How to Change the Background Color in SOLIDWORKS

Contents

To change the background color in SOLIDWORKS, open the current scene, choose Edit Scene, go to the Basic tab, and change the Background type to Color. You can also use a gradient, an image, or the scene environment as the background.

The background and environment are related but not identical. The background is the 2D backdrop behind the model. The environment surrounds the model and affects reflections and scene lighting. A plain background can therefore appear behind the model while a different environment still reflects from shiny surfaces.

SOLIDWORKS model displayed with a scene background — Scenes control the visual backdrop, floor, environment, reflections, and lighting around a model.

Open the Edit Scene PropertyManager

You can edit the active scene from several places:

In the DisplayManager, select View Scene, Lights, and Cameras, right-click Scene, and choose Edit Scene.
Right-click an empty area of the graphics area and choose Edit Scene.
From the Task Pane, Alt-drag or Alt-double-click a scene to apply it and open its settings.

SOLIDWORKS DisplayManager View Scene Lights and Cameras tab — Use the DisplayManager’s Scene, Lights, and Cameras tab to inspect the active scene.

Edit Scene command in the SOLIDWORKS DisplayManager — Right-click the active Scene and select Edit Scene.

Change the background to a solid color

Open Edit Scene.
Select the Basic tab.
Under Background, choose Color.
Click the color swatch and choose the desired color.
Confirm the PropertyManager to apply the change.

SOLIDWORKS Edit Scene PropertyManager Basic settings — The Basic tab contains the background, environment, and floor controls used for most scene changes.

Choose a background that keeps edges, sketches, dimensions, and annotations readable. Very bright backgrounds can reduce contrast, while very dark backgrounds can make black annotation text hard to see. A neutral gray is often a practical choice for everyday modeling.

Apply a different scene quickly

The Heads-Up View toolbar includes Apply Scene. Open its menu and choose a favorite scene. If the scene you want is not listed, use Manage Favorites or browse the Scenes area of the Task Pane.

Apply Scene command on the SOLIDWORKS Heads-Up View toolbar — Apply Scene offers quick access to frequently used scene presets.

SOLIDWORKS scene favorites menu — Manage Favorites when the required scene does not appear in the quick list.

Applying a scene can change more than the visible color. It can also replace environment lighting and reflections. If you only want a plain background change, edit the active scene instead of switching presets blindly.

Choose Color, Gradient, Image, or Use Environment

The Background type determines what appears directly behind the model:

Color: one solid background color.
Gradient: a transition between selected colors.
Image: a chosen 2D image behind the model.
Use Environment: displays the scene environment as the backdrop.

Background type options in the SOLIDWORKS Edit Scene PropertyManager — Select the background type that matches the purpose of the model view.

SOLIDWORKS scene shown with a changed background color — Review model edges, dimensions, and reflective surfaces after changing the background.

An image background is useful for a specific presentation, but it is not the same as an HDR environment. The background image sits behind the model. Reflections on the model still come from the environment unless you change the environment as well.

Adjust the floor and environment

The Basic tab also controls floor behavior. Depending on the scene, you can enable or disable floor shadows and reflections, flatten the floor, align it to a plane, and change its offset. These settings affect how grounded the model appears.

SOLIDWORKS Edit Scene Basic floor and environment settings — Use floor settings to control shadows, reflections, alignment, and model position relative to the floor.

For a reflective model, rotate the environment rather than expecting a background color change to alter reflections. The environment is the surrounding lighting source; the 2D background is only the visible backdrop.

Use the Advanced scene settings

The Advanced tab provides additional controls for floor size and rotation, environment rotation, and the scene file. Rotate the environment to change where highlights and reflections appear on polished or metallic surfaces.

SOLIDWORKS Edit Scene Advanced environment rotation settings — Advanced settings control floor dimensions, scene files, and environment rotation.

If you customize a scene for repeated use, save it as a new scene rather than overwriting a standard preset. SOLIDWORKS adds the custom scene folder to the configured scene locations so it can be reused from the Task Pane.

PhotoView 360 lighting controls

When PhotoView 360 is available, its scene-lighting settings can adjust background brightness, rendering brightness, and scene reflectivity. These settings affect rendered output and should be judged from the intended render workflow, not only from the normal modeling viewport.

PhotoView 360 lighting settings in the SOLIDWORKS Edit Scene PropertyManager — PhotoView 360 lighting controls affect rendered brightness and reflectivity.

If the goal is a customer-facing image rather than a working background, also review appearances, camera position, perspective, shadows, and output resolution. The guide to rendering in SOLIDWORKS covers the wider presentation workflow.

Common background problems

The model reflections did not change

A solid color or image background does not replace the environment. Edit or rotate the environment when reflections and lighting need to change.

The background changes when zooming

When Background is set to Use Environment, its apparent scale can change with model zoom. Use a camera when you need model scale changes without changing the backdrop composition.

Sketches or dimensions are difficult to read

Choose a background with better contrast or adjust the relevant system colors. For dimension visibility specifically, see how to show dimensions in a SOLIDWORKS part.

A custom scene is missing on another computer

Save the custom scene and make sure its supporting files and configured scene location are available on the other system. When sharing models, review the option to store appearance, decal, and scene data in the model file.

Applying a scene changed the lighting

Scene presets include environment and lighting behavior. Edit the current scene or use the available keep-light/background options when you need to preserve selected properties.

Background color versus model appearance

Changing the background does not change the part’s material or appearance. To change a face, feature, body, part, or component color, use the Appearances tools. To change sketch or curve colors, use the sketch/curve color controls. Keeping these tasks separate prevents accidental appearance changes when you only wanted a different workspace backdrop.

For viewport troubleshooting, the guide to enabling RealView Graphics explains another display feature that affects model presentation. If the interface itself is unfamiliar, see the SOLIDWORKS interface guide.

Bottom line

Change a SOLIDWORKS background from Edit Scene > Basic > Background. Use Color for a plain backdrop, Gradient for a two-color transition, Image for a 2D backplate, or Use Environment when the scene should surround the model visually. Remember that the environment drives reflections and lighting, while the background is the image or color directly behind the model.

Official references: Editing a Scene, Scenes, Replacing a Scene, and Edit Scene Advanced Settings.