1. A method to determine a simplified representation of an assembly model comprising the steps of: saving a plurality of display states and configuration settings of an assembly model in a design representation in a computer system memory; translating said design representation, by a computer system, into a simplified representation by use of a visibility solution, including rendering a model having a plurality of parts with at least one color value encoded for an at least one corresponding surface identity, distinguishing a plurality of exterior parts from a plurality of interior parts based on said at least one corresponding surface identity, and identifying a plurality of features in said model not copied into a composite image; and storing said simplified representation and said design representation in an assembly document by the computer system.