Shannon McGarry
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Changing a body color in Autodesk Fusion is a simple, flexible way to customize your design’s appearance, improve component distinction, and enhance visualization.
Let’s take a look at how to customize the look of your parts in Fusion.
Elevate your design and manufacturing processes with Autodesk Fusion
Changing a body color in Fusion
1: Open your design file: Start by opening your Fusion project where the body or component exists that you want to recolor.
2: Access the appearance dialog: There are multiple ways to open the Appearance dialog in Fusion, giving you quick access to the full library of materials and colors:
- Navigate to the Modify drop-down menu at the top toolbar and select Appearance.
- Alternatively, locate the body or component in the Browser panel on the left, right-click it, and choose Appearance from the context menu.
- For faster access, use the hotkey A on your keyboard to open the Appearance dialog immediately.
3: Browse appearances: Inside the Appearance dialog, you will find a wide range of materials and color options divided into categories such as metals, plastics, paints, and glass. You can browse by category or search for a specific material or color using the search bar.
4: Apply a new color or material: Once you find the color or material you want, simply click and drag it from the Appearance dialog onto the body or component you wish to modify. The color changes instantly in your canvas, allowing you to preview different looks in real-time.
5: Customize appearance settings: If desired, right-click the applied appearance in the Appearance dialog and select Edit to fine-tune parameters such as color hue, transparency, finish, and texture scaling. This flexibility helps you create perfectly tailored visualizations for client presentations, renderings, or production mock-ups.
Component color cycling: A non-permanent alternative
If your goal is to visually distinguish components temporarily without altering their actual material or color properties, Fusion provides the Component Color Cycling tool under the Tools tab. Activating this toggle will cycle through different colors assigned to each component in your assembly, making it easier to spot parts and improving clarity while working, without making permanent changes.
Additional tips for working with colors in Fusion
- Save custom appearances: If you’ve created a custom look using the editing options, you can save it as a new appearance for reuse in other projects. This keeps your visual branding consistent and saves time.
- Apply to multiple bodies: To change several bodies at once, multi-select them in the Browser panel, then drag your chosen appearance onto one of the selected bodies. The color applies to all selected parts.
- Use in renderings: Applying realistic materials and colors enhances your rendering output, helping clients or stakeholders visualize the final product with greater detail.
- Performance note: Applying very complex or high-resolution textures may impact Fusion’s performance, so balance detail with workflow speed, especially on large assemblies.
- Undo/redo: If you change your mind, use Ctrl+Z (Cmd+Z on Mac) to undo appearance changes quickly.
Why change body colors?
Altering the body color in Fusion isn’t just about style—it’s a powerful visual tool for:
- Organizing designs by materials or manufacturing process
- Communicating design intent and assembly structure
- Preparing presentations or marketing materials
- Differentiating parts for easier collaboration and review
With multiple ways to apply color, customize materials, and temporarily distinguish components, Fusion provides you with flexible tools to bring your designs to life visually.