If I model a part in Solidworks 2008, it models in a default light silver gray. When I bring it into an assembly, it changes to a much darker charcoal gray. Every part I bring into the assembly undergoes the same color change to a darker gray, however, all the parts brought into the assembly do not change to the same darker gray. The level of darkness varies. It also seems like this does not necessarily happen with every assembly. Andybody have any ideas what it causing this?

In release 2008, the following refers to color in Solidworks only, not colors in photoworks views.

I have two Solidworks drawings of assemblies. One has nicely contrasting light gray colors. The other is darker grays with very little contrast, making it seem too dark and muddy.

Both of these were made with no intent of any color other than the default color, which is a light silver gray. On the lighter drawing, I did experiment in adding and removing some colors. On the darker drawing, I never changed anything about the colors, yet is it much darker than the default colors.

Generally, what I have found is that whenever I change color away from the default color, I can never get back to the default color. I have also found that parts that have color applied at the part level will appear much darker in an assembly of them.

To try to get back to the default colors, I go to the color control, select the whole object, and select

I have found the explanation of why Solidworks models are produced in two different default grays. I have two systems. One is 32 bit, and the other is 64 bit. The 32-bit program produces a light silver gray by default and the 64 bit produces a much darker charcoal gray. I don

Chris,

I know what you mean about colors looking different with different light settings. But what I am concerned with is only what occurs by default when starting from scratch.

So this is upon making a new part with Realview graphics turned off. No selections or changes have been made to colors, scene, or lighting. Nothing has been selected under lights, camera, and scene.

I have had problems adding and removing colors from parts and/or their assemblies, but this issue I am referring to about the grays is just with the default color before any colors are added or removed. Perhaps there is a way to change that default color, but I don

Today, I made a basic picture frame assembly with two long pieces and two short ones. Nothing is specified for color, lighting, scene, or material. Went into the short part and made the material pine. It looks like a pine board with a tan color and grain appearance. It looks the same in the assembly. Go back and