• Revit

Sketch modes in Revit

Several elements in Revit are sketched, but not all require sketch mode. Learn what the difference is and when sketch mode is needed.


00:00

To create certain elements in Revit, you draw them by sketching.

00:07

Some elements, such as floors and ceilings, are sketch-based.

00:12

When you create them, Revit goes into sketch mode.

00:16

Other elements, such as walls, are line-based.

00:20

When you create them, Revit does not go into sketch mode.

00:24

For example, on the Architecture ribbon in the Build panel, click Wall.

00:30

The ribbon changes to the Modify Place Wall contextual ribbon.

00:35

In the Draw panel, you see a gallery showing the various tools you can use to place the wall,

00:42

and the line tool is selected by default.

00:46

But since walls are line-based, the program only prompts you to select the points needed to sketch the path of the wall.

00:55

So, in this case, you can click to specify the start point and end point of the wall.

01:02

Options related to the tool selected in the gallery appear on the options bar.

01:09

After creating one wall, click Modify to end the command.

01:15

Compare this to what happens when you start the Floor tool.

01:21

On the Architecture ribbon, in the Build panel, click Floor.

01:27

When creating sketch-based elements such as floors and roofs, or forms such as extrusions and blends, Revit goes into Sketch mode.

01:38

Since you are creating a floor, the ribbon changes to the Modify Create Floor Boundary contextual ribbon.

01:46

In the Draw panel, the boundary line option is selected because to create a floor you must sketch the perimeter boundary of the floor.

01:57

Note that in addition to the draw panel,

01:60

the ribbon includes a mode panel,

02:03

and you must exit out of sketch mode by clicking either Finish Edit Mode, the green check mark,

02:10

or Cancel Edit Mode, the red X.

02:13

You cannot simply click Modify or press Escape to end the command.

02:18

When in sketch mode, the gallery in the Draw panel contains all of the available drawing options.

02:26

Select the Line tool.

02:29

On the options bar, make sure Chain is selected,

02:34

then start sketching lines to represent the boundary of the floor.

02:39

After creating three lines on the contextual ribbon, click Finish Edit Mode.

02:46

Since the lines you sketched do not form a closed loop,

02:51

Revit displays an error informing you that the lines must form a closed loop.

02:57

Click Continue.

02:60

Then, with the Boundary Line and Line tool still selected,

03:05

create one more boundary line to form a rectangle.

03:09

Then click Finish Edit Mode.

03:12

This time, since the sketch does form a closed loop,

03:17

Revit creates a floor and the command ends.

03:21

Since the floor is currently selected, in the Properties palette, in the type selector,

03:28

you can see the type of floor, and you can change its type if necessary.

03:33

Click Modify or simply click in a blank spot in the view to deselect the floor.

03:40

As you have seen, when creating sketch-based elements such as floors,

03:46

Revit goes into sketch mode,

03:48

and you must create a closed sketch to define the perimeter of the element.

03:53

But when creating line-based elements such as walls,

03:57

you simply indicate the path for the elements.

Video transcript

00:00

To create certain elements in Revit, you draw them by sketching.

00:07

Some elements, such as floors and ceilings, are sketch-based.

00:12

When you create them, Revit goes into sketch mode.

00:16

Other elements, such as walls, are line-based.

00:20

When you create them, Revit does not go into sketch mode.

00:24

For example, on the Architecture ribbon in the Build panel, click Wall.

00:30

The ribbon changes to the Modify Place Wall contextual ribbon.

00:35

In the Draw panel, you see a gallery showing the various tools you can use to place the wall,

00:42

and the line tool is selected by default.

00:46

But since walls are line-based, the program only prompts you to select the points needed to sketch the path of the wall.

00:55

So, in this case, you can click to specify the start point and end point of the wall.

01:02

Options related to the tool selected in the gallery appear on the options bar.

01:09

After creating one wall, click Modify to end the command.

01:15

Compare this to what happens when you start the Floor tool.

01:21

On the Architecture ribbon, in the Build panel, click Floor.

01:27

When creating sketch-based elements such as floors and roofs, or forms such as extrusions and blends, Revit goes into Sketch mode.

01:38

Since you are creating a floor, the ribbon changes to the Modify Create Floor Boundary contextual ribbon.

01:46

In the Draw panel, the boundary line option is selected because to create a floor you must sketch the perimeter boundary of the floor.

01:57

Note that in addition to the draw panel,

01:60

the ribbon includes a mode panel,

02:03

and you must exit out of sketch mode by clicking either Finish Edit Mode, the green check mark,

02:10

or Cancel Edit Mode, the red X.

02:13

You cannot simply click Modify or press Escape to end the command.

02:18

When in sketch mode, the gallery in the Draw panel contains all of the available drawing options.

02:26

Select the Line tool.

02:29

On the options bar, make sure Chain is selected,

02:34

then start sketching lines to represent the boundary of the floor.

02:39

After creating three lines on the contextual ribbon, click Finish Edit Mode.

02:46

Since the lines you sketched do not form a closed loop,

02:51

Revit displays an error informing you that the lines must form a closed loop.

02:57

Click Continue.

02:60

Then, with the Boundary Line and Line tool still selected,

03:05

create one more boundary line to form a rectangle.

03:09

Then click Finish Edit Mode.

03:12

This time, since the sketch does form a closed loop,

03:17

Revit creates a floor and the command ends.

03:21

Since the floor is currently selected, in the Properties palette, in the type selector,

03:28

you can see the type of floor, and you can change its type if necessary.

03:33

Click Modify or simply click in a blank spot in the view to deselect the floor.

03:40

As you have seen, when creating sketch-based elements such as floors,

03:46

Revit goes into sketch mode,

03:48

and you must create a closed sketch to define the perimeter of the element.

03:53

But when creating line-based elements such as walls,

03:57

you simply indicate the path for the elements.

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