Monochromatic Models in ArchiCAD
ArchiCAD offers us a lot of power to explore atypical methods of communication. Some of these techniques are due to good BIM practices and others are just using BIM tools for Not So BIM purposes. But then again once you start looking at the bigger picture of what BIM is doing to our profession, you can see that taking the 3D Model and toggling on and off different aspects and qualities of the data is very much BIM.
Typically I like to describe a technique I use, a feature I think is important, or my own explorations of a new aspect of ArchiCAD. This video on monochromatic models in ArchiCAD is sort of all that and also something else. In the video I describe how to use the Renovation Filters in ways that don’t support renovations. In fact it kind of assumes you’re not using the Renovation Status for its intended purpose. This video will teach you something about the proper way to use Renovation Filters, but this is really about creative problem solving in ArchiCAD. I also talk about the awesomeness of Building Materials-because Building Materials offer a really cool way to tweak the visual qualities of your models in interesting ways as well.
I don’t know how many of you will use the exact processes I outline in this video, but my hope is that it’ll spur you to think of other ways that you can add a lot of value to what you’re doing in ArchiCAD. In the end, I want to get you thinking-to connect the tools within ArchiCAD with the bigger picture of what you need to do on a daily basis as a designer or architect. So enjoy some rule breaking with this video on creative model display.
One Addendum
For more on using an .aat file to replace your Attributes via the Attribute Manager, read this blog post I wrote on BIM Engine. At the end of that article is a download link for a sample .aat file that will turn all your Surfaces white (the .aat file is from ArchiCAD 16, FYI).
One Bonus
If you change windows and doors to a different Renovation Status from the rest of the model and override that group with a transparent Surface (as well as overriding the status of the rest of the model with a solid Surface) then you can get a model like this:
Cool, huh? Even if you are using the Renovation Filters for their intended purpose, you could do a Save As, change everything in the model to the same Renovation Status, then change all the elements you want to stand out to a different Renovation Status.
One Reminder
It’s important to remember that with these methods you’re not creating a static image but a fully dynamic model. That means you could use these monochromatic models to create fly-throughs, BIMx models, live 3D sections cuts, and everything else you’d do with a regular fully colored ArchiCAD Model.
One Disclaimer
I think one of the great benefits of BIM is that visualization is integral to design and documentation. We can have pretty without the need to orphan the data. So a rendering from the model-either done within the authoring tool or via a connected 3rd party rendering application-means you can get continuous images throughout the life of the project. This is different than spending a week on a Photoshopped image and having to spend another week to do a similar image when the design is updated. We should be able to output renderings and interesting images just like we do black and white sections and elevations: whenever we want with little additional effort. The techniques I describe in this video assume you’re either not using all the features of ArchiCAD (ei, the Renovation Filters are available for misuse) or that you are doing a Save As to tweak the model. I think that’s okay. This technique is so fast and intentionally crude that it should take no time to set up. And thus while it might be a diversion from the critical path of the model, its detour time is so minimal as to be zero. In fact it’s a good reminder that even while we strive to keep everything in the same model, it is okay to do a Save As for exploration and the benefit of creativity. Hard drive space is essentially free. Save a thousand copies of your file if that helps improve the design. There’s no reason not to.
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Jason Smith
Hi Jared
Renovation Filters are great. There is a lot of possibilities to use them for all types of things.
When you start a new project to you change reno status of all elements to new?
I have been doing this as part of my workflow. If you use the reno toolbar you can set it to default so elements will default to ‘new’ or you can select multiple elements and click the ‘new’ button. The part of your video where you changed the ground to existing (I think) would be what I do and the building would be new.
Another option I have used for a commercial job to show a furniture layout (where furniture is not in the contract) the furniture items are on a furniture layer but I have made selected them to be on the demo filter so they would show as a dashed line in plan. I don’t think of the Reno filters as only for renovations. I think Graphisoft needs to expand the filter types so there you can have design options or construction phasing (you can kind of do this now, ‘existing’ -stage 1, ‘demo’ -stage 2 etc). Revit’s filtering is miles ahead of AC. Graphisoft please catch up. You can add to the filter types, I tried to see if I could do a design option and you can it will only show up when that filter option is turned on (all elements need to be set to only show for that filter option only).
The first few times I used the filters things were disappearing changing colour etc. You have to be careful how you use them. Once you have nailed them the workflow makes sense and the box of ideas can be opened.
Getting back to you video, if the project is a reno then you can have the 3D model with existing in one colour and the new additions in another. We would usually have the existing in a grey with the new in full colour (colour scheme would be whites and greys so the client doesn’t get scared off) Make surfaces for each type of paint colour of material type so you can change them to the right colour latter. Eric Bobrow has a video on that. Also the colour code can be added to the paint colour so you can schedule it (as Nathan Hildebrant is doing) and link to you specification clauses.
Jared Banks
Jason, yes to all that! I do set my projects all to New now. That house was done before I was paying attention to Renovation Filters so it’s all messes up in that regard. Or not messed up, but just ignorant. You’re spot on that my hope for this video was to see how we can use Renovation Filters for other things. I like the idea of using it for showing furniture dashed. And I would LOVE LOVE LOVE Graphisoft to expand Renovation Filters. Just give us more than 3. Or as Link suggests Override options for each saved filter. It’s a shame this isn’t all implemented. The code is all there, right? So curious what’s holding them back. Sure it adds complexity to the use of ArchiCAD, but in a good way.
I haven’t seen Eric’s video, I’ll have to check that out. And also yes, I think using overrides to show existing as all gray is a great idea. And something i intend to do the next renovation project I get.
Link
In this case it’s a shame the override surfaces aren’t stored with each filter. Then you could save color schemes! 🙂
Jared Banks
+1!
Evangelo Kalmantis
Hi Jared,
I never thought of using the renovation filter in such a way but I’ve been looking for a way to quickly view my models as a single color massing. I use a couple of 3rd party renderers that have a single switch to make all surfaces white.
So here’s what I tried and it seems to work well. 1. Go to Renovation Filter Options, duplicate 05 Planned Status and rename it 06 Massing Model (or whatever you prefer). 2. Set Existing Elements and New Elements to Override. 3. Click on Renovation Override Styles and set your surface color and any other attributes that you like for Existing and New Elements. Now go back to your 3D view and switch the renovation filter to 06 Massing Model and presto. The other filters remain as they were.
Jared Banks
That’s a great technique. I’m going to add that to my template! It’ll still require temporarily changing the overrides, but hopefully it’ll be clear and easy for someone to do that.
MC
Nice one bro, some advanced Archiness. I looked at this in the last version and as you say swapping out an .aat file is a pretty swift way to go. After doing that though I thought this should really be a model view option.
Yes it increases complexity, it’s another ‘layer’ to deal with but I think this is an important one. If we could create material options as easily as layer combinations, that would be a huge improvement.
I think this global approach is possibly easier to comprehend for most rather than coordinating overrides.
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