HOW TO USE THE REVIT SOFTWARE AS YOUR SKETCH PAD

'THE ARCHITECT' RUNS A TUTORIAL ON REVIT. YOU WON'T WANT TO MISS READING IT!

Hello folks. I am very pleased to bring you the maiden edition of what will be a regular submission. While this section will be mostly directed to the Architects who constantly visit my site, I still believe non-architects can benefit as well. My goal is to freely share from my vast knowledge of the softwares I use of which in some cases are products of up to six years of experience. I will be constantly posting short tutorials on various aspects of the use of the Revit and Photoshop softwares (contact me for problems from any other software). I will also be willing to listen to problems and challenges from them when posted on the comments thread. However, in some cases, I might have to make the answers a full tutorial thus replying through another post. Hoping you will enjoy this current post and do tell me your mind, through a post.

HOW TO USE THE REVIT SOFTWARE AS YOUR SKETCH PAD

From my six years (almost seven) of Revit experience, I have come to realize that a lot of Revit users have a knack for limiting the abilities of the Revit software. They usually perceive it as a 'limited' software that does not/wouldn't let them do the things they naturally like doing with other softwares when drafting and completing design projects. Well, that isn't true in anyway. Revit is actually one of the fewest softwares out there that gives you what I see as absolute freedom and control. There is barely nothing in architectural drafting, visualization and documentation you cannot achieve with Revit. This might mean adopting a seeming lengthy procedure in some cases but the opposite in most. So today, I wish to explain to you that you can decide to begin your design projects from scratch on Revit. In other words, you can image, conceptualize and even go further to sketch before design proper, all in Revit Architecture. Now, do take the patience to go through the class. Moreover, you won't find these things on any textbook as I conceived it via my experiences with the software.

NOTE: I have used Revit 11 here simply because of how popular it is. Revit 9 and Revit 11 are the most popular Revit softwares in use among architects. If you do not use any of these versions, it is still not a problem as all you need to do is to locate the position of the tools I have used here on your own interface. The functions are still exactly the same.

You will also notice that some of the components I will use in this class may not look like the one on your own software screen. Reason is that I have customized a lot of the things on my interface but they will in no way affect the result of what we wish to do.

QUICK POINT: When I say sketch, I do not mean drawing rough (comical) lines as though you are recreating the Batman Comic series, No. When I say sketch, I mean drafting your design layout (preliminary plans) in lines and later on converting those lines into full designs with solid walls. This should be the first stage to your design process just after you have made up your mind on what your scheme will look like (including all analysis). We all know how tasking it can be at times to divide and allocate spaces to functions without having to contradict either function or your intending form. Now, with the method I am about showing you, it is going to be very easy to do that given that the 'illusional'/psychological weight of having solid heavy walls during the conceptual stage will be eliminated. You will just have your lines to deal with.

STEP 1.

CREATING THE SKETCH LEVEL

I am going to assume you know how to create a level on Revit. If you don't, then locate the LEVEL TOOL (see image 1) on the home menu tab and then find a very suitable level above the software's 

Image 1

default Level 1, click once to your left, and after moving your pointer to your right, click once again (see image 2). Rename this level as 'Sketch' (by double-click on the current name and entering a

Image 2

new name). I advice that this 'sketch level' should be made to sit far far above your building zone (the eventual total height of the building/structure).

STEP 2.

MAKING THE SKETCH

Open up the view called Level Sketch. It is located on your project browser bar on your left (see image 3). Simply double-click on it to open. Now you will be taken to a new plan view called Level Sketch (exactly as it is in image 3ii). The four points you see, are your view indicators. They

Image 3

determine where the software will interpret as your south (approach view), east (right-end view), etc.  Now based on their orientation, we will be drafting our sketch within them.

Image 3ii

Mind, I am choosing to use a 'two-bed mini-flat' scheme here but any other design scheme could be used.

You can only sketch with the Revit Model Lines. Model lines are different from Drafting lines in the sense that they are parametric. In other words, you can see a model Line anywhere you are in a project space (all views and sheets) unlike drafting lines that are only visible on the view you have applied it. If you haven't tampered with your Model or Drafting Line graphics styles, then your Model Line should be green in colour while your Drafting line will be black (this applies to Revit 11 which we are using here).

To use the Model Line,

Ø  Go to home and select Model Line (see image 4)

Image 4

Ø  Then within the four 'view points' in your Sketch Level View, start sketching. You sketch by clicking a point to begin a line and clicking another point to end it (see image 5).

Image 5

Ø  Now sketch out the entire design layout plan. Usually, this will take some time as you are actually designing/planning. But instead of using walls, you are using lines. Remember to annotate (give names to) your spaces as you do so as not to get confused. (See image 6). You should include

Image 6

225mm (9inches) or 150mm (6inches) to the dimensions you give each of the spaces as a way of preparing for the thickness of the wall you intend to use. I have not paid good attention to scale on this one as this is just a tutorial.

STEP 3.

CONVERTING SKETCH TO WALLS

Ø  Once you have finished your sketch then it is time to convert the sketch lines into walls. You will do this by first instructing the contents (sketch) of the Sketch level to be visible on the level(s) you will intend to use it. For instance, if you intend to begin your walls on the default Level 1, then you will need to ask the software to make 'Sketch Level' visible on Level 1. How do you do that? Simple.

Ø  Go to that level where you want contents of the Sketch Level to show (by double clicking it on your project browser bar. see image 7). Once you are on that level/view click once on the name of that view on the project browser once more.

Image 7

Ø  On the Properties bar just above the project browser, scroll down and locate the 'underlay option'. (see image 8).

Image 8

Ø  Follow the 'underlay' frame to your right and then drop the menu there to change whatever you have there to 'Sketch' by picking that option (which is the sketch level you created). You will notice that a faint outline of the sketch you made on Sketch Level will become visible in your current view. (see image 9).

Image 9

Ø  Now let us convert to walls. Select the Wall Tool on the Home Menu. Once you do, the Modify menu will become active. Now select the 'pick lines' option under the 'draw section'. (See image 10).

Image 10

Ø  Having done that, drop down to the slim bar (options menu bar) just under the modify bay/ribbon then make sure you enter appropriate details for 'Height'. Use 'Wall Centerline' for the 'Location option' .

Ø  Then begin to click on each of the faint lines. You will notice that each line will be overridden with a wall. Do this for the entire sketch and your layout plan is ready for the rest of your work (see image 11).

Image 11

This is all you need to begin your design process. You can then go ahead to fix your doors and windows. I assume you learnt a thing or two from the tutorial. Now can I get your feedback? 

FROM MY ARCHIVES

I intend to begin a routine here. For each post I make, I will be attaching one of my designs from the archives. Although I will not be including sensitive ones (real jobs of my clients) as that could attract legal action but you can learn a thing or two from my use of these softwares through the ones I will make available. The designs will be ones I did with just Revit and Photoshop. No Studio Max, After Effect, Vector Works or Ray. Enjoy this current one I did back in 2012. Observe that I was just some weeks old with Photoshop. Regards!

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