DOWNLOADS: WYSIWYG & VIVIEN REQUIREMENTS
Introduction
For wysiwyg and Vivien to be able to the Shaded and Virtual views, respectively, the computer must use a video card / graphics processor – whether this is a graphics processing unit (“GPU”) or an integrated graphics processor (“IGP”) – which fully-supports OpenGL version 2.1. If OpenGL 2.1 is not fully-supported, the Shaded/Virtual View will not be usable.
What does “full support” for OpenGL mean?
The following applies mostly to IGPs. While a GPU or IGP can claim support for a certain OpenGL version, its manufacturer may have only integrated the minimum set of features required to claim support for that version – which may not be sufficient for wysiwyg/Vivien’s requirements. As a result of such practices, even if a graphics processor’s specification states that it supports OpenGL 2.1/3.0/3.3/4.3, it can still lack the necessary features to display Shaded/Virtual views. (To find out what versions of OpenGL your graphics processor supports, please consult the manufacturer’s specification; to find out if features of that version required by wysiwyg or Vivien are supported, please consult the wyg_graphics.log file, accessible via the HELP menu, by clicking Support.) In all cases, Shaded/Virtual views will automatically adjust themselves to the best possible simulation option based on the video card and OpenGL features integrated by its manufacturer.
Simulation Options
wysiwyg and Vivien offer two simulation options, selectable from the Shaded/Virtual View’s View Options dialog (accessible by right-clicking in the Shaded/Virtual View, clicking View Options and switching to the Performance tab).
Volumetric Beams: This is our default simulation option, which features high visual quality and fidelity. A GPU/IGP which fully-supports OpenGL 3.3 or higher is required for Shaded/Virtual Views to take advantage of this option. (If the graphics processor only fully-supports OpenGL 2.1 (rare) this option will not be available – only Enhanced Beams will be available.)
Enhanced Beams: This is our legacy simulation option, which features lower visual quality and fidelity. For wysiwyg and Vivien to take advantage of this option, a GPU/IGP which fully-supports OpenGL 3.0 is required. (If graphics processor only fully-supports OpenGL 2.1 (rare) performance will be slower due to the lack of necessary features which were added in OpenGL 3.0.)
Note Regarding VR and Alpha Beam Shadows
In order to experience VR and/or Alpha Beam Shadows a graphics processor which fully-supports OpenGL 4.3 or better is required. (Shaded Views will continue to simulate correctly without such hardware, but shadows from alpha textures will not appear, and VR mode will not be available.)