Work Plane Color change

[weslie_howard]

I searched through the discussions to see if I could change the colors of my work planes. The message I found were from 2008 and it was stated that it was in the request for the next cycle. I think the "next" cycle has come and gone. Does anyone know if this is still being looked at? Or is there a solution for this that I have missed?

What I would like to do is assign different colors to work planes I create. I think this would really be helpful to keep track of the work planes.

Keith Howard

Inventor Pro 2016

[JDMather]

You might look into the SDK, but I think it is an all or nothing change.

There is more involved as the two sides of a Workplane are different colors to represent front side and back side.

I generally have very few workplanes and generally don't even have them visible.

Can you attach a file where this functionality would be useful?

[PaulMunford]

As JD states, work plane colour is dependant on your choice of colour scheme. You can create your own colour scheme via the SDK but it will effect all workplaces. You can't change colour of workplanes individually 😞

You CAN rename workplanes, and the name of the work plane appears in the graphics window when you select it the feature tree.

Does that help you to identity planes?

[JDMather · Accepted solution]

Another option might be to extrude lines as planar surfaces.

You can change color of surface bodies.

[weslie_howard]

Thanks Guys for the replies. I had a feeling the color modification wasn't possible yet just really double checking. My need is just really to help keep things real easy to differinitate to myself. I have added a plane that is just below the XZ plane when I am not on the edge of the plane it would be nice to have different colors just to make it simple. I guess I am just a little lazy :-).

It just seems something that has been kicking around for at least 7 years in the product would have been figured out by now.

Keith

[SteveMDennis]

Weslie,

 Honestly it's not figuing it out, it's a matter of prioritization.

[Anonymous]

Dear Autodesk,

Last used Inventor 2012.  Used SolidWorks almost exclusively for the past 7+ years.  It has it's limitations, for example, a non-functional "Undo" command.  I'm now at a new job using Inventor Professional 2019.  Wow.  Lots of new improvements and features.  I'm very impressed.  Still very ugly and difficult to make out details, gives me headaches to use.  Everything is convoluted and difficult to execute.  Literally everything.  I can't express my disappointment enough that there is no way to change the color of a simple work plane.  Seriously guys.  I am in disbelief.  Boooooooo.

Please PLEASE PLEASE improve this software so it's more customizable in terms of aesthetics... forget about the incredible new powerful features and just add this basic need that you apparently decided was unnecessary like 10 years ago.

- Richard

[SBix26]

---

@Anonymous wrote:

I can't express my disappointment enough that there is no way to change the color of a simple work plane. 

- Richard

---

Try different color schemes (Options > Colors).  If those changes aren't what you're looking for, use the Customize Schemes button, and find the front and back workplane colors under the Other subcategory.

---

Sam B
Inventor Pro 2020.0.1 | Windows 7 SP1
LinkedIn

[SteveMDennis]

@Anonymous  as Sam said in 2019 we brought the color scheme editor into mainstream Inventor and polished it up a bit.

This allows you to add your own color schemes or change the ones we ship.

You can change the color of the outline of workplanes, the workplane front and back colors all independently.

NOTE: this will change each and every workplane in all your parts/assemblies.

Are you desiring to be able to pick a randome workplane and make it a different color? To single out a particular WP from all the others for reference?

If so we do not support that today and frankly I have never heard anyone ask for it.

[JaredJanis]

The ability to change the color of individual work planes, work axis, and work points would be handy.