Different options for 3D graphics in IRONCAD

Have you experienced that the graphics performance of the 3D scene in IRONCAD works perfectly one day, only to suddenly deteriorate the next? Or perhaps problems have arisen immediately after a new installation of the program? In IRONCAD you have the possibility to switch between three different 3D graphics APIs - OpenGL, OpenGL2 and DirectX11.

Trying to switch between them can sometimes help you solve graphics problems and optimize performance, depending on your hardware, drivers and system settings.

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What is a 3D graphics API?

What drives 3D rendering in 3D CAD systems like IRONCAD is something called 3D graphics API(3D Graphics Application Programming Interface) but sometimes also simplified "graphics engine". It is an active code in the program that takes care of how images and 3D models are displayed on the screen by communicating with your graphics card and there are in IRONCAD several APIs to choose from. Depending on the API used, performance and graphics quality may vary.

With IRONCAD , you mainly have these three APIs to choose from:

• OpenGL(older graphics engine based on an open source code)
• OpenGL2 (an updated and more advanced version of the one above)
• DirectX11 (Windows-specific and often better optimized for modern graphics cards)

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Why can graphics performance vary?

There are several reasons why graphics performance may be affected:

1. Driver updates: Your graphics card may have received an automatic update that may affect how it interacts with the active graphics engine. Some updates may improve performance, while others may cause problems.
2. Windows updates: These can change the way graphics management works, which may affect how OpenGL or DirectX works on your computer.
3. New installations or changed system settings: If you have installed new programs or changed settings in your system, this may affect how IRONCAD interacts with the graphics card.

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Benefits of switching between different graphics APIs

Being able to switch between the three OpenGL, OpenGL2 and DirectX11 gives you the flexibility to choose the API that works best for your graphics card and system. Here are some benefits:

• Troubleshooting graphics issues: If you experience a sudden drop in graphics performance, for example if 3D models are stuttering or loading slowly, changing the API may help. Some graphics cards may be better optimized for DirectX11, while others work best with OpenGL2.
• Adapting to hardware: Some older graphics cards have better support for OpenGL or OpenGL2, while newer cards usually perform best with DirectX11. By switching graphics engines, you can maximize performance depending on which graphics card you have.
• Solution after system updates: If Windows or your graphics card drivers are updated and you start to see graphics problems in IRONCAD, switching to a different graphics engine can quickly restore normal performance.

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How to switch graphics engine in IRONCAD?

Close all open files, then go to Options.

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Go to Rendering and toggle the setting.

Close IRONCAD and then launch and reopen the file.

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If you continue to experience problems, do not hesitate to contact our support for further assistance!