Lighting is black on one side when using Realistic view setting in the Revit family editor

[colin_bell124]

Hi

I have seen a post about this previously but never seemed to get a clear answer.  When I'm creating families in Revit 2021-Revit 2025 50% of the Revit Model seems to be completely Black. This is completely un workable when trying to use Grained materials like wood etc, trying to make sure that the correct material is on the correct face using the Paint tool. It wasn't a problem when I created Families using those materials in Revit 2020. But every version Since has this issue.

Families look fine when they are loaded into the Project RVT File, just shows black faces when they are in the family editor.

Thanks

Colin.

[barthbradley]

Change your sun settings.  

[barthbradley]

Wait a minute. Are you doing this in the Family or Project Environment?  

..FWIW: big changes occurred in 2021 with the introduction of Real-Time Realistic. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bbi_lU4nPlo

[colin_bell124]

This is in the Family Editor, so the Sun settings are greyed out.

[barthbradley]

...also, Revit Materials have improved.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNKMZksHMBg

[colin_bell124]

all My Materials are the New updated PBR Versions in Revit. The issue is related to the updates from 2021 onwards as they changed the way Realistic views work, but seems to be causing issues in the family editor. with Materials, and specifically materials with Maps attached.

[barthbradley]

How are the Family materials relevant. Besides the fact that Project Materials rule, Real-Time Realistic, as well as Lighting, is done in the Project Environment.   Now, regarding your legacy Materials, you can use the ADSKLIBs that they are found in, in any version of Revit. Just load the ADSKLIB into the Project via Materials dialog box.     

[colin_bell124]

The Family Materials are totally relevant. Have you ever created Revit Families? The Materials are applied to our products in the Family editor using Material Parameters. I need to check that the materials are showing up correctly prior to the Team using them. I wouldn't say loading families into the Project just to check is the materials are showing correctly is very productive.  My Family libraries are Created in Revit 2020, because of Revit Backward compatibility issues, but now that I'm trying to move up versions, this issue is a real problem.

I have all our materials in a ADSKLIB file. The materials aren't the issue, it has to be the lighting in the Family editor which can't be controlled the same way is can in the Project File.

[colin_bell124]

I Will add that this only happens in the 3D view

[barthbradley]

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@colin_bell124 wrote:

Have you ever created Revit Families? 

Yes, I've built thousands of Revit Families. Too many to count. 

[barthbradley]

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@colin_bell124 wrote: I wouldn't say loading families into the Project just to check is the materials are showing correctly is very productive. 

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Whether or not it's "productive", I don't know any other way to do it.  

[colin_bell124]

Leaving the Family editor lighting the way it was in Revit 2020 would have been the way to do it!

[barthbradley]

Metaphor Key

Paint Swatches = Families

Walls/Shadows/Lighting = Project 

[colin_bell124]

Yeah that really helps the problem, and makes absolutely no sense. If you can work in an environment like below then I take my hat off to you! You need to be able to see what materials your applying to your family, below is what I get with PBR Materials.

[barthbradley]

Apply Project Materials to the Family in the Project - parametrically.  

[barthbradley]

Point I was trying to make with the "metaphor" post, was that the paint color you see on a swatch card at Home Depot, isn't truly representative of what that paint color will look like when painted on your bedroom wall.  I was thinking you could relate to this.  Most people could.   

The coloring you see in the Family environment is not the coloring it with be in the Project environment.