Tutorial - Revit Placeholders in Twinmotion (Replace Object With It's Base Point)

Here is a really quick but super valuable tutorial if you are using Revit and Twinmotion (actually, it may be helpful for any FBX export from Revit).

Typically, when you export a model from Revit to FBX (using the Twinmotion plugin) the project base point is your insertion point.  Meaning, every mesh that comes in (even if separated but material or category) all share the same project base point in Twinmotion.

Well, that doesn't always have to be the case.  You can actually export objects and they maintain their own base points.  For example, a chair or desk in Revit can have it's "origin" from the family editor as it's placement point in Twinmotion... 

I know, so cool, right?!

Well, it get's even better... Knowing this, you can use Twinmotion's "Replace Object" functions to swap our families with Twinmotion library elements!

Continue reading to find out how...

Ductwork for Architects - An Introduction to Revit MEP Systems (with Sample Files!)

During this weeks live happy hour I demonstrated how to make ducts and piping in Revit.  As an architect, it took me a long time to realize how much I could gain from understanding how to properly model MEP systems in Revit.  If you've ever attempted to model a duct in Revit and got the "the routing solution failed"... This tutorial is for you!

Continuing reading to view the tutorial and download the sample file...

Residential Revit: Wood Slat Wall (Yoga Room)

Over the last ten years I have received many questions, requests, and general emails about Revit and residential architecture.  I finally decided to put together a little series of tutorials related to my own personal residential work (check it out at studio.bad architects).

My goal with the "Residential Revit" series is to highlight specific details  of real-world residential projects created in Revit and develop little tutorials about them.

The first project and detail I am going to highlight is a project I have featured here on the blog in the past, "The Rocky Mountain Modern House".

The detail I am going to focus on today is a wood slat wall that provides shading for the home's "Yoga Room".'

Continue reading for more information about this detail and the video tutorial...

The Best of BIM After Dark - Volume 1

As I mentioned earlier in the week, Volume 1 is closing this Friday and I thought it would be fun to look back at the most popular presentation content here on the blog. Five years of “presentation” content is a lot to look through but here are some of the most popular posts (some of which are directly extracted from Volume 1).

The “BAD Ultimate Gallery”

There is definitely a sense of nostalgia I feel when looking through the renderings and images within the “BAD Ultimate Galleries”. It also reminds me that I need to make a “Part 3” with examples newer than 2014. Either way, I think these galleries represent what can be created using the techniques, tips, and tricks from BIM After Dark - Volume 1:

Click here to view the BAD Ultimate Gallery - Part 1

Click here to view the BAD Ultimate Gallery - Part 2

Tutorial - Adding Depth to Your Elevations

Believe it or not, this tutorial is one of these most visited posts on the blog. It also has over 25,000 views on YouTube. Clearly, creating sexy elevations is a need/want for Revit users. Good news, this tutorial is still relevant today… Although, I will be exploring the “Depth Cueing” abilities of newer Revit versions for the re-make of Volume 1….

Rendering Tip - A Simple Material Change to Add Realism

This tutorial is also one of the highest ranking on the blog. Why? Probably because the default Revit glass material can be underwhelming in many situations. This tutorial shows a technique that will create a dynamic and more realistic glazing material.

Click here to view the tutorial and video….

Revit Material Management Tips and Tricks Post

This post is actually one of my favorites because I find myself referring to it from time to time (yes, I do forget the content in some of the posts I’ve created over the years). This post included tutorials about creating a materials library and bringing it from project to project.

Click here to view the ultimate Material Management post...

Course Closing Discount is Still Going On...

Don't forget this week I will be offering 20% off BIM After Dark - Volume 1 and 10% off any other BIM After Dark volume or bundle.

For 20% off BIM After Dark - Volume 1 use offer code “sexyclosing20”

Click here to purchase BIM After Dark Volume 1 before it closes!


For 10% off any BIM After Dark course use offer code “sexyclosing10”

Click here to view the Bundle discounts (remember, it will be 10% off this already reduced price).

Click here to view Volume 2 - BIM Can Make Paper...

Click here to view Volume 3 - We are family…


Remember, Volume 1 will be closing this Friday, June 22nd, 2018 at 8PM EST.

DIY Dynamo - Enroll Today

It took me a while to decide what kind of Dynamo class to create when I sat down early last year and began planning the course.  After much deliberation and our first successful session last October with 74 students I am glad I chose to start right at the beginning.

I published some posts recently that discussed some of the challenges I recall from a few years back when I began learning Dynamo.  The first had to do the challenge of where to begin.  The second was a "Q&A" session to analyze those first attempts at learning Dynamo... 

Finally, last week I posted a video tutorial (extracted directly from DIY Dynamo) to demonstrate how and where to begin and how easy it can be to get started!

Now, are you ready to start your Dynamo journey?  Enrollment is officially open for DIY Dynamo - A Beginners Course on Dynamo for Revit. 

Continue reading to learn more about the course, what's inside, and a special launch day discount...

Lumion 8 - Teaser Image ...

Click to enlarge.... Like, for real... Click it....

I downloaded Lumion 8 last week and am beyond impressed with the the new updates, features, and settings... 

In fact, I have been so impressed that I could not wait to finish my thorough review before sharing at least an image with you all! 

While I am in the process of completing my review post about Lumion 8 Pro I want you all to click the image above and see the comparison (or contrast!) between the two versions.  The images above are raw renderings of one of my projects (modeled in Revit).  

I hope you all can see why I am so excited about this release...

What do you think?!

Also, you can follow the trail of my previous two Lumion reviews here and here...

Revit Tip - Auto Section Box Using Scope Box

This is a simple tip that can help improve your efficiency, improve live model viewing, and assist when exporting part of your building(s) to other formats.  I discovered this a while back when I had to export a large project by level for viewing on iPads in the field.  All 15 floors had to be sliced and exported.

Keep reading and you will see why this technique helped me achieve my task....

3D Printing and Revit - Yes, It's Possible, and Here's How ...

When I was given the opportunity to purchase and use a LulzBot Taz 6 my first reaction was, "awesome".  Until I started doing research on 3D printing an actual Revit model, "not so awesome".  With a deadline for printing a project approaching my feeling of excitement turned to anxiety.

I found out that you just can't "press print" on your every-day Revit model and expect it to 3D print.

I also found out that there is very little information regarding the processes required to actually 3D print your working Autodesk Revit building models... So, I will save you the trouble of searching and do my best to break down the quickest and most effective method I've found to printing ANY of your Revit models.... Step 1 is the key...

From Revit to Lumion - The Ultimate Review (Revisited)

Example of a House and Site  Modeled in Revit and Rendered in Lumion

This is one of those posts that has been in my "draft" queue for quite some time now.  Finally, it is complete!  

There have been two new releases and lots of great updates to Lumion since my last post in 2015.  The review I posted in 2015 is still relevant in describing the great benefits of using Lumion (so be sure to check it out). But now, let's talk about what has happened to Lumion over the last 2 years...

Virtual Reality and Revit in the Real-World ( Success Story with HTC Vive & Enscape 3D )

I know every single person who reads this blog is familiar with the explosion of Virtual Reality (VR) over the last few years.  I know, because I have also been saturated with everything "VR". My first personal experience with VR was using Google Cardboard over two years ago...   As you can imagine, VR has come a long way since that post.

Initially, emerging technologies can battle with the concept of pragmatism.  The first thing you hear with something like AR, VR, Dynamo, etc.. is "cool, but how can I use it in the 'real-world'"?

Today, I wanted to talk about a recent real-world experience with VR.  More specifically, with Revit, the HTC Vive, and Enscape 3D.

... Continue reading to hear about the success story and my thoughts on the aforementioned technologies (including a breakdown of the hardware and software we used)...

Revit Tip - Modifying a "Built-In" Parameter (Type to Instance)

One of the things I love about teaching a BIM course at the University level is how much I learn from it...  Whether it be the fact that I am constantly challenged with questions or the fact that the students, with brand new perspectives on the program, point out nuances I've been too in the trenches to see...

Well, today's tip is a perfect example of a nuance that I never noticed...  During a recent class I was teaching my students how to make a fully parametric casement window from scratch.  We decided, as an example, we wanted the "Width" of the window to be an instance parameter... Well, if you start with the "Window" template, guess what...?  You can't make it an instance.. Or can you..?

Continue reading to find out more...

Dynamo Tutorial - Rotate Multiple Elements on Their Own Axis

A reader (sorry, I lost your email and name!) emailed in and asked about rotating a series of elements by something other than 90 degrees.  She referenced an OLD post I published (circa 2011) about selecting columns and rotating them all 90 degrees using the space bar.   This was an interesting little task to think about.  When you select more than one element and use the "rotate" command they rotate about one axis:

After attempting to place some reference planes and use the space bar method without success I decided to fire up Dynamo... Here is the simple script...

Revit Tutorial - Custom Shaker Cabinet Family

I recently wrote about the dangers of not creating your own custom Revit families.  More specifically, I used the example of modifying the out of the box Revit casework families.  In this post, I wrote about how representing your model incorrectly due to “lack of time” could kill a project's budget.  In this post, I wrote about how drafting in details over your families to make them look correct could add hundreds of hours of re-work when changes occur (and they always occur).

Now, to demonstrate just how simple it would have been for you to make a custom shaker door and modify the existing casework families I created a tutorial.  Continue reading to view the tutorial and to fully comprehend the power of custom family creation in Revit….

Revit Tutorial - Parametric Pendant Light (Start to Finish)

To close out the launch of BIM After Dark - Volume 3 a couple weeks ago I held a live webinar (happy hour).  The event was fantastic with well over 150 people attending (live)!  You guys rock!  I wanted to post a recording of the event here on the blog for those of you that missed it.  In the video below you will learn how to create a parametric pendant light fixture (that looks good rendered) in less than one hour!  Continue reading to view the tutorial...

2 Years Later - Top Ten BIM After Dark Videos...

As of this past Thursday (December 10th) the BIM After Dark series has been live for two years!  I know, it's hard to believe... As of today, BIM After Dark has 907 awesome customers and counting!  The feedback has been incredible and I am learning as much from you as I hope you are from me.  Both Volume 1 and Volume 2 have exceeded expectations and I am truly humbled.  Additionally, I will be publishing the release date for Volume 3 very soon... 

In honor of the two year anniversary, I went through the many posts relating to the BIM After Dark videos.  Some of them are direct segments extracted from the videos and others are simply related to either Volume 1 or 2.  I thought it would be fun to rank them based on page views and compile a list of the top ten...  keep reading to see the hottest topics over the past two years from Volume 1 and 2...

Revit Tutorial - Angled Arched Beams

I was asked by a colleague is Revit could make an ellipse beam on an angle.  Once he showed me the sketch of what it was supposed to do I told him, "heck yeah".  Why was I so confident it could be done?  Well, I've seen Marcello make beams follow way crazier forms than an ellipse on an angle!

Using what Marcello has coined "sacrificial elements" the beams were a piece of cake.  In fact, they even contain the analytic lines still!  Check out the video and download the sample file...

Free Revit Classes from Autodesk University 2013

About 200 Autodesk University classes are available On Demand (for free with a simple email registration).  I've taken the liberty of searched and filtering the Revit classes for you:

Click here to view the list of AU2013 Revit courses...

Some good stuff from likes of Marcello, Paul Aubin, Brian Mackey, and more...

Do yourself a favor and check them out!

Revit Tutorial - Corinthian Column Capitol (Paul Aubin)

I have mentioned Paul Aubin quite a bit on this blog over the years.  Most recently, I published a post about his latest book "Renaissance Revit" (click here to read my review).

In "Renaissance Revit" Paul makes creating a Corinthian column seem so simple!  The concepts and techniques are well thought out and easy to follow.  Well, while accepting a challenge, Paul took a chapter from his book (Chapter 13, to be exact) and created an information packed video.  Warning: the video is 20 minutes long but worth every second.

Click here to view the post and the video tutorial...

The Revit Kid Tutorial Archive: 2009-2010

I was recently checking out the analytics for this blog and saw a few links coming from a site I've never heard of before. I tracked back the link and found an interesting post on a Vietnamese blog.  I would link to the post but I have a feeling it is a spammy/infected site (given the author's profile has links to many "adult content" style blogs)...

The post must have taken a decent amount of time to create because it had links to almost EVERY single Revit tutorial I created (or linked to) in the first year of launching The Revit Kid.com... (2009-2010).  How cool!  I may have to make a similar list for the years between 2010 and now!

I thought it would be helpful and fun to re-post this list...

Revit Tutorial - Adding Depth to Your Elevations

A buddy of mine called me up asking about an old tutorial that he stumbled upon here on the site.  The tutorial, unfortunately, had some bad links in it.  I linked to a blogger who no longer blogs.  I wish I could remember exactly what the post was about but I thought it was a good topic to make a video on.

There are many different ways to create "depth" in your elevations and sections.  Unfortunately, none of them are done automatically (unless you are using shadows or ambient shadows).  One day, in my wildest dreams, Revit will automatically create outlines and view depth in elevations based on clipping distances...

Until then, here are some of my everyday tips for elevation and section view depths...