how do you change the background color in a render?

[kaston]

i want to change the background color in a render from the default black to another color.  i've seen lots of solutions for doing this on the windows version, but the mac version seems to lack some of the menus that the windows version has so i can't use them. 

[marriottjason]

I have been trying to do this for days ... seems Autocad 2013 for mac is difficult if impossible to do what should be very easy - i.e. change background colour in render.

Any people can help much appreciated ...

[maxim_k · Accepted solution]

Hi,

It is possible, look the solution in my blog:

http://macacad.wordpress.com/2012/05/09/rendering-background-in-autocad-for-mac/

Maxim

[william.costine]

I hoped this lisp routine would help me with a similar problem that we have, but it did not apply. We draw on a white or light color background. When 3d Rotate command is invoked the background goes very dark making it hard to see the linework. This also happens in Vistual Styles/ Conceptual.

Maxim, is there a workaround possible for these environments as well?

[maxim_k]

Hi William,

Yes it is possible to change background in 3D parallel projection (will be the same for all Visual Styles) by changing "Parallel background" environment variable. It is little bit tricky to calculate color number, but for example in order to set background color in 3D parallel projection to "Vellum" (light gray) you have to execute at command prompt this Autolisp statement:

(setenv "Parallel background" "12632256")

Which color do you want to have for 3D background?

Maxim

[william.costine]

Excellent.

I like cream.

Where can one find out more about variables? I bet I could solve more of our issues if I had access to a reference.

[maxim_k]

---

@william.costine wrote:

Excellent.

I like cream.

Where can one find out more about variables? I bet I could solve more of our issues if I had access to a reference.

---

For cream use number "15202300"

About enviroment variables:

http://www.hyperpics.com/downloads/resources/customization/autolisp/AutoCAD%20Environment%20Variable...

it's a bit out of date and there are no variables introduced after AC 2005

Maxim

[william.costine]

Hmmm... didn't change the background even though it seemed to accept the command. Here is the copyclip from my command line:

Command: *Cancel*
Command: (setenv "Parallel background" "15202300")
"15202300"
Command: Regenerating model.

[william.costine]

does seem to have changed the variable:

Command: (getenv "Parallel background")
"15202300"

[maxim_k]

Restart AutoCAD or open new file.

Works for me:

Maxim

[william.costine]

yes of course... exactly what I tell the people who come to me for help... restart autocad!

embarassing.

Thanks Maxim. you helped me with a big annoyance.

[gaschult]

Your dropbox with this file isn't working. Can you provide a link that works?

[maxim_k]

Welcome to Autodesk Forums!

Hi Glen,

Sorry for the inconvenience, here is an updated link:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/of4doiopyyveqtf/SetRenderBackground.lsp.zip?dl=0

Msxim

[gaschult]

Thank you so much for the updated link. This will help a lot with presentations.

[qiongyinhu]

Hi, I downloaded "SetRenderBackground.lsp" file and opened it with AutoCAD 2018 for mac. 

And I write the command "setRenderBackground", and then enter "1" to change the color from black to white. 

However, after I click ok button. The background color of model is still black. 

Please help me to find out the problem and solve it.

[qiongyinhu]

Hi, I downloaded "SetRenderBackground.lsp" file and opened it with AutoCAD 2018 for mac. 

And I write the command "setRenderBackground", and then enter "1" to change the color from black to white. 

However, after I click ok button. The background color of model is still black. 

Please help me to find out the problem and solve it.

[maxim_k]

Welcome to Autodesk Forums!

Hi Qiongyin,
"SetRenderBackground.lsp" was designed to change rendering background, but not Model space background. Furthermore, that AutoLISP routine is useless in AutoCAD 2018, because since 2017 version AutoCAD doesn't have RENDER command (rendering engine) to render scenes off line/
You only can use online Autodesk Render:
https://www.autodesk.com/products/rendering/overview