Revit Basic Colours

[Keith_Wilkinson]

hi,

Does anyone know where the Revit basic colour palette is defined?  I'd like to change this to reflect our office standard colours and save folk having to type them in everytime... 

Cheers

K.

[Alfredo_Medina]

What colors are you referring to? Colors for what purpose?

[Keith_Wilkinson]

Hi Alfredo, 

It's this colour palette here :

 

I know I can add custom colours per project but quite honestly the 'basic colours' are about as much use as a chocolate fireguard.... I'm assuming there is a file somewhere that defines them so they can be changed...  

[loboarch]

I am sure you are right in that there is a file "somewhere" that controls those colors, but I am fairly sure users have no way of making changes to it without altering Revit at the "code level".

You can control the 16 custom colors with the INI file.

http://help.autodesk.com/view/RVT/2017/ENU/?guid=GUID-37DAECBA-58AA-4937-942A-3230631AA11E

[Keith_Wilkinson]

Thanks Jeff,  that's a start at least.  I might stick something in the ideas forum about this.

In the meantime can you send me the email address of whoever picked the standard colours - I'd like to congratulate them on a job well done!  

[loboarch]

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@Keith_Wilkinson wrote:

In the meantime can you send me the email address of whoever picked the standard colours - I'd like to congratulate them on a job well done!  😉

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Well I don't know that I would have that email address. If I was to hazard to guess on this one, someone at Microsoft is probably responsible. It looks to me to be a pretty standard Windows color picker dialog. we are probably just using a component straight out of some tool kit MS provides for this kind of thing without any kind of alterations. I am also pretty sure this picker has been there since the dawn of time with Revit, so even if it is not a standard MS component the person who built it is probably not around at Autodesk any longer.

[Keith_Wilkinson]

I figured as much.  As of today I'm going to make it my life's mission to find them... I mean in all honesty, what CAN they have been thinking?  I'd hate to see what colour they painted their house... 

[Alfredo_Medina]

I don't understand the complaints about the basic set of colors. That's what they are supposed to be, basic colors. If you need other colors, click on the Pantone button.

[Keith_Wilkinson]

i want a palette of colours consistent with our office protocols - I don't want to have to remember RGB values or indeed go looking in the myriad of Pantone colours.

The problem with the basic colours is the lack of variation, there are 5 shades of green which are almost identical. If you were given the task of putting together a palette of 48 colours you be hard pressed to make a worse selection than these ones...

[Alfredo_Medina]

That's why we have the ability to create custom templates that include colors. For view filters, for phases, for color schemes, etc.

[Keith_Wilkinson]

what about colour schemes? What happens when you need new filter setups... 

[Alfredo_Medina]

Color schemes can be part of view templates, yes. And view filters, too. Both things with the colors of your choice.

[Keith_Wilkinson]

i understand you don't get my issue with this. We could debate it all day and be no further forward.  I think there is a need to improve the preset colours in Revit, if you don't agree that's cool. For me, I think it's stuck in the 1990's and should be looked at. 

[ToanDN]

Please post an update if you are able to edit the palette.  I'd like to store a standard color palette which is read-only to users but currently am limited to the 16 custom slots, which are easily modified by accident (or not).

[Keith_Wilkinson]

I've added a post on the Ideas forum if anyone wants to vote for it. 

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/revit-ideas/override-basic-colors/idi-p/6724013

cheers

K. 

[matevz.petric]

Edit: Welp, didn't go through the whole post. That's not a novelty for you i see. I can't delete post either, so....

Hey,

old post, i know, but still..

There are a few slots you can use as preset.

Choose one empty (white) slot from the bottom row, select the color that you want, click "Add". And it'll be saved in that spot. You can use both bottom rows, 8 x 2 = 16 custom colors. Should be enough i think.

Hope that helps,

Cheers

[RDAOU]

How did you manage to dig this one out?!

[RDAOU]

16 colors are not enough...not sure why Autodesk did not consider implementing the IDEA ... it should be simple to add a TAB with 64 blank slots for custom colors!!!

Wasn't a bad idea to revive this one after all 

Override Basic Colors - Autodesk Community <<< VOTE THIS ONE UP

[matevz.petric]

What do you mean?

Dig this old post out, or how to add custom colors? If it's the 2nd, i thought it's common knowledge.

I think old MS Paint has the same system. Needed some playing around how to save the color though. Not the most intuitive approach but... It works

[luisPDAN6]

For more advanced management of colour in Revit you may want to read this tutorial: https://goto.archi/blog/post/how-to-use-color-palettes-in-autodesk-revit