Autodesk Revit Architecture

[#1]

In the United States, color copies are substantially more expensive, especially in large format.  The prime contractor will make black and white copies (not even greyscale) for their subs.  Ocassionally I have seen them print greyscale from PDF.  I have never seen a construction set of documents or specs printed in color in my 17 years.  

I agree with you though.  Color shows a great deal of information.  I have seen large scale elevations printed in color on the walls of the field offices.  And I have seen project schedules-timelines-critical paths in color.

The work around seems like a great idea.  Perhaps the color image is an additional submittal outside of the contstruction set?

[#2]

Paper prints, colour or otherwise, I would bet are even more expensive in the UK.  However, in the interests of progress most good contractors have now embraced the digital revolution and wherever I can we will email construction drawings to site where even small contractors have laptops/Pcs and colour printers.  The UK Planning System also works through an Internet Portal and whilst I have subsequently seen our drawings printed out in black and white it is gratifying that they are also getting the colour message and see such a submission as having more quality to it.  Conversely however I have had Planning officials phoning to say that they can't understand a drawing and when asked why we find that they have printed it out in B&W!  It is also worth saying that we have a note on our documents saying 'do not print unless absolutelly necessary', sadly however, our recipients are either not on, or unable to follow, our sustainable lead.

To conclude, with the advent of more and powerful mobile devices (many coming from the US), to my mind gives me more hope that the future will be paperless but very colouful.  Often wonder if Van Gogh would have bothered with paint and canvas if he had lived today?  Not easy to hang in a gallery though. 

[#3]

Oh!  You bet.  Building Information Modeling and Construction Management personnel with field tablets (iPad, etc) are becoming standard.  

[#4]

This is a great thread, in terms of an important wish list item for Revit...  Since there haven't been any new replies to it in almost a year, I assume no one has heard of ADesk planning on implementing/tacking this?  It seems that among the many wish list items out there, this one should be a pretty quick slam dunk, from a software coding standpoint.. 

While I think we're still many years from being truly and totally paperless in the construction industry, there is certainly enough momentum towards paperless technology to justify more consistent use of color in Con Docs.  The headscratcher is that so many aspects of Revit are well thought out in terms of color usage, but not schedules - which are where the best "information" graphical display is possible.  You know, B-I-M..?

[#5]

Times are changing. Color output on paper is becoming cost effective.

I recently saw a complete set of construction documents done by Adamson Associates of Toronto, printed by Astley Gilbert Reproductions. The results were spectacular.

Mike Jarosz AIA

Ricci Greene Associates

michael@riccigreene.com

[#6]

As the originator of the thread I am pleased that my thoughts are apreciated. A little kudos migh reinforce the message to Autodesk, don't you think? (Only kidding)

[#7]

Glad to see some are getting the message. I sometimes wonder if there is a gulf between the world of software developers and the end users, particularly in the CAD/BIM arena?