Room Names and Numbers...Naturally

A fast, easy and effective method for displaying your Revit 2D plan views while exploring the project in Enscape!

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What was I saying earlier this week? It's not about 2D < 3D. It's about clear and effective communication. Sometimes 2D is significantly more informative than 3D. Here's another example where 3D alone may not communicate enough information.

The 3D model below does a great job of displaying the model. But it does a very poor job of communicating important annotations, room tags, dimensions and more. Here's the link to the sample file and assets on Dropbox.

When we need to see annotations, room tags, dimensions, etc. we have 2D plan views in Revit. Wouldn't it be great if we had the option of seeing the 3D in context with the 2D? Then read on! This process takes less than 10 minutes the first time and updates in less than a minute or two.

Let's begin by turning off the categories that may not be useful during first person exploration, such as grids, sections and elevations. We also need to turn off the Floor Category in order to hide the models patterns of the existing floor, which will be too distracting in 3D.

I've also added some important dimensions so when we're exploring these spaces in Enscape we're able to quickly understand and calculate the size of the areas.

Now let's export the 2D plan view. Export the Current Window at the largest resolution possible. 15,000 pixels in the widest dimension possible in the Revit Export Image dialog (yes, you can type a larger number - but the image will be 15k in one direction). Later in this tutorial we'll crop this exported image in a very specific way.

Next, we need to make a new floor in the project. This new floor will host the 2D image of the floor plan as a Material assignment via the Paint Tool (not as a Decal). Begin by selecting the existing floor.

While the floor is selected, press CRTL+C to copy (or use the Copy tool as highlighted below).

Now paste the floor using Paste>Aligned to Same Place. Ignore the warning about overlapping geometry.

While the floor is still selected, create a new Type. This floor only needs to be 1mm thick. Set the material to Default.

Select OK to close the Edit Assembly window and return to the project. While the floor is still selected, set the Height Offset from Level value to 1mm. Now the floor is 1mm above the Level.

Now open a 3D view. Right>Click to Select Previous to select the previously created floor. Then select Isolate Element to isolate the floor in 3D. Don't deselect the floor.

Now rotate the view to Top via the View Cube and select Edit Boundary to open the floor sketch. The overall dimensions of the floor is 54076mm high x 66473mm wide. These dimensions will be the overall size of the material assigned to the surface of the floor so it matches 1 to 1.

But first we need to know exactly where the floor sketch lines appear in relation to the walls of the building. This will help us determine where to crop the previously exported 2D plan view image.

While still in sketch mode, open the 2D View previously used to export the 2D image. Note the upper left and lower right corners where the sketch lines of the floor align with the 2D edges of the walls.

Now we know exactly where to crop the edges of the previously exported 2D View!

Go ahead and exit sketch mode of the floor and return to the 3D view displaying the isolated floor.

Open the previously exported 2D View. Zoom in to each corner and carefully set the bounds of the cropping window to correspond to the edges of the floor slab from the previous image.

Crop the view. Here's the result.

Now we're going to create a new Material in the project that corresponds to size of the floor. We'll call the new material Level 01 Enscape Floor.

From the Appearance Tab, assign the previously cropped image to the material and set the Scale to the same dimensions of the floor so that the material is the same size as the floor geometry.

Select the Graphics tab to create a new Model Pattern. This Model Pattern will allow us to align 2D View image exactly to the geometry of the floor edges.

Normally, I'd create a Basic, Crosshatch Model Pattern as the same size as the image. But there's a limit to the size of a Model Pattern in Revit (100'x100'). So we'll use 100' x 100'. The lower right corner of the image will match with the lower right corner of the model pattern.

Return to the 3D View of the isolated floor and set the view to Hidden Line Mode. Use the Paint Tool to apply the Level 01 Enscape Floor material to the surface of the floor. Switch between Realistic Mode and Hidden Line Mode to see where the Model Pattern intersects the lower right corner of the 2D View image.

Take note of the intersection of the upper left and lower right image where it intersects the model pattern. This is the intersection that needs to alight with upper left or lower right corners.

Now use the Align Tool to align the model patterns with the either the upper left or lower right corner of the floor. Switch back to Realistic Mode to confirm the results in Revit.

Here's the results in Enscape. The 2D view image matches the edges of the floor. Where there's no floor - the image isn't visible. Almost done!

Now orient the view to the 01- Entry Level plan view. This will quickly build a Section Box around the project.

Here's the result in Revit.

Here's the result in Enscape.

As you navigate above the view, the annotations in the 2D image is clearly visible. You can read the room names, numbers, dimensions, door swings and more.

Turn off the Section Box in the view settings and navigate Level 01 of the project in first-person mode.

Set the time of day in Enscape to exactly 12noon. Notice how the sunlight aligns with the 2D view of the skylight from the 2D image!

What happens when the floor plan changes? Simply export a new 2D View image and overwrite the old image. Then open the image and crop as previously done. Easy!

What's left? Create a Design Option and assign the Enscape Floor and associated 2D View image to the 2nd Option (so it's not shown by default) . As you navigate the design in Enscape, switch between Design Options in Revit to quickly display or hide the Enscape Floors. The 2D View annotations will immediately update in Enscape!

Enjoy! :)

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Read|Thomas would love to help you succeed with Revit and Enscape! Simply email us for a brief demo for you and your team. Let the Enscape team know that you heard about Enscape from us and we'll provide you with complimentary Enscape training, implementation and support! www.readthomas.com.