REVIT PURE PRESENTS

PAMPHLETS

ISSUE #12 / SPRING 2019

LINE WEIGHTS

revitpure.com
© Copyright 2019 - BIM Pure productions
by: Nicolas Catellier, Architect
THE PAMPHLETS COLLECTION

REVIT PURE - © Copyright 2019 - BIM Pure productions

 PAMPHLETS
ISSUE #12 / SPRING 2019 / LINE WEIGHTS

WHAT IS THIS “PAMPHLET” ?

Revit Pure Pamphlets are published 4 times a year by email. Each edition
covers a very specific Revit theme. We like to pick themes that are
complex and confusing. Our job is to make these topics simple for you.

WHY LINE WEIGHTS?

Architects often criticize the ugly, boring and flat drawings produced by
Revit. They are sometimes right. The default line weights offered by the
out-of-the-box template are a little stiff. The problems is that the line
weights tool can also be a little complicated to learn and master. The goal
of this pamphlet is to teach you everything you need to know to adjust
all the line weights options in your projects, giving you to power to create
whatever thickness hierarchy you wish to use.

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17 TIPS TO UNDERSTAND LINE WEIGHTS

1- ADJUST LINES THICKNESS ON THE “LINE WEIGHTS”
MENU

Click on “Additional Settings” in the Manage tab. Select Line Weights.

This is where you will assign a thickness value to each number. In the
Model Line category, you can assign a different thickness for different
scales. We will explore this custom scale feature later. For now, use 1:100
(1’ = 1/8’’) as the basic scale and set the thickness values you want to use.

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2- THICKNESS VALUES ARE FOR PRINTED DOCUMENTS

When viewing a Revit model on a computer screen, the thickness of

elements is dynamic. That means elements will appear to be thicker
when you are zoomed in and thiner when you are zoomed out. That is the
opposite of a printed document, where the thickness never changes.

That is why changing the scale of a view from 1:100 to 1:200 will make
all elements appear much thicker on your screen, while in reality, the
elements are twice as small on a sheet of paper.

To reduce the confusion of this effect, consult views when placed on a

sheet. The title block will help to contextualize the scale and thickness of
elements. To properly test out your settings, you will need to print the
drawings using the correct scale. That means avoiding print screen or the
“Fit to page” print settings. Make sure to use Zoom 100% when printing.

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3- SET LINE WEIGHTS TO ELEMENTS IN OBJECT STYLE

Once you set all the line weight thickness values you want to use, go to the
Object Style menu located in the manage tab.

You will have to set both a Projection and a Cut thickness value. Projection
lines are seen from a distance. Cut lines are usually thicker and are used
when an element intersect the cut plane of the view.

Let’s start with the Wall category. As you see, there are subcategories
such as Cornice where you can assign a different thickness value. You can
also use this menu to specify a line color and pattern.

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In the image below, you can see a wall using the settings we’ve just applied
in the Object Style menu. The 1 and 3 thickness numbers refer to the
thickness values assigned in the Line Weights menu. In the test #3, we’ve
reduced the thickness value of line weight 3 in the 1:200 scale to 0.30mm
instead of 0.35mm.

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4- ADJUST LINE THICKNESS IN SPECIFIC VIEW BY USING

VISIBILITY GRAPHICS MENU

Using the combo of Object Style and Line Weights will affect all elements
in all views. If want to modify the thickness of a category of elements
in a specific view, you will have to use the Visibility Graphics menu. Use
shortcut VG. Scroll down to the walls category. Click on the Override
button for Cut Lines. This will make all walls thicker in the view where this
override is applied.

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5- ADJUST PERSPECTIVE LINE WEIGHTS

Since perspective views don’t use a scale, customize the thickness in

the Line Weights menu. Make sure to place perspectives on sheets to
properly gage the thickness. For full control of line thickness hierarchy in
perspectives , consider using tool such as Silhouettes and Linework.

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6- ADJUST ANNOTATION LINE WEIGHTS

To adjust the thickness of annotation elements like sections marks,

dimensions, generic annotations and tags, you will have to use the
Annotation Line Weights menu. As you see below, modifying these values
doesn’t affect model elements or detail lines.

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7- ADJUST ANNOTATION ELEMENTS THICKNESS

VALUES IN OBJECT STYLES

Last page, you learned how to adjust the line weight of all annotation
elements. You must also set a numerical value to each annotation element
category in the Object Styles menu. Click on the Annotation Objects
category. In the example below, we adjust the line weight of the generic
annotation category, which affects our note bubble family.

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8- CREATE SUBCATEGORIES IN A FAMILY FOR CUSTOM

LINE WEIGHTS

What if the effect of the Object Style menu is too broad for you? Below,
we modify a note bubble generic annotation family. We create a custom
“Bubble Thick Lines” in the object styles of the family and assign it to the
masking region of the note bubble.

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We also add a small tail to the bubble that uses the “Bubble Thin Line”
subcategory. Then, we save and insert the family into the project.

Go back to the Object Style menu of the project. As you can see in
the image below, the new custom “bubble” subcategories are added
to the project. This way, you can adjust the line weight of the bubble
generic annotation without affecting the line weight of the other generic
annotation families.

Another quick tip: the leader line weight is controlled by the Generic
Annotation category. Sadly, this cannot be reassigned.

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9- MODIFY SYSTEM FAMILIES TYPE PROPERTIES TO

ADJUST THICKNESS

You’ve just learned how to modify a loadable family and use the object
style menu to properly control line weight. However, Revit also contains
System Families which cannot be edited in the family editor. Such families
include levels, grids, dimensions and many others. In the example below,
we modify the type properties of a dimension. Both the Line Weight and
the Tick Mark can be assigned to a specific line weight numerical value.

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10- MATERIALS PATTERNS ARE ALWAYS LINE WEIGHT “1”

When setting the pattern in a material properties, you don’t have the
option to pick a line weight. That’s because all the weights are set to 1 and
cannot be changed.

There is an exception to this rule: a line weight can be assigned to a pattern

when used in a Fill Region.

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11- CEILING PATTERN LINES ARE ALWAYS WEIGHT “2”

The line weight of almost all elements can be customized. The ceiling
pattern lines are an exception. The weight of ceilings is always 2­. That’s
why ceiling patterns tends to be quite thick. There is no way to modify that
thickness except by using the Line Weights menu.

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12- ADJUST CAD IMPORT LINE WEIGHT

Most CAD files use a color system to assign a thickness. In the image
below, you can see the typical color hierarchy. The problem is that by
default, Revit will ignore the AutoCAD color system and set everything to
the basic line weight 1.

To fix the issue, go to the Insert

tab and click on the small arrow
below “Manage Images”.

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Below, you can see that the Line Weight in the default settings are all
set to 1. Adjust the values to fit the DWG color number. When you re-
import the DWG file, the lines thickness will match the Revit Line Weight
settings.

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13- ADJUST CAD LINE WEIGHT IN OBJECT STYLE

In some cases, you will work with a CAD file where a thickness is directly
assigned to a layer instead of using the color code. When Revit import
such a file, it will match the thickness of the CAD line to the closest value
inside your Revit Line Weight setting. For example, a CAD line with a
0.30mm thickness will be assigned to Line Weight 3, which is 0.35mm.

It is always possible to customize the line weight of all imported CAD

layers. Go to the Object Styles menu, then to the Imported Objects tab.
As you see below, you can reconfigure the weight, color and pattern of all
CAD layers. This will affect all instances of the CAD file in the model.

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14- MAKE THE THICKNESS THE SAME FOR ALL SCALES

Now that we’ve covered how line weight is used in Revit, time for some
strategic advice. In tip 1, we covered how it is possible to use different
weight for different scales. While it can be helpful in specific cases, you
should use the same scale everywhere to simplify your template. This way,
you know that the numerical value always refer to the same thickness. We
also slightly beef up the thickness to get better lines hierarchy.

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15- CREATE LINE NAMES THAT MATCH THE LINE

WEIGHT NUMERICAL VALUE

By default, Revit has lines called Thin Lines, Medium Lines and Thick Lines.
That’s vague. Instead, create line names that are using the numerical value
set in the Line Weights menu (see image below).

To create a line, go to Line Styles menu. It is located under Additional

Settings in the manage tab. You can also add the real thickness value to
the line name, but only if you are using the same thickness for all scales like
recommended in the previous tip.

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16- CREATE A LEGEND VIEW WITH ALL LINES

To make sure all users understand the lines contained in your template
and the line weight used by elements, you should create a legend view
that contain all lines. Indicate both the numerical value and the actual
thickness.

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17- ADVANCED STRATEGY: KEEP LINEWEIGHT 1 AND 2

EXCLUSIVELY FOR PATTERNS

Ok. Now we are getting deep. If you are an beginner/intermediate user,

you might want to skip this tip.

There is a debate raging about how lineweights should be used. We learned

in tip 10 that lineweight 1 is always used for patterns and that lineweight 2
is always used for ceiling pattern. Many BIM managers recommend using
lineweight 1 and 2 exclusively for patterns and ceilings. That means 3 would
be the lowest value for all other elements.

Implementing this strategy can be long and complicated. You will have to
modify all your families and family templates so they never use lineweight
1 and 2. In the image below, you have an overview of how to properly use
this system.

For most people, I would advise to not use this system. If you are
experienced and want more control over your line weights, go for it.

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THANKS FOR READING !

As always, send your thoughts at nick@revitpure.com. I read and answer
all emails. Let me know if you loved or hated this pamphlet.

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