Filled region with line pattern in background/underlay

[magnus.enstromBIM]

Hey!

I was hoping to get some help with Fill patterns that doesn't behave the way I would like it to. I don't know if it is an issue in Revit or if it's not just possible.

The way I want to present fill pattern is exactly as Revit sees the pattern; with the fill pattern in the background and model elements in the foreground. Although, when I print to PDF, the lines from the pattern always gets promoted, or "Send to Front". This does not occur for Solid fills, which is strange. If I have a pattern with a Solid fill AND a diagonal fill, the solid fill is in the background and the diagonal fill is in the foreground in the PDF. Is there any solution for this? I use Revit 2020.2, and when I export I use Bluebeam with Line Merge (Multiply)

This is what Revit sees:

And this is what the PDF sees:

The diagonal pattern is in Foreground, I have tried changing it to background but the outcome is the same. The lines from the Filled region always gets prioritized. 

If I don't use the Bluebeam PDF exporter, the lines from the Filled region goes over everything.

Regards

[Anonymous]

Hi 🙂

i got some how confused ,but i want to highlight something ,i think it will help ;

1- Select the filled pattern , type properties , you will find a property called ( Masking) ,

if it is checked , you will get the below ,

and the graphical representation will be the same in Revit and PDF as if the filled pattern is  (bring to front)

2- if the option (Masking) is UNCHECKED , you will get the below, 

the representation will be the same in Revit and PDF

and the graphical representation will be the same in Revit and PDF as if the filled pattern is  (send to back)

[magnus.enstromBIM]

Hey!

Thank you for your response.

This is what I tried first and hoped it would solve my issue but it didn't. Just out of curiosity, what PDF exporter do you use? 

EDIT:

I also noticed that you had a Solid Fill pattern, the pattern behaves as I would like it to when it is a solid fill but it does not work when I change to a diagonal line pattern for example. Please try that and see if you can recreate the error 🙂 

Regards

[Arkadiusz_Lipski]

Have you tried to export PDF with Merge Control set to 'Overwrite' instead of 'Line Merge'? I believe that your printer should have this option and Line Merge means that all patterns will merge despite other options. If this wont work you can try another PDF printer, like PDF Creator. Its free for commercial use and may give you the result you are looking for.

[RDAOU]

I tried on PDF Creator, PDF Architect, Adobe Acrobat XI and Foxit...and all printouts came as expected....It must to be your settings in Bluebeam...

[magnus.enstromBIM]

Thank you for your response.

Do you have the same settings in the pattern as I do? A colored Diagonal fill AND a colored Solid fill in the pattern? That way I will know if the issue is on my end or in Revit.

It could very much be that the issue is on my end but I feel like I have tried every single setting there is in the different printers. I have systematically tried all of your suggested printers and various settings but the outcome is always the same - solid fill goes in background, diagonal fill goes in foreground over all objects. I hope it makes sense, I have attached a few images further explaining the issue and the settings for the fill pattern. Please try and create a similar pattern and see if you can manage to get around it somehow.

Thank you for your help everyone!

[RDAOU]

I see in PDF same what I see in Revit...no odd behaviors even with the same setting you gave for the region

[magnus.enstromBIM]

That is perfect. Thank you for that. I'm just so confused as to what is causing this on my end. 

Have you printed with vector processing or raster processing?

Regards

[Anonymous]

@magnus.enstromBIM  I am using Nitro PDF creator or Microsoft PDF ...both give me the same result ,,,,,whether by using raster or vector settings ,,, what I see in revit the same as what I get in PDF.

[RDAOU]

@magnus.enstromBIM 

I have notice on the image you have posted that the background fill patter (solid) is not affected and it is still in the back. I am pretty sure this is not caused by Revit; what it appears to be is the settings of your PDF printer which seems to be merging curves from both the wall and the pattern defined in the region....

Maybe you have already tried or maybe you haven't, I suggest that you try some of the following:

• look into the advanced settings of PDF printer(s) not sure how many you have by now...some drivers offer features like merging/anti aliasing.
• Try to set up PDF Creator on a different/new port and try again using PDF creator
• maybe might be a better idea that you clean uninstall all PDF drivers and install 1 of those mentioned here (all free) just to test results

[magnus.enstromBIM]

Hey again.

Monday morning and right back on this issue.

I am very interested in this answer. I have been in contact with Autodesk developers and we have reached the conclusion that it is not possible to print such a Detail Item in background without using either Raster printing or Shaded Model Display (which is the same thing as Raster printing basically).

I would love to see some screenshots from your successful PDF prints, maybe I can trace it back and solve it on my end.

Thank you! 🙂

[magnus.enstromBIM]

Yes, that is what is annoying me the most. That the solid fill is in the background and the diagonal fill is in the foreground. The answer I have from Autodesk is that it is not possible to do this with Vector processing, for some reason that forces the diagonal fill to the foreground.

I have tried all settings in all of the printers, the closest I get is with BlueBeam and Line Merge, but the lines are still in the foreground although not as visible. It kind of works but to me it doesn't look professionally.

I will try and uninstall all PDF-drivers and see if that makes any difference...

Did you solve it with Vector Processing or Raster Processing?

Regards

[j0258169]

I have the same issue, printing with Bluebeam.

I miss AutoCAD sometimes..

[magnus.enstromBIM]

Haha yeah, I haven't used AutoCAD that much but I sure would love the "Send Hatches to Back"-function in Revit... We have the "Send to Back" but that does nothing really. BlueBeam + Line Merge is the closest I get so I guess I'm stuck with that until this gets solved.