2D & 3D Graphics Settings

The correct graphics settings can greatly enhance the clarity, the realism and even the accuracy of your 2D and 3D visualizations. Here you will experiment with a very small sample of the many graphics configuration options that STK makes available.

2D Graphics Options

For a Facility

  1. Select the Perth facility in the Object Browser.
  2. Double-click the Perth facility to open the Properties Browser.
  3. Select the Attributes page in the 2D Graphics area.
  4. Open the Marker Style list, and select one of the geometric shapes (such as a square or an X).
  5. Position the 2D Graphics window and the Scenario's Properties Browser in view. You want to be able to see the change to the 2D Graphics window when you click Apply.
  6. Click Apply, and look at the result in the 2D Graphics window.
  7. Now open the color picker, and select a new Color.
  8. Click Apply.
  9. In the 2D Graphics window, you will see that the label and the marker now appear in the color that you selected.
  10. Try out other colors and markers for the facility and, when you are satisfied, click OK.

For a Satellite

  1. Highlight the Scenario in the Object Browser, open its Properties Browser, and select the Global Attributes page in the 2D Graphics area.
  2. Observe that several graphics options for several different objects can be set at the scenario level.
  3. In the Vehicles area, uncheck the Show Ground Tracks/Route option.
  4. Click OK, and look at the result in the 2D Graphics window.

    Tip: In a scenario with a large number of satellites, it may be desirable to disable the display of ground tracks to reduce clutter in the 2D Graphics window.

  5. Select the MEO satellite in the Object Browser, open its Properties Browser, and select the Attributes page in the 2D Graphics area.
  6. In the Inheritable Settings area, uncheck the Inherit from Scenario option, and check the Show Ground Track option.
  7. Position the 2D Graphics window and the Scenario's Properties Browser in view. You want to be able to see the change to the 2D Graphics window when you click Apply.
  8. Click Apply, and look at the result in the 2D Graphics window.
  9. Experiment with settings for Color, Line Style and Line Width, and note the effect of these settings in the 2D Graphics window.

    Note: These settings also affect the display of the orbit track and orbit marker in the 3D Graphics window.

3D Graphics Options

As you can see from the list of pages in the 3D Graphics area of the satellite's Properties Browser, many options are available for you to configure. In this exercise you will only look briefly at the satellite's Model properties.

  1. In the Properties Browser for the MEO satellite, select the Model page from the 3D Graphics area.
  2. Click to the right of the Model File field to open a file selection dialog.
  3. Browse through the available models, including the models in subfolders (such as Civil, Commercial, etc.), and select any model file. To change your model, click Open.
  4. Dismiss the dialog, and click Apply on the Models page.
  5. Select the 3D Graphics window, and click ViewFrom/To (View From To Button).
  6. Select the MEO satellite as the View From and View To object, and click OK.
  7. Use the left and right mouse buttons to rotate and zoom the 3D view.
  8. Try out some other models.
  9. When you finish, click Home View (Home View Button Icon).

Next you will attach some sensors to the ground stations.