The Graphics panel controls the visual appearance, graphical quality and display performance of ARCHLine.XP.

It contains settings for the workspace, graphics engine, 3D model generation, floor plan representation, reflected ceiling plans, visual effects and graphics performance.

Location:
File > Options > Graphics

Some Graphics settings are stored with the current project, while others are application-level settings and therefore affect all projects.

Workspace

The Workspace section controls the general appearance of graphical views.

Color scheme settings

Opens the Color Scheme editor where you can customize the colors used in graphical views.

Color schemes define, among others, the background and various selection or inactive-state colors.

Custom color schemes can be created, reset, imported and exported. Exported schemes can also be used to transfer a standardized graphical environment between computers. 

Theme

Defines the general appearance of the ARCHLine.XP user interface.

Available themes include:

• Bright – displays the interface using a light color scheme.
• Dark – displays the interface using a dark gray color scheme.

The theme affects application elements such as icons, window frames, panels and dialogs. 

Control the visibility of linked file, inactive building or visible level

Defines how elements belonging to linked files, inactive buildings or other visible levels are represented.

For example, Replacement color displays these elements using a predefined replacement color, making it easier to distinguish reference information from elements belonging to the active working context.

Long cross cursor

Displays the drawing cursor as extended horizontal and vertical crosshair lines across the graphical view.

This can help with visual alignment and precise positioning of elements.

Inverting black and white lines depending on the background

Automatically adapts black and white drawing lines to the current background.

For example, black lines can be displayed as white when using a dark background, ensuring that they remain visible without changing their actual element properties.

Set active view size in %

Defines the percentage of the application workspace occupied by the active graphical view when multiple views are displayed.

Origin indicator

Shows the coordinate-system origin indicator in the graphical workspace.

The indicator provides a visual reference for the orientation and origin of the current coordinate system.

Line caps

Defines how the ends of thick graphical lines are displayed.

The selected mode controls the visual treatment of line endings on screen.

Presentation settings

The Presentation settings section controls the graphics engine and raster-image handling.

Graphics Engine

Selects the graphics technology used by ARCHLine.XP for displaying graphical views.

For example:

DirectX 11 mode

uses the DirectX 11 graphics interface and hardware acceleration provided by compatible graphics cards.

Changing this setting may be useful when troubleshooting display problems or compatibility issues with a graphics driver.

Max. raster image size (pixels)

Defines the maximum resolution of raster images used by the graphics system when displaying images and textures in ARCHLine.XP.

The following options are available:

Defined by the graphics driver

When Defined by the graphics driver is selected, ARCHLine.XP allows the graphics system to determine the appropriate maximum raster image size according to the capabilities of the installed graphics card and graphics driver.

This is the recommended setting for most computers.

Selecting a fixed image size

A fixed maximum size can be selected when it is necessary to limit graphics memory usage or improve performance.

If a raster image exceeds the selected maximum size, ARCHLine.XP reduces the image resolution used for graphical display.

For example, if 1024 is selected, an image with a resolution of 4000 × 3000 pixels is displayed using a reduced raster representation whose maximum dimension does not exceed the selected limit.

Reducing the maximum raster size can:

• decrease GPU memory consumption,
• improve display performance,
• improve stability on computers with limited graphics resources,
• but also reduce the visual quality and sharpness of raster images and textures.

Higher values preserve more image detail but require more graphics memory.

Note: This setting controls the raster representation used by the graphics system. It does not modify or resample the original image file stored on disk.

Recommended settings

For modern graphics cards, Defined by the graphics driver should normally be used.

A lower fixed value can be selected when working with very large projects, numerous high-resolution textures or raster images, or when the computer has limited graphics memory.

Typical guideline:

Important: Lowering this value is primarily a display-performance optimization. It does not change the BIM model geometry.

Alert me if video drivers are older than recommended

When enabled, ARCHLine.XP warns you if the installed graphics driver is older than the recommended version.

Keeping the graphics driver up to date can improve display compatibility, performance and stability.

Build 3D model

These settings control the generation and graphical complexity of the ARCHLine.XP 3D model.

Keep 3D of this project updated

When enabled, ARCHLine.XP keeps the project's 3D representation synchronized with modifications made to the model.

Changes to building elements are therefore reflected in the 3D model without requiring the complete model to be manually regenerated.

Disabling this option may be useful temporarily when working with particularly large or complex projects.

Smoothness of 3D solid

Controls the approximation quality used for curved 3D surfaces.

Higher smoothness creates a finer representation of curved geometry but increases the number of generated faces and therefore requires more processing resources.

Lower values produce coarser geometry but can improve performance.

Maximum distance between a facet edge and true surface

Defines the permitted deviation between the polygonal approximation and the mathematically defined curved surface.

A smaller value generates more accurate and smoother curved surfaces but may result in more complex geometry.

For example:

0.75 mm

means that the generated faceted representation may deviate from the theoretical surface according to the specified tolerance.

Always update section (can slow down)

When enabled, section views are automatically updated when the model changes.

This provides continuously synchronized sections but may reduce performance in large or complex projects.

Wireframe colour is black

Displays wireframe geometry using black lines.

Drawing settings

The Drawing settings section controls the representation of the floor plan and other 2D drawings.

Opening scale

Defines the default architectural scale of the drawing.

For example:

1:100

The architectural scale influences the representation of scale-dependent graphical elements.

Cut plane is activated on floor plan

Activates the horizontal cut plane used to determine how building elements are represented in the floor plan view.

When this option is enabled, ARCHLine.XP evaluates the model at the specified cut plane height. Elements intersected by the cut plane are displayed according to their floor plan representation rules.

The cut plane is particularly important for the representation of walls, columns, doors, windows and other openings, because their position relative to the cut plane determines how they appear on the floor plan.

When the cut plane is activated, an additional setting controls whether openings located above the cut plane are also displayed.

Display of openings above cut plane height

Defines how doors, windows and other openings located above the active cut plane height are represented on the floor plan.

Two options are available:

Not Displayed

Openings that are entirely above the cut plane are omitted from the floor plan. This produces a cleaner representation containing only openings relevant at the current cutting height.

Dashed line

Openings located above the cut plane are shown with dashed lines. This makes it possible to indicate openings that are not intersected by the cut plane but are still important for understanding the building geometry.

For example, a high-level window positioned above the floor plan cut plane can be displayed with dashed lines, clearly distinguishing it from a window intersected by the cut plane.

Note: The Display of openings above cut plane height setting is available only when Cut plane is activated on floor plan is enabled.

Example

Consider a wall containing two windows:

• Window A intersects the cut plane.
• Window B is located entirely above the cut plane.

With Not Displayed, Window A is shown normally while Window B is hidden.

With Dashed line, Window A is shown normally while Window B is represented with dashed lines.

This allows the floor plan to communicate the presence of high-level openings without confusing them with elements actually intersected by the cut plane.

Walls and columns to be displayed on the floor plan at the height of the cutting plane

Defines the elevation at which walls and columns are evaluated for their floor plan representation.

For example:

1000 mm

means that their plan representation is determined at a cutting height of 1000 mm.

Hide wall layer hatches and wall layer separation lines

When enabled, the internal layer hatches and layer boundaries of composite walls are hidden.

This provides a simplified floor plan representation.

Wall fill pattern

A kép alapján a Wall fill pattern beállítás hat választható megjelenítési módot tartalmaz: Coarse, Coarse single coloured, Medium, Medium filled, Fine, Fine filled. A Help-cikkhez az alábbi angol leírást javaslom.

Wall display mode

Defines the level of detail and fill representation of walls on the floor plan.

This setting controls how the internal structure of walls is graphically represented. Depending on the selected mode, ARCHLine.XP can display walls with a simplified representation, show their internal layers, and optionally apply a solid fill.

The following options are available:

Coarse

Provides a simplified floor plan representation of walls.

The detailed composition of a multilayer wall is suppressed, making this mode useful when the construction layers are not relevant to the purpose of the drawing.

Typical use: conceptual plans, small-scale drawings and general presentation plans.

Coarse single coloured

Provides a simplified wall representation and displays the wall using a single color.

Individual wall layers and their different graphical properties are not emphasized. This produces a uniform graphical appearance.

Typical use: presentation drawings and diagrams where the walls should appear as a single graphical mass rather than as a construction assembly.

Medium

Provides an intermediate level of detail between Coarse and Fine.

The main structure of the wall is represented with more detail than in Coarse mode, while unnecessary fine graphical information can remain suppressed.

Typical use: general architectural floor plans where some information about the wall composition is required without the full detail of the Fine representation.

Medium filled

Uses the Medium representation and additionally applies fill to the displayed wall areas.

This provides a stronger graphical distinction between walls and the surrounding floor plan geometry.

Fine

Displays the wall using its detailed floor plan representation.

For multilayer walls, the individual wall layers and their boundaries can be represented according to their assigned graphical properties.

Typical use: detailed architectural and construction documentation where the composition of walls must be visible.

Fine filled

Provides the most detailed wall representation and additionally displays the wall areas with fill.

This mode is useful for detailed documentation where both the wall composition and a clearly emphasized filled representation are required.

Fill color

The Fill color setting directly below Wall fill pattern defines the color used for the filled wall representation where the selected Wall fill pattern mode uses a fill.

Therefore, the two settings work together:

Wall display mode → determines the level of detail and whether a filled representation is used.
Fill color → determines the color of that fill.

Note: The Wall display mode setting controls the graphical representation of walls in the floor plan. It does not modify the wall geometry, wall composition, materials or BIM properties.

Maximum number of visible periods of the line-type pattern

Limits how many repetitions of a line-type pattern are displayed.

This can improve performance when extremely long elements use short or complex repeating line patterns.

Line weights scale

Defines the reference scale used for displaying lineweights.

ARCHLine.XP lineweights represent physical printed thicknesses and remain constant relative to the output sheet. 

Display proportional line weights

Displays lineweights proportionally on screen, providing a closer visual approximation of their printed thickness.

Line weights are displayed as one pixel

Displays all lineweights using a single-pixel width on screen.

This simplified representation can improve display performance, especially in complex drawings.

It does not change the actual lineweight assigned to the elements.

Display Project Base Point

Shows or hides the Project Base Point symbol in the drawing.

The Project Base Point represents the project's local coordinate reference and is important when coordinating model geometry and exchanging project coordinates with other BIM applications.

Display Survey Point

Shows or hides the Survey Point symbol.

The Survey Point is used to relate project coordinates to a real-world or surveying coordinate system. This is particularly important for georeferenced BIM workflows and IFC coordinate exchange. ARCHLine.XP supports georeferencing information in IFC 4.x workflows. 

Display North direction

Shows or hides the North direction indicator in the drawing.

The indicator provides a visual reference for the project's North orientation and is particularly useful for site plans, georeferenced projects and survey-based workflows.

Reflected ceiling plan settings

This section controls the representation of elements in Reflected Ceiling Plan (RCP) views (from 2028 version).  

Hide elements if their relative height is less than

Defines a vertical height threshold for displaying elements in the reflected ceiling plan.

Elements whose relative elevation is below the specified value are hidden.

For example:

1000 mm

can be used to prevent low-level building elements from appearing in a ceiling-oriented view.

This helps keep the reflected ceiling plan focused on ceiling-related elements such as lighting fixtures, ceiling components and other overhead objects.

Visual effects

The Visual effects section controls how model geometry is displayed and optimized.

Paper model color

Defines the surface color used by the Paper model visual style.

In Paper model mode, model surfaces are displayed using the same predefined color instead of their individual material colors. 

Joining Surfaces

When enabled, adjacent coplanar or tangent surfaces with compatible materials can be displayed as one continuous surface.

ARCHLine.XP hides the common edge between qualifying surfaces, producing a cleaner model representation.

For example, adjoining wall/wall or wall/slab surfaces can visually merge when their materials match. 

Classes for Joining Surfaces

Opens the configuration dialog where you can select the element classes to which Joining Surfaces should be applied. 

Joining Surfaces is disabled between roofs

Disables the Joining Surfaces behavior specifically between roof elements.

When enabled, common roof edges remain visible even when general Joining Surfaces mode is active. 

Time limit for making hatches on a projection (minutes)

Defines the maximum processing time ARCHLine.XP may spend generating hatch patterns for a projected view.

This setting helps prevent exceptionally complex geometry or hatch calculations from occupying the application for an excessive amount of time.

Display of Facet Edges

Controls whether edges between the planar facets used to approximate a surface are displayed.

Enabling the option makes the individual planar faces of faceted geometry more visible. (help.archlinexp.com)

Dynamic section transparency (%)

Defines the transparency of the cutting plane used by the Dynamic Section tool.

The value ranges from 0 to 100%, allowing the cutting plane to be displayed from opaque to increasingly transparent. 

Antialiasing

Enables anti-aliasing to smooth jagged-looking edges and improve the visual quality of lines and model contours.

Anti-aliasing requires additional graphics processing, so disabling it can improve performance on older or less powerful computers. 

MSAA

Enables Multisample Anti-Aliasing (MSAA).

MSAA provides higher-quality edge smoothing than standard anti-aliasing but requires more graphics processing power.

ARCHLine.XP documentation recommends a graphics card with a G3D Mark score of at least 3000 for this mode. 

Hardware vertex processing

Defines whether vertex-processing operations are performed by the GPU or another available processing mode.

Using GPU (hardware mode) allows the graphics card to process geometric vertex operations and normally provides better interactive performance on compatible hardware.

Texture optimization

Controls how texture-related graphical operations are processed.

GPU hardware mode uses the graphics card to accelerate texture handling in 2D and 3D views.

FPS limit

Defines the maximum number of frames per second that ARCHLine.XP attempts to display during interactive graphical operations.

For example:

30 FPS

limits the display refresh rate to approximately 30 frames per second.

Limiting the frame rate can reduce unnecessary GPU workload when a higher refresh rate is not required.

Faster handling of large objects by merging surface details

Optimizes the display of large and geometrically complex objects by merging surface details where appropriate.

This can significantly improve navigation and display performance in projects containing complex imported models or high-detail objects.

The optimization may reduce some fine graphical detail in favor of faster display.

Geometry instancing – improves the potential runtime performance

Enables geometry instancing, an optimization technique for repeatedly used identical geometry.

Instead of storing and processing the complete geometry separately for every occurrence, ARCHLine.XP can reuse the same geometric definition for multiple instances.

This can reduce memory usage and improve graphics performance in projects containing many repeated objects, such as:

• chairs,
• windows and doors,
• furniture,
• façade elements,
• lighting fixtures,
• vegetation,
• repeated library objects.

For most projects, keeping this option enabled is recommended.

Range of parameter values

Show min-max values

Displays the permitted minimum and maximum values where parameter ranges are defined.

This helps users understand the valid input range when editing numerical parameters.

Horizontal constraint for perspective view

This section controls the horizontal reference used for perspective views.

Elevation

Defines the elevation of the horizontal reference plane used by the perspective-view constraint.

For example:

1300 mm

can represent an eye-level or camera-related horizontal reference height.

Options saved with the project

ARCHLine.XP distinguishes between project-specific and application-level settings.

Options marked with an asterisk (*)

Settings whose section or option is marked with an asterisk (*) are saved as part of the current project.

This means that these settings travel with the project when it is opened on another workstation.

Other options

Options without an asterisk are stored in the application's user settings and therefore can affect other projects opened on the same computer.

This distinction allows project-dependent graphical conventions to remain attached to the project while hardware- or workstation-specific settings remain local.

Performance considerations

Several options on the Graphics panel directly influence the balance between display quality and performance.

For large or complex BIM projects, performance can generally be improved by reducing 3D solid smoothness, disabling continuous section updates, displaying lineweights as one pixel, disabling MSAA, limiting FPS, and enabling large-object optimization and Geometry Instancing.

Conversely, higher 3D smoothness, proportional lineweights, continuous section updating, anti-aliasing and MSAA provide a more refined graphical representation but require additional CPU/GPU resources. ARCHLine.XP's existing documentation similarly notes the performance cost of anti-aliasing and the higher hardware requirements of MSAA.

Note: Display optimization settings affect the way the model is presented on screen. They do not normally change the underlying BIM geometry or the assigned properties of model elements.