topic Re: how do you change the background color in a render? in AutoCAD for Mac Forum

how do you change the background color in a render?

Anonymous — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 21:31:11 GMT

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.

Re: how do you change the background color in a render?

Anonymous — Sun, 16 Dec 2012 05:43:18 GMT

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 ...

Re: how do you change the background color in a render?

maxim_k — Sun, 16 Dec 2012 11:47:20 GMT

Hi,

It is possible, look the solution in my blog:

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

Maxim

Re: how do you change the background color in a render?

Anonymous — Thu, 07 Nov 2013 16:58:41 GMT

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?

Re: how do you change the background color in a render?

maxim_k — Thu, 07 Nov 2013 18:20:44 GMT

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

Re: how do you change the background color in a render?

Anonymous — Thu, 07 Nov 2013 18:26:07 GMT

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.

Re: how do you change the background color in a render?

maxim_k — Thu, 07 Nov 2013 19:05:47 GMT

@Anonymous 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%20Variables.pdf

it's a bit out of date and there are no variables introduced after AC 2005

Maxim

Re: how do you change the background color in a render?

Anonymous — Thu, 07 Nov 2013 19:23:06 GMT

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.

Re: how do you change the background color in a render?

Anonymous — Thu, 07 Nov 2013 19:30:35 GMT

does seem to have changed the variable:

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

Re: how do you change the background color in a render?

maxim_k — Thu, 07 Nov 2013 19:48:19 GMT

Restart AutoCAD or open new file.

Works for me:

Maxim

Re: how do you change the background color in a render?

Anonymous — Thu, 07 Nov 2013 19:56:40 GMT

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.

Re: how do you change the background color in a render?

Anonymous — Wed, 21 Jun 2017 18:07:12 GMT

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

Re: how do you change the background color in a render?

maxim_k — Wed, 21 Jun 2017 20:10:30 GMT

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

Re: how do you change the background color in a render?

Anonymous — Wed, 21 Jun 2017 20:55:01 GMT

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

Re: how do you change the background color in a render?

Anonymous — Tue, 21 Aug 2018 14:22:34 GMT

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.

"SetRenderBackground.lsp" isn't working

Anonymous — Tue, 21 Aug 2018 14:25:39 GMT

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.

Re: "SetRenderBackground.lsp" isn't working

maxim_k — Tue, 21 Aug 2018 15:31:15 GMT

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