Professional Massmodeling –
Rendering Video Tutorial
Instructor Handout
Created by: Marvi Basha, Klaus Hyden und Philipp Müller
Autodesk® Student Experts TU Graz
September 2010
Introduction:
In this Tutorial you will learn important methods for sketching
easy and complicated free forms with Autodesk Revit
Architecture. To be able to present effectively architectural
drafts, we will deal in this Tutorial also with the architecture
visualization.
„ Professional Massmodeling “ is the third Tutorial of a series
of three Tutorials for Autodesk Revit Architecture in 2011.
This Tutorial is based on "Getting started" and "Advanced
Detailing".
Information:
The files were optimized for demonstration purposes, we
recommend to use the matching file to every video.
We recommend to use the latest version of Autodesk Revit
Architecture for this training.
You can find more learning documents and useful
information on the Autodesk® Education Community.
The videos were optimized for Microsoft® Windows Media
player. We recommend watching the videos in full screen
mode.
The complete building is available.
(RAC_2011_ENU_Tutorial_1.rvt). To comprehend the steps
individually use the Revit Architecture files (step_xx.rvt) for
each video.
1
Step 01
Extrusion mass, work plane, void
Extrusion
‐ Create in‐place mass
Draw lines
Placement place: level 1
‐ Create form
‐ Extrude surface
Unlock the extruded mass
Edit mass
‐ Move surface, edge and point
Use temporary dimensions
‐ Scale surface
‐ Rotate surface
Work plane
‐ Select surface
‐ Show work plane
‐ Work plane viewer
Void
‐ Draw lines
‐ Create void
‐ Change the coordinate system
Object and project related coordinate system
edit void
2
Step 02
Conceptual mass, blend mass, edit mass profiles
Conceptual mass
‐ Create a conceptual mass
Copy levels
Level 2: height 20m
Level 3: height 100m
Change units: Meter & Centimeter
Blend
‐ Draw different profiles in 3 levels
Copy lines to clipboard
Change the work plane
Paste lines in other levels
Edit Lines
‐ Create form
Edit profiles
‐ X‐Ray
Move surface, edge and profile
‐ Add Profile
‐ Add Edge (create a polygonal model)
‐ Select and edit profile
Draw a new profile
Load mass into project
‐ Load into project
‐ Place on work plane
3
Step 03
Reference line, freeform surface, revolve mass
Reference line
‐ Draw reference line in level 1
‐ Set work plane
Select the vertical work plane of the reference line
‐ Draw and then copy a spline
Freeform surface
‐ Select all lines and create form
X‐Ray
Edit spline
Rotate surface in the right view
Host: not associated
Revolve
‐ Draw reference line
‐ Set vertical work plane
Draw a vertical line as axis
Draw profile
‐ Revolve
Edit mass
Copy mass
‐ Join geometry
4
Step 04
Swept blend mass, dissolve mass, spline through points
Create sweep
‐ Draw a path through lines, spline or arch
‐ Add reference point
‐ Select reference point and draw profile
‐ create sweep
Dissolve mass
‐ Edit profile
Change path
‐ Add profile
Rotate profile
‐ Dissolve mass
Change profiles
Create swept blend mass
Spline through points
‐ Create 3D spline
Create a 3D path around an existing building using the 3d snapping
Select reference point
Draw triangle
‐ Create void
5
Step 05
Divide surface, surface patterns, adaptive elements
Divide and cut surface
‐ Select the freeform surface and edit mass
Modify > Edit in place
‐ Select and divide surface
Modify > divide surface
Edit grid
U grid: distance 2m
V grid: distance 5m
Rotate grid lines with 10°
Deactivate v grid lines
Intersects
‐ Draw grid line
Draw lines
‐ Divide the surface using the drawn lines
Modify > Intersects
Make lines unvisible
‐ Change pattern
Element properties > type
Type: Rectangle Panel ‐ MPK
‐ Edit element
Element properties > border tile: empty
Add edge panel
‐ Curtain wall panel
Additional files > Rectangle panel ‐ MPK
Add the panel with drag and drop in the drawing area
6
Step 06
Curtain panel by pattern (part I), type parameter
Curtain panel by pattern
‐ Open Family > Curtain Panel
Metric Library > Curtain Panel by Pattern > M_Rectangle Surface
Add type parameter
‐ Draw reference line
‐ Place reference points
‐ Set dimension
‐ Add dimension parameter
Create curtain element by pattern
‐ Draw spline through points
‐ Create surface
Test the panel
‐ Load into project
‐ Divide mass surface
‐ Change pattern
Type: M_Rectangle Surface (solid)
‐ Edit type
Height: 0.5m
7
Step 07
Curtain panel by pattern (part II), instance parameter
Curtain panel by pattern
‐ Edit family
Select curtain element
Edit family
Add instance parameter
‐ Add material parameter
Select surface
Element properties > material > add parameter
Select family type material
‐ Add yes/no parameter
Select surface
Element properties > visible > add parameter
Instance parameter > yes/no parameter
‐ Model the second panel
Add visibility parameter
Save family
Test curtain wall element
‐ Load curtain element into the project
‐ Overwrite existing version and ist parameters
Select curtain panel
‐ Change material
Edit type > material: metal ‐ aluminium
‐ Change panel
Select curtain element
Element properties > graphics > select the window panel
8
Step 08
Mass floors, floor area and volume calculations,
place floor, wall, curtain system and roof by face
Copy levels
‐ Copy levels
Number: 30
Distance: 3.5m
‐ Create floor plans
Select all copied levels
Mass floors
‐ Create mass floors
Select mass
Select levels
Floor area calculation
‐ Open mass floors schedule
Floor, wall, curtain system and roof by face
Curtain system by face
Wall by face
Roof by face
Floor by face
‐ Update to face
Select related hosts
Update to face
Step 09
Walkthrough
Walkthrough
‐ Create walkthrough
Draw path
Set variable heights
Edit walkthrough
‐ Edit view properties
Walkthrough – open and activate view
Edit view range
Change the view direction
Change visual style: shaded with adges & ambient occlusion
‐ Edit path
Change height
‐ Change acceleration
9
Step 10
Render materials, exterior daylight render,
background image
Render material
‐ Material properties
Change render appearance
Change image: „Panel_MPK.png“
Scale: 1,5m
Add bump: Panel_MPK_bump.png
Scale 1,5m
Split face
‐ Split element face
Sketch split line
‐ Apply material
Concrete sand
Day rendering (exterior)
‐ Quality: Medium
Resolution: printer 150 DPI
Lighting scheme: exterior: sun only
Background: few clouds
Region
‐ Custom quality settings
Quality properties: custom
Image precision: 6
Soft shadow precision: 3
Background : City Park Graz.jpg
Properties: strech, offset height: 31mm
10
Step 11
Night render, render without textures,
adjust exposure
Save to Project as Image
‐ Save view to project as an image
‐ Select view in the project browser > right mouse button > save to
project as image
Set 2000 pixel
Ceiling
‐ Create ceiling
Open ceiling plan: level 1
Automatic ceiling
Sketch ceiling
Align the grid
Night Rendering
Quality: medium
Resolution: printer 150 DPI
Lighting scheme: exterior: artificial only
Render without textures
‐ Change phase filter
View properties > phase filter: without materials
‐ Render settings:
Quality: medium
Resolution: Printer 150 DPI
Lighting Scheme: Exterior: Sun only
‐ Change Sun setting
Change time: 01:00
Adjust exposure
‐ Adjust exposure
Exposure value: 3
White point: 8000
‐ Export image as.png 11
Step 12
Graphic display options, shadow settings,
interior daylight render
Graphic display options & shadow settings
‐ 3D‐Section
Adjust 3D‐Section
‐ Graphic display options
Sun intensity: 100
Indirect light: 85
Cast shadows: 12
Ambient Occlusion
Sun setting: Azimuth: 295°
Interior rendering
Quality: medium
Resolution: printer 150 DPI
Lighting scheme: Interior: Sun only
Adjust exposure
Exposure value: 12.5
Highlights: 0,3
Mid tones: 1,5
Decal
‐ Decal type: City Park Graz.jpg
‐ Place Decal
Place image in project
Change dimensions