contributing to blog posts, and leading training classes. She trains end-users with all skill levels on Creo Parametric and CATIA, and she collaborates closely with the company’s technical writers on courseware development. Before joining Rand Worldwide, Natasha served as a mechanic in the U.S. Army National Guard and worked as a mechanical designer for a multinational telecommunications and data networking equipment manufacturer. She has a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, and she holds certification from Dassault Systèmes as a CATIA V5 Expert Mechanical Designer and Certified Surface Design Associate.

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