Divider tools for an Array anytime

While editing a Group, you can't create an Array.  There are two workarounds:

1. Make the array 'outside the group' and then Add it to the Group.  This requires you to Finish Group, make Array, Edit Group, Add... etc
2. You could use a line based Component as an array 'guide' to provide you with the intervals you need, and then Copy Multiple.  If you are in a Detail Group, use a Detail Component, if you are in a Model Group, use a Generic Model.

Here are some links to download my array guide components
These components have two instance properties - one to control the size of the 'tick', and one to control how many elements / divisions are in the array.

Download example Detail Component here

Download example Generic Model here

Compressing PDF using free tools

Do you have some large format black and white PDF drawings that are taking up excessive space?  Perhaps they contain multi-layered vector information that is clogging them up.  You can easily make them smaller by recompressing into TIFF format with G4 compression.

Option 1 - PDF Tools and Irfanview

1. Convert PDF to multipage TIFF using PDFill PDF Editor with FREE PDF Writer and FREE PDF Tools
2. Open TIFF and save as TIF with G4 compression in Irfanview (suggested dpi setting 200 dpi)

Option 2 - PDF-Xchange Viewer

1. Open PDF in PDF-Xchange Viewer
2. File - Export - Export to Image
3. Page Range - All
4. Use TIFF format, Options - Compression - CCITT Group 4 fax
5. DPI settings at 300 all round (for other settings also see image below)
6. Click Export...

If you want to make a TIFF into a PDF again, just open in Irfanview and Print to PDF file using CutePDF or similar.  The resulting PDF will generally be way smaller than the original PDF.

Free furniture families download

Andy Milburn has uploaded a nice little set of Furniture families:

...Click here to DOWNLOAD


FURNITURE COLLECTION

via
Shades of Grey: COME SHOP WITH ME:

Free PDF Viewing programs

I have been using Foxit Reader for a number of years. It allowed me to print PDFs with a custom scale of 50%. In Australia, we often print A1 size drawings to A3 paper for in-office review, so Foxit was a better alternative than Adobe Reader. It was also nice and fast.

However, after installing Foxit version 5, I was very disappointed. Custom scale printing seems to have disappeared! And there was silly looking themes as well! You can even turn on a Ribbon!

Looks like PDF-XChange Viewer has come to the rescue. As with other free PDF viewing programs it is crippled a little bit compared to the Pro version. However, it has some nice features:

• Custom scale printing


• Ability to save PDF as an image direct from the viewer (File - Export - Export to Image)


• Ability to stamp / markup PDF files and then save them (and that's without using Pro version)


• Measuring tools


• One-click access to open in Adobe Reader

Check it out at link below.  I recommend using one of the MSI installer options.
Tracker Software Products :: PDF-XChange Viewer, Free PDF Reader

Over 1300 Revit files for free download - Productspec

Looking for some good, free content?  Check out ProductSpec.  Its free, you don't even have to register to download!

Productspec | The National Building, Architecture, Design and Landscape Product Database

Heads-up via
RevitDE

Revit Technology Conference Archived Materials for Download free

In past years, the presentation materials for the Revit Technology Conference were made available for download by anyone - even if you didn't attend!

Check out the following links:

RTC 2008 :: Materials

RTC 2007 :: Materials

RTC 2006 :: Materials

If you want to quickly download all of the resources from each page, I recommend using Firefox with Downthemall.

RTC 2011 Reciprocal Resource free downloads

If you attended either RTC AUS or RTC USA this year, you can download content from BOTH conferences.  Awesome!

"We are pleased to offer the downloading of materials for both the Australasian and North American conference programs to attendees of either conference.

 

Materials can be downloaded from the respective websites - RTC 2011 Australasia and RTC 2011 North America using the following passwords..."

via email

Here are some direct links to the materials pages:
RTC AUS 2011

RTC USA 2011




If you attended, check your inbox for the passwords!!

Free Revit Details

Over at ARCxl, you can download a bunch of Revit details for free.  According to the website, these details were all created natively in Revit.

The Terms of Use describes the proper way that these details may be utilised, and you must agree to these terms when you register. 

Effective July 19, 2011, two very significant alterations were made to the ARCxl website. We have added CAD/dwg, and PDF file formats to our library. We have also removed restrictions on account location and email address types.

Quoted from
ARCxl for Revit: ARCxl adds CAD/dwg, PDF and Eases Restrictions

 
Upon downloading a detail, you must also agree with this popup:

By clicking CONTINUE, I confirm I have read and agree to the ARCxl Terms of Use in their entirety. I agree to hold all liability for the use, review, compliance with all applicable laws, codes, and ordinances. I agree to seek professional review by an architect or engineer, and that ARCxl details and components are provided as-is without warranty of any kind. I understand that this is a single-use license and not a transfer of title.

A Free and Open Revit Standard - could it work?

Follow the discussion at http://twitter.com/#!/search?q=%23OpenRevStds if you want to get involved in this project on the Ground Floor.

Or you can subscribe to http://search.twitter.com/search.atom?q=OpenRevStds

Download Revit Families

"new Download Section is now available on revitforum.org"

via
RevitForum Blog: Download Revit Families:

Fillet Tool for Revit 2012 - download

Ever wanted to fillet between 3D edges in Revit?  Some of the limitations of 3D modelling in Revit were discussed at RTCAUS, so I thought I would try a little 'tech demo' of sorts...

Revit 2012 gives us an opportunity to do some nice things with in-project voids.  Below, you see corners of a Wall, Floor, and Generic Model being filleted and chamfered (chamfer is the word we use in Australia for a 'diagonal' or triangular fillet).

Basically, I have created two line-based Generic Model families.  These are called:
Chamfer line based void and solid family D.rfa (the triangular form)

Fillet line based void and solid family D.rfa (the arc fillet form)


I then load these into a project.  When placing these families in 3D, if  you place them when two perpendicular planes are highlighted at the same time, you get some nice control.  If you do this, Revit places the item 'on' one plane, and 'aligned' to the other plane.

These families can do two things to the edge - cut a void, or add a fillet.  You use the 'Flip' Yes / No parameter to get it in the right spot, and the 'addition' Yes / No parameter to choose if you want the item to show the 'fillet' solid part.

Feel free to download the example and have a play with it.  Sure, there are some limitations to this method, but some of you may find it useful.

Do you have a more elegant solution to this?  Feel free to comment...

REVIT Command Prompt UPDATED for 2012

http://blog.bimkicks.com/file.axd?file=2011%2f5%2fRevCmdPrompt_2012.zip

REVIT Command Prompt UPDATED for 2012:

Thanks again Jose!

Free Revit Add-ins from CRUG - some very useful stuff

This release contains 21 free features including:

• Case Check
• Renumber
• Wall Filter
• Find Rooms
• FTP Login
• Convert


Here are some direct links to the setup files:

Revit 2012 - Windows 7 and Vista

Revit 2012 - Windows XP

Revit 2011 - Windows 7 and Vista

Revit 2011 - Windows XP

PDF description of the Tools

Here is a link to the main page for these tools:
Charlotte's Revit User Group

Free a-z tutorial playlist for Revit Architecture Beginners (UQARCHCAD)

Here is "an a-z playlist of the revit architecture beginner [highway] course" from the UQARCHCAD Youtube channel.

http://www.youtube.com/user/UQARCHCAD#grid/user/99E75667641E9B42 

Also see:

VIDEO TUTORIALS | Revit Tutorials Online

FREE REVIT DOWNLOADS | Revit Tutorials Online

Awesome Sketchup modelling, Black Hawk

Today I'm featuring the work of fellow Cape Town 3D artist silver_shadow. He works mainly in Sketchup - software that I've been reluctant to use to model in, although I often work on Sketchup files that I receive from architects, taking the files into 3ds max, pimping them and rendering them out with V-Ray. However, I didn't realise how powerful Sketchup was until I saw silver_shadow's images. I think the results speak for themselves.
From the sketchucation forums:

• Modelling time: 1 full month (if I add up the bits and pieces during the 2 months)
• File size: 32.9mb
• Rendering: tests took over a time of a week
• Render engines: Introduction page (fryrender – first renders I have done on this application)
• Assembly pages (sketchup v-ray)
• Final presentation images (Maxwell render – first renders I have done on this application)

Plus you can download his awesome 3D models for free, here: link
Thank You silver_shadow/Jacques!

Black Hawk down also happens to be one of my favourite movies - so I'm looking foward to trying to replicate some of the shots from the movie using silver_shadow's 3D Black Hawk model.

Free 3D kitchen model

There is a pretty nice kitchen model available for free at http://3ddb.blogspot.com/2009/10/3d-model-of-kitchen-set.html
It is in 3ds max, Lightwave, obj and 3ds file formats and the max version has V-Ray/VRay materials already applied.

Free 3D Wall Clock

Get a free 3D wall clock at www.cgdigest.com
Thank you Alex!

60 free 3D model websites

There is a great list of free 3d model sites over at hongkiat.com - check it out here

Framanip Pro V1.0 animation sequence viewer for free

FRAMANIP PRO is now is available for download here: http://www.ranchcomputing.com/V_framanip.php It's an animation and image viewer created for 3D animators. It displays individual frame sequences in real time, using your computers RAM.

It can do many things including:

• Display any BMP / TGA / TIF / PNG / JPG / JPEG2000 sequence at any Frames per second rate (FPS).
• Resave all the frames in different file format.
• Resize or crop all the frames of your animation and resave as a new sequence.
• Tell you which frames are missing from your animation sequence.

What like about it is that it's a portable .exe, which means you don't have to install the program, you can just dump it on your desktop or wherever and your are good to go. I also like that it loads the frames to RAM really quickly. And of course I like the fact that it's free:)

What I would like to see in the next version is suport for more file formats, such as .rpf/rla etc. and the ability to see just the alpha channel of rendered frames.

Free 3D alloy wheel and tire model

here you go (link) - a free 3D alloy wheel and tire model I made some time ago, using autodesk 3ds max 6. It uses some standard ray traced materials and the scanline renderer.