A Quick Tutorial on Pen Weights

For Autocad users the change to Revit’s pen management technique can be understood with a little information. First, under the File Pull Down, go to Settings (image below).

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Look down the pull down until you get to Line Weights, then select Line Weights (image below).

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This is a chart of the pen weights by drawing scale. This is a very nice feature that Revit has which allows you plot the drawing at various scales without worrying if the pen weights will be to heavy or light according to the scale you have selected. This was accomplished in Autocad by having multiple pen configurations for different plotters and remembering to select the correct one for the correct scale in Autocad.

Note that there are two tabs at the top of the Line Weight pop up. One is for Model Line Weights, the other for Annotation Line Weights. There is only the sixteen pen weight choices for the Annotation. (image below).

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Back to the Model Line Weights. You can experiment with your pen weights for each scale. The defaults are somewhat random, as I know of few people who would use a ½” wide line (as pen 16 is set on default). It matters not what pen is set to what width. The widths can be random – Ascending or Descending – whatever – you control the pen usage under Object Styles. I use the following pen weights on my 1/8” and ¼” drawings.
The pen weights shown on the previous page are the ones I use. Note that if you change these pen weights in your Template file these pen weights will go project to project. If you change them in your project – That’s where they stay (as they should) – but you also cannot transfer the pen weights using the File-> Transfer Project Standards command. So get happy with your pen weights and change your template file.

On to Object Styles and Pen weights…. Go to Settings, and to Object Styles (image below)

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Select Object Styles and you get this pop up.

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Note on this pop up you have three tabs across the top Model, Annotation and Imported Objects. Here you can set the number of the pen from the Line weight Chart to use (2nd image on first last page). So if you want Casework to be pen one in elevation, you would put a “1” under the Line weight – Projection box beside the listed Category of Casework. (As is shown above). The cut category applies to sections and plan views, WHEN an object is CUT – otherwise it is “ELEVATED”. So here when cut in section or plan, a casework object will be drawn with pen 3. Note on this pop up you can also set the line type – dashed, hidden, center etc and the color that this object is displayed on the screen (another way of mentally telling yourself what pen your drawing with – This is an Autocad user compromise (crutch) – Try not to use it, but you might have to set something up like that in a larger firm)….

Looking at the image above again, go to “Doors” – Note the “+” sign beside the text. This indicates that there are additional “ layers – actually types of objects” under this category.
When selected, this “+” changes to a “-“ (allowing to expand or contract this category). And additional layers or subcategory types are listed under this Category. This allows you to select pen weights for different aspects of a base object, along with the ability to turn these aspects either on or off in a view. Selecting “Doors”, the Category expands to expose the additional “Subcategories.” Look at the image below.

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Here you can set the plan view pen weights of the six subcategories, all set to Pen 1, however, if the door is cut (as in a plan view), the pen number (and then weight by drawing (view) scale ) vary by subcategory. Again, note the addition areas of Line Color, Line Pattern and Material that may be assigned here. These subcategories may be turned off or on in any view. They are selected as any other view category. So in sections, if you do not want the Elevation Swing on doors to show, simply go the the view properties of the section, under the door category, find the elevation swing and uncheck the visibility box. (Turn that layer off or on)

Note in the bottom left hand corner the box “Modify Subcategories”. Here as it says – you may Create New, Delete or Rename SUBcategories. So if we needed a layer for Door hardware say, we would activate the Door Category by selecting it (see the background turns blue (image below)

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Then select Create New from the Modify Subcategories, and the software prompts us for the name for the New subcategory (image below).

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Type in Door Hardware and Hit OK. Now Revit has added the Subcategory of Door hardware to the Door Category (image below).

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You can now set the Pen Number for the Projection, Cut or the Line color etc for the Subcategory you have just created. Along the bottom of the Pop Up, Select Apply and then OK. Close the Object Styles box now, and go to the View properties of the Project you are working on.

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Select the Visibility Box, and the Visibility/Graphic Overrides Box pops up (image below).

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Select the “+” beside the Doors Category to expand the Category. You should now see the new subcategory you created (image below).

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