PhotoView 360 is in SolidWorks 2025, but you have to activate it first

PhotoView 360 is a rendering tool built into SolidWorks that creates photorealistic images of your models. It is not turned on by default in SolidWorks 2025 — you have to enable it through the Add-ins menu before you can use it. Once enabled, it appears as a tab in the Task Pane on the right side of your screen.

The process takes less than a minute and requires no restart of SolidWorks. You only need to do it once per installation, though you can also set it to load automatically every time you open the program.

Key Takeaways

  • PhotoView 360 is accessed through Tools > Add-ins in the menu bar, where you check the box next to PhotoView 360.
  • After enabling it, the PhotoView 360 tab appears in the Task Pane on the right side of your workspace.
  • You can set PhotoView 360 to load automatically every time you open SolidWorks by checking "Start when SolidWorks starts" in the Add-ins dialog.
  • PhotoView 360 requires a model to be open in SolidWorks before you can render — it does not work on empty documents.
  • Most SolidWorks licenses include PhotoView 360, but some older or limited licenses may not have access to it.

Steps to enable PhotoView 360

Open SolidWorks 2025 and load a part or assembly file. PhotoView 360 works only when you have a model open, so you cannot enable it in a blank document. If you do not have a file ready, create a new part or open an existing one from your recent files.

Click the Tools menu at the top of the screen. From the dropdown, select Add-ins. A dialog box opens showing all available add-ins for your SolidWorks installation. This list includes PhotoView 360 along with other optional tools.

In the Add-ins dialog, locate PhotoView 360 in the list. Check the box to the left of it. The box will fill with a checkmark. Click OK to close the dialog. PhotoView 360 is now active in your current session.

Look at the right side of your screen where the Task Pane normally appears. You should now see a PhotoView 360 tab alongside other tabs like PropertyManager. Click this tab to open the rendering controls and begin working with materials, lighting, and camera settings.

Making PhotoView 360 load automatically

If you use PhotoView 360 regularly, you can set it to load every time you open SolidWorks instead of enabling it manually each session. Return to Tools > Add-ins and find PhotoView 360 in the list again.

Check the box labeled Start when SolidWorks starts next to PhotoView 360. This tells SolidWorks to load the add-in automatically on startup. Click OK. From your next session forward, PhotoView 360 will be ready without extra steps. You can always disable this later if you change your workflow.

What PhotoView 360 does once it is enabled

PhotoView 360 lets you create high-quality rendered images of your SolidWorks models. You can adjust lighting, add backgrounds, apply materials to surfaces, and control camera angles — all within the PhotoView 360 interface. The tool gives you far more control over appearance than the standard SolidWorks display mode.

The rendering process can take anywhere from a few seconds to several minutes depending on your model size, the number of lights you add, and your computer's graphics capability. You can save the final image as a JPG, PNG, BMP, or TIFF file for use in presentations, documentation, or marketing materials.

PhotoView 360 is different from the standard SolidWorks display mode. The standard view shows your model in real time as you work; PhotoView 360 creates a separate, high-detail image that you can export and use outside of SolidWorks. This separation means rendering does not interfere with your modeling work.

Troubleshooting: PhotoView 360 does not appear after enabling it

If you enabled PhotoView 360 but do not see the tab in the Task Pane, close and reopen your model file. Sometimes the interface does not refresh immediately after enabling an add-in, and reloading the file forces the update.

If the tab still does not appear, check that you actually have a part or assembly open — PhotoView 360 hides itself if no model is loaded. Open any SolidWorks file and the tab should become visible. An empty document will not show the PhotoView 360 controls.

If PhotoView 360 is checked in the Add-ins menu but still missing from the Task Pane, try disabling and re-enabling it. Go back to Tools > Add-ins, uncheck PhotoView 360, click OK, then repeat the process to check it again. This forces SolidWorks to reload the add-in completely.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a license for PhotoView 360?

PhotoView 360 is included with most SolidWorks licenses, but some older or limited licenses may not include it. If the Add-ins menu shows PhotoView 360 as grayed out or unavailable, your license does not include it. Contact your SolidWorks administrator or reseller to confirm what is included with your specific license.

Can I render without enabling PhotoView 360?

SolidWorks has a basic preview mode built into the standard interface, but it is not the same as PhotoView 360. The standard preview is lower quality and has fewer controls. PhotoView 360 is the full rendering tool and requires the add-in to be enabled to access its features.

Will enabling PhotoView 360 slow down SolidWorks?

Enabling the add-in itself does not noticeably slow down SolidWorks. The rendering process — when you actually create an image — uses your computer's resources, but normal modeling work is not affected. You only use rendering power when you actively render an image.

Can I disable PhotoView 360 after enabling it?

Yes. Go to Tools > Add-ins, uncheck PhotoView 360, and click OK. The tab will disappear from the Task Pane. You can re-enable it the same way at any time. Disabling it does not delete any of your work or settings.