Are you using Ambient Shadows on your 3D views?

For 3D views we have a number of Visual Styles available to us to view the Model.

However we also have a couple other options which I have found makes viewing and understanding the model easier.

We are all familiar with the Hidden Line setting:

Or Hidden Line with Shadows turned on:

These two settings are great, especially if you don’t want the colour shaded view and just need black and white.

However they can appear to be a little too “Harsh”….

  

Here is an alternative…….

Under the Graphic Display Options dialog box turn on Show Ambient Shadows.

This will give you the following effect….which is a little softer on the eyes and gives you more perception of depth.

Sc.

Revit Tips and Tricks - Part 3 of 3

This is the third and final in a series of Tips and Tricks for Revit Architecture 2012 - 2013

11.       Locking a 3D View

When creating 3D views to use on your sheets you can “Lock” the view to prevent you from inadvertently orbiting or rotating within the view.

 

On the View control Bar select the “Locked 3D View” icon. Revit will ask you to give this view a unique name and to save the orientation. After this has been done you can now add text and even tag objects in your locked view.

 

If you unlock the view the tags will disappear (until you relock and Restore Orientation) but your text will remain and try it’s best to remain readable according to the orientation of the view.

 

12.       Dimension Center Symbol

When Dimensioning to Center of Walls, Openings or Columns you can specify the Dimension style to add a Center Line Symbol and even change the leader line style.

 

 

For Example, here I changed the leader line to Centerline and added a Center Line symbol.

Duplicate the dimension style and modify the settings under the properties of the new style.

  

13.       EQ. Dimension Enhancement Properties (2013 Only)

You can customize how dimension segment values display in an equality dimension.

           On the Properties of the EQ’d dimension you can now select:

 

• Value - displays the dimension value for the segment.

• Equality text - displays the Equality Text Label specified in the type properties. The default value is EQ.
• Equality Formula - displays the Equality Formula specified in the type properties.

 

14.       EQ. Dimension Enhancement Dimension Edit Type (2013 Only)

When editing the type of a Dimension you now have the option to control the Equity function.

You now have the option to control:

 

·         The Equity Text. You can type what you would like displayed here.

 

·         Create a formula to show the value of the segments based on Dimension Parameters.

 

·         Edit the display of the Witness lines.

 

Example:

 

15.       Object Transparency (2013 Only)

Sometimes to clearly show objects in your model you need to be able to make some things transparent. This works well if your showing a office layout or Stairs in a 3D view, you can make the walls and doors transparent to clearly show the design behind these objects.

Under the “Override Graphics in View” you now have available a Transparency option where you can set the transparency of an object (or group of objects).

 

 

Revit Tips and Tricks - Part 2 of 3

This is the second in a series of Tips and Tricks for Revit Architecture 2012 - 2013

6.       Placing the Sun Relative to View

If you want your shadows in your 3D view to remain constant and not move every time you orbit your model uncheck the Relative to View check box under the Sun Settings dialog box.

 

 

7.       Orient to View, View Cube  

Under the options of your View Cube in a 3D view (Right click on the view cube or select the small triangular drop down on the bottom right corner of the View Cube).

 

Here you can orient your 3D view to as per your Floor plan, Elevation, Section and other 3D views. This is handy if you like to work in a 3D view, you can orient to a section view or a floor plan view to work in your model. It will automatically create a section box for you… you can then save the view by renaming it.

 

8.       Replicate View

To open a second window for the current view, click View tab Windows panel (Replicate). This tool is useful if you want to pan and zoom on certain areas of the design, while also viewing the entire design in another window. (Use the Tile tool to see both views at the same time.) Any changes that you make to the project in the new window also display in other windows of the project. You can zoom in on one view and orbit around, the other view will orbit to match but not zoom in to match your other view.

This tool does not create an additional view.

 

9.       Shortcut to Editing Families (2013 Only)

In RAC 2013 if you double click on a family it will automatically open up the family in the Family Editor.

 

10.       Zoom Fit (Extense)

If you double click your wheel mouse in a view it will activate the Zoom Fit command.

Revit Tips and Tricks - Part 1 of 3

This is the first of a series of Tips and Tricks for Revit Architecture 2012 - 2013
 

1.       Project Browser Search (2013 Only)

If you Right Click on a Project Browser view you now have the option to type in a key word which will then be highlighted in the project browser hierarchy.

 

 

2.       Project Browser Right Click Shortcut

If you right click on Legends, Schedules and Sheets you have the option to Create “New”.

 

3.       Saving Families in a Project

You can save all of your families in a project into a specific folder by going to the Save As function under the Application icon and selecting Library – Family. This will then ask you where you want the families saved and save a copy of all the families in your project into the specific folder.

Here you can also save Views into another Revit project, this does not save the model into another project, just selected views as 2D views.

4.       Plan Region

Use the Plan Region Tool to show windows that are higher than your view’s cut plane.

 

 

You can edit the View Range of a Plan Region independently from the View you are working in.

5.       Ambient Shadows

This style creates shadows with subtle gradients which gives your model more realistic shading and depth.

 

 

Ambient Shadows

Here is a great tip on improving your presentations by using Shadows, in particular Ambient Shadows.

To turn on Ambient Shadows go to your Graphic Display Options dialog box (down where you select Hidden line, Shaded etc…)

Check the Show Ambient Shadows check box.

Here are is a before and after shot showing the difference that Ambient Shadows will make to your view with shadows.

Notice how Ambient Shadows makes your view “softer” and more appealing to the eye.

Without Ambient Shadows

With Ambient Shadows