18: Chapter 18. Create Revit rendering, Revit clouding rendering

Sketchup model to Revit with updating material changes

• [STEP 1] Sketchup Model to DXF file
  • Open the Sketchup model in Sketchup, or your download furniture model from a 3D warehouse. In this process, you may need Sketchup Pro.
  • Create layers by material. If you have 3 materials, create 3 layers with unique names (e.g. 000_Chair_sk_seat_01, 000_Chair_sk_leg_01, 000_Chair_sk_base_01)
  • The entire model until there is nothing left to explode.
    
    Modeling credit: Vojislav N. downloaded from 3D warehouse

• • Select one material > Mouse right click and Select > All with the same material
    
    Modeling credit: Vojislav N. downloaded from 3D warehouse

• • Change layer in [Entity Info] Tray by selecting the desired layer that you previously made
    
    Modeling credit: Vojislav N. downloaded from 3D warehouse

• • Do the same procedure (material selection and layer change) for the other materials
  • Export > 3D model > Select DXF file > Click option > Select only Faces > Version 2007> OK > Export
    
    Modeling credit: Vojislav N. downloaded from 3D warehouse

• [STEP 2] DXF file Properties change
  • Open AutoCAD
  • Open the DXF file in AutoCAD. It will show in a 3D view
  • Select all lines by pressing [Ctrl+A]
  • Change Object color from [Home] tab > Color [By Layer]
  • Save the DXF file with Version 2007
    

• [STEP 3] Import DWF file (Furniture) to Revit
  • File > New > Family > Select Family Template file (Furniture)
  • Insert tab > Import CAD > Change files of type to DXF > Select the file > Click [Open] > Save the family file > Load into Project
    

• [STEP 4] Change materials for an imported file in the Revit project file
  • Manage tab > Object Style
  • Click Imported objects
  • Change material by clicking the material slot
    

Region renders

The Region render function saves time while rendering

• [STEP 1] Check Region on Render Setting
• [STEP 2] You will see RED square on the perspective view. You can adjust the box that you wish to render
  

Output Settings

The default setting is Screen, which shows the entire screen size. If you need a perspective view for presentations or print, your rendering size should be a different setting

• [STEP 1] Click Print on Render Settings
• [STEP 2] Change the resolution
  • 75 DPI – Screen presentation
  • 150 DPI – Regular print size
  • 300 DPI – Fine print size
  • 600 DPI – Not used
• [STEP 3] If you need to change image size, you can adjust the width and height on Crop Region Size

Render image

• [STEP 1] After your rendering process is done, you can save the image in the Revit project file for your future use. You can find the saved rendering under the project browser by clicking [Save to Project] on the [Rendering settings] window. You can include the rendered images on the sheets with a titleblock.
  

• [STEP 2] You can save the rendering with different formats by clicking [Export] under the image on [Render settings]. Typically, save JPG for photoshopping.

Render Background

• [STEP 1] You can add a background for your render [background]
  • The default setting can be Revit Sky, which can correspond with a specific date and time.
  • You are also able to add an image as a background.
  • You can set as a Transparent image. The file type must be PNG or TIFF file to save a transparent image for the background.

Change the render quality

• Draft – for a test render, but not recommended, because of lighting quality, reflection, bump, and refraction on finishesDraft-Render time 1min
  

• Med – is recommended for a test render. Not the best quality, but it is acceptable
• High – is recommended for a final render because of time and quality
• Best – Although it produces the best quality, it is not recommended due to rendering time. Best-Render time 2hrs
  

Cloud rendering

Autodesk provides users with Cloud rendering. Design firms have great hardware to quickly render but Autodesk also provides its servers for rendering. The render quality is a bit better and faster than Revit rendering. Cloud rendering is a paid service, however, for educational purposes, it is offered for free.

• [STEP 1] Once your render settings are what you want to produce, click [Render in Cloud] from [View] tab, under [Presentation] panel
• [STEP 2] If you are a first time user of Cloud Render, you must Sign-in to an Autodesk account (email, PW, text code required)
• [STEP 3] Double-check your view name, output type (Still image), Render Quality, Image Size, Exposure
• [STEP 4] Click email when complete
• [STEP 5] Click Render
  

Get rendering outputs

• [STEP 1] Check the render results
• [STEP 2] Once you received the notification email, you can check the results in Render Gallery
  

• [STEP 3] The Render Gallery website will open, click View Project
• [STEP 4] Click the rendered thumbnail image > Click [Post-Processing] to change expose level and color balance
  
  image credit: Autodesk cloud rendering

• [STEP 5] Click Download Icon > Click JPEG
• [STEP 6] If you need Transparent Background (for photoshop), click PNG
  
  image credit: Autodesk cloud rendering

Revit rendering vs. Cloud rendering

	Revit Rendering	Revit Cloud Rendering
Render time	Longer	Vary (shorter)
Hardware use	Your hardware	No hardware required
Control – Image size	Fully controllable	Few options
Control – Lighting	Manual	Automatic

SAVE the file before closing the application.

Save in a different location for the backup (e.g., a cloud folder)