What is SolidWorks RealView?
RealView Graphics is a feature that leverages your graphics card to display advanced shading effects in real-time, such as self-shadowing and realistic reflections. It maintains smooth rendering even when you're rotating or zooming, and it shows how a scene interacts with its environment, including reflections and self-shadows cast by the primary light source. Using RealView Graphics when you apply an appearance to your model results in a more visually realistic and appealing display. Please note that this feature is only available with supported graphics cards.
RealView Effects
| RealView on | RealView off | |
|---|---|---|
| Appearances |
More realistic representation Environment reflections Visible bump surface finish Multi-colored effects (car paint) |
Basic OpenGL colors and textures Standard texture mapping for texture-based appearances |
| Scenes |
Self-shadowing from first directional light Floor shadows and reflections |
Basic soft shadow on floor No reflective floors |
How to enable realview graphics?
If you have an unsupported graphics card, RealView is likely disabled by default. Don't worry, there's a way to get it working using the Windows Registry. Here's how to set it up:1. Open the Registry Editor:
- Press
the Windows key + R on your keyboard to open the Run dialog.
- Type regedit and press Enter.
2. Locate the Renderer Information (and the New Location for SolidWorks 2023+):
- For
SolidWorks 2021 and older: Navigate to the following key:
(Replace 20XX with your specific SolidWorks version, e.g.,
SOLIDWORKS 2025).
- For SolidWorks 2022: Navigate to the following key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\SolidWorks\AllowList\Current
- For SolidWorks 2023 and newer: Navigate to the following key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\SolidWorks\AllowList\Gl2Shaders\NV40
(As you correctly pointed out, the "Graphics" key
is no longer in the "Performance" section for these versions.)
- Double-click
on the key named "Renderer" (if you found it in the older
versions) on the right-hand side.
- Copy
the text found under the "Value data" column. This will be
the identifier for your graphics card (e.g., "GeForce GTX
1050TiPCIe/SSE2"). Keep this text handy.
3. Navigate to the Graphics Shader Settings:
- For SolidWorks 2021 and older: Navigate to the following key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Solidworks\SOLIDWORKS 20XX\Performance\Graphics\Gl2Shaders\NV40 (Again, replace 20XX with your SolidWorks version).
- For SolidWorks 2022 and newer: Navigate to the following key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\SolidWorks\AllowList\Gl2Shaders\NV40
4. Create a New Key:
- In the
left-hand pane, right-click on the "NV40" folder.
- Select
"New" -> "Key".
5. Rename the New Key:
- Rename
the newly created key to the exact text you copied in Step 2
(the "Value data" from the "Renderer" key).
6. Verify Key Contents:
- Ensure
that the only item within this newly created key is the "(Default)"
key.
7. Create a New DWORD Value:
- In the
right-hand pane (within the newly created key you just named), right-click
in an empty area.
- Select
"New" -> "DWORD (32-bit) Value".
8. Name the New DWORD Value:
- Name
this new DWORD value "Workarounds".
9. Modify the Workarounds Value:
- Double-click
on the "Workarounds" key.
- In the
"Value data" field, enter the value you found to work for your
system. For example, you mentioned 0 for your Intel(R) UHD Graphics 620.
- Make
sure the "Base" is set to "Hexadecimal". Click "OK".
10. Test RealView:
Close the Registry Editor and restart SolidWorks. RealView should now be available in your view settings.
11. Troubleshooting:
If RealView is still not enabled, try setting the "Workarounds" value in Step 9 to one of the following values (still in Hexadecimal mode):30408
31408
30008
Important Considerations
- Backup:
It's always a good idea to back up your registry before making any
changes. You can do this by right-clicking on "Computer" or
"HKEY_CURRENT_USER" in the Registry Editor and selecting
"Export."
- Specific
SolidWorks Version: Be mindful of the registry path differences
between older and newer SolidWorks versions.
- Graphics
Card Identifier: The text you copy in Step 2 is crucial and should be
entered exactly as it appears.
- Hexadecimal
Mode: Ensure you are entering the "Workarounds" value in
Hexadecimal mode as specified.
