> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://alpaca4d.gitbook.io/docs/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://alpaca4d.gitbook.io/docs/basics/visualisation.md).

# Visualisation

The visualisation components draw the model and its results directly in the Rhino viewport. Before an analysis they are how you catch a modelling mistake; afterwards they are how you read the answer.

## Components in this tab

| Component                                                                      | Nickname                 | Draws                                                                                                              |
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| [Model View](/docs/basics/visualisation/model-view.md)                         | `ModelView`              | The assembled model: elements, supports, loads, constraints, IDs, local axes.                                      |
| [View Results](/docs/basics/visualisation/view-results.md)                     | `View Results_WIP`       | Any result on the model: displacements, beam force diagrams, shell forces and stresses, solid stresses, reactions. |
| [Principal Stress Lines](/docs/basics/visualisation/principal-stress-lines.md) | `Principal Stress Lines` | Streamlines following the principal directions on shells.                                                          |
| [Legend](/docs/basics/visualisation/legend.md)                                 | `Legend`                 | A fixed on-screen colour scale.                                                                                    |
| [Colors](/docs/basics/visualisation/colors.md)                                 | `Colors`                 | 18 ready-made gradients to feed View Results and Legend.                                                           |

## A working habit

1. **Model View** first, every time, before running anything. Turn on supports and loads and check they are where you drew them.
2. Run the analysis.
3. [View Results](/docs/basics/visualisation/view-results.md) next, on *Displacement* with **Deformed shape** ticked — a displaced shape that looks wrong usually is wrong, and spots a missing restraint faster than any number will.
4. Then switch it to the quantity you actually need, with a [Colors](/docs/basics/visualisation/colors.md) gradient and a [Legend](/docs/basics/visualisation/legend.md).

## Colours and ranges

[View Results](/docs/basics/visualisation/view-results.md) has two inputs for this:

* **Colors** — a list of colours forming the gradient. Leave it empty for the default (*Turbo*), or feed it from [Colors](/docs/basics/visualisation/colors.md).
* **Range** — a domain fixing the values the gradient spans. Leave it empty and each view scales to its own min and max, which means **two views of the same model are not comparable**. Set it explicitly whenever you compare load cases or steps.