topic .dwg elements turn gray when exported to .ifc in Revit Architecture Forum

.dwg elements turn gray when exported to .ifc

Caetano_Porto99 — Thu, 01 Aug 2024 12:25:17 GMT

Hi,

I am struggling to export a model which have elements that are originally .dwg files.

For those elements I have created a family of generic model, imported the .dwg file into it.

If I export to .ifc all the elements (see truck) that were originally .dwg become gray while other elements which are originally on revit families (see benches) preserver their colors normally.

Is there a way to fix it or a better workflow to import .dwg elements when .ifc is one of the deliverables?

note* Model of the pictures is just a dumb to show the issue with not restricted information. The original project file has about 30 of those dwg elements with same issue.

Re: .dwg elements turn gray when exported to .ifc

jay_colc — Thu, 01 Aug 2024 14:14:08 GMT

Have you tried reviewing the settings in Navisworks in the Option Editor?

Material colors do not display correctly in IFC exported from Revit when viewed in Navisworks (autodesk.com)

Re: .dwg elements turn gray when exported to .ifc

barthbradley — Thu, 01 Aug 2024 15:36:54 GMT

Use Revit Elements.

There are Revit Families of Tractor Trailer Rigs available for free download on-line. Google them.

The one attached I just now downloaded from:

https://www.arcat.com/content-type/bim/material-processing-and-handling-equipment-41/trucks-416200.

You can apply whatever Materials you want the different components (e.g. Revit geometries) of the Tractor/Trailer.

Re: .dwg elements turn gray when exported to .ifc

Caetano_Porto99 — Fri, 02 Aug 2024 06:33:24 GMT

Thanks, I've checked your link and Navisworks was already set to "modern" on the IFC file reader settings, it seams the issue is not this.

Re: .dwg elements turn gray when exported to .ifc

Caetano_Porto99 — Fri, 02 Aug 2024 06:36:35 GMT

This model that I shared is just to replicate the issue, the real project have several elements created by other collaborators in MicroStation and are unique to this project.

Re: .dwg elements turn gray when exported to .ifc

barthbradley — Fri, 02 Aug 2024 14:21:34 GMT

@Caetano_Porto99 wrote:
This model that I shared is just to replicate the issue, the real project have several elements created by other collaborators in MicroStation and are unique to this project.

So, what are you telling me here? If the non-native Revit element has no way to add or change Materials to it, then you cannot add or change Materials to it . Simple as that. Now, you could play with the Object Styles/Imported Objects settings to see what controls you do have over coloring - or use Override Graphics in View By Element to effect its coloring as a whole.

Re: .dwg elements turn gray when exported to .ifc

Caetano_Porto99 — Mon, 05 Aug 2024 07:56:26 GMT

Hi, thanks for the reply but I am not sure I follow what you mean. All are ok if I export to for example to .nwc, I have no problem on modifying the materials on Revit.

My issue since the beginning is that when I export to .ifc (which is one of the deliverables to the client) they all turn into gray.

I explained that this model that I uploaded is just a dumb model to reproduce the issue because the real model which is an industrial building full of machinery which are tailor made to this project will not be found on the internet with generic families, they are made by other people working in the project in .dwg format. And naturally this is not a public information that I could share on a forum so I made a simple dumb model just to exemplify and reproduce the issue.