Revit exports dwg only in white

[jsanders]

Hello,

I'm having a very troublesome problem on Revit 2017. This is the first time this is happening. When I export a sheet to .dwg, the .dwg file is all white. The layers are white and the lines are white. However, the Revit file isn't white and there's a problem that I can't find.

Here are some screenshots of the problem : http://imgur.com/a/538M6

I have never had this problem before.

This revit file comes from an architect, we've worked on it to change most of the templates / families / organization of views etc.

[barthbradley]

...and the black background has nothing to do with it? 

[jsanders]

I don't think it has anything to do with it ? The background in Autocad is always dark grey. Here's the layer menu in Autocad, as you can see all the layers are white : http://i.imgur.com/cFj0wYF.png

However on the export settings in revit, i left the default settings that work on all our other projects : http://i.imgur.com/LieSc6j.png 

[barthbradley]

"Here's the layer menu in Autocad, as you can see all the layers are white"

All the layers are set to black black/white in your screenshot. I'm not following you. 

[Anonymous]

I see nothing wrong with the file.

Kudos in having a white background for paperspace in Autocad, many people keep it black and it bug the heck out of me.

As for seeing white lines in model space....Autocad has always made black lines white....at least since I first started using it back in Release 9...else we wouldn't be able to see the lines.  Now if you have changed your background to something else other than black, then you would see the black lines.

[ToanDN]

@Anonymous

I found white background is terrible if you don't turn on Display Plot Styles for the Layout.  I can't see yellow lines on white background.  #NotWhitePower

[barthbradley]

@Anonymous you kind of made my point. As for it being related to @jsanders problem; I got no clue. I guess I would try a white background and see. 

[Anonymous]

I forgot to add that to  the white background part.

At my previous job I was troubleshooting some plans and I changed their ps views to by plot style.  I got a hectic phone call from the project architect about all the lines being black in paperspace with a white background.  Apparently NOBODY on the team was aware of that little check box and what it does.

[jsanders]

Excuse me if I'm wrong but I still think that no one has understood the problem.

Here is one of our normal autocad files exported from revit : http://imgur.com/a/nRc49 as you can see it's in colour.

Here is the autocad of this particular file (same export configuration used) : http://imgur.com/a/MaCSC as you can see it's not in colour.

I want my autocad file to be in colour so that it can respect my company's guideline, and for some reason this revit file will refuse to output colour. I don't think it has anything to do with Autocad, this is a Revit problem. There must be a secret hidden option somewhere that i need to find and I hope you guys can help me. 

[jsanders]

And here is the original autocad file if I change the background to white : http://imgur.com/a/sfQTG

As you can see, the file still has no colour. I want my file to have colour.

What can I do to have colour in my file ?

[barthbradley]

Sorry, @jsanders. 

So, let me confirm. Your workflow and incremental results are as follows:

1. 2D DWG Imported into RVT. DWG linework is in color.

2. RVT (containing DWG Import) Exported to DWG. Export Preview shows colored linework. (True/False?)

3.Open DWG (the RVT Exported version) in AutoCAD. All linework and Layers Properties are now white. 

Please verify Export Preview question. Is it in color?  

[jsanders]

hi @barthbradley

My steps are almost what you described, except there is no Autocad import into revit. We draw directly onto Revit since the start of this project. Let me take your steps :

So, let me confirm. Your workflow and incremental results are as follows:

1. 2D DWG Imported into RVT. DWG linework is in color. we have no dwg imported into our revit file that is shown in the sheets.

2. RVT Exported to DWG. Export Preview shows colored linework. (This is true. The preview shows colour)

3.Open DWG (the RVT Exported version) in AutoCAD. All linework and Layers Properties are now white. (True)

Even when I open a new revit file, draw 4 walls and a slab, export in DWG with "true colours" selected, all lines are white. 

[barthbradley]

Sorry, your workflow is foreign to me. I use a totally different process.

First of all, how do you bring the DWG into the Revit Environment (be it sheets or views) without importing or linking.

Second, are you saying that you're are "bringing into" Revit an AutoCAD Layout/Paper Space View (cropped views, etc.)? 

Third, what is the reason why you don't import DWGs to Revit Views? (my method). 

[jsanders]

Why would I have to import a DWG into Revit ?

We draw from Revit, the whole project is from Revit. We start from scratch on Revit and draw everything in Revit. When the project is done/updated, we export the revit file in PDFs and DWGs so that subcontractors can work on it, because most of them don't use Revit yet.

My question is : I want my DWGs to be in true colours, not black in white.

[barthbradley]

HA! Okay, @jsanders, you are absolutely correct: we ALL misunderstood you! You just want to Export to DWG. Correct? Yes or No? 

Sorry, but it's late here (1 am). If this isn't resolved by tomorrow I'll throw in on the thread. 

[Anonymous]

I'm guessing the plot style in the color drawing is not being specified in the b&w drawing.

[jsanders]

Thank god, I was going mad. Yes no one understood it seems.

I want to export my DWG file from Revit and I want that the DWG is in colour.

[barthbradley]

I was just about to sign off and then you got to go and say something like that. That's why all the confusion. YOU ARE NOT EXPORTING A DWG. YOU ARE EXPORTING A REVIT FILE TO A D.W.G. Big, Big difference. LOL. 

[jsanders]

Well, sorry for my wording. That's probably because in French, if you say "j'exporte en DWG" it means "I am creating a DWG file from this other file".

So yes, I am in Revit, and I am pressing the "export DWG" button.

[jsanders]

Another example of how difficult is it to export a .DWG file from Revit (I hope that I got my wording right)

Here is what I have on Revit (Elevation of the 3D model) :

And here is what I get when I export this elevation into a .dwg file by using the export function in revit : 

What could I do in Revit so that when I export a .dwg file I can see the difference in the metal siding pattern on the front of the building ? Currently, I can't see anything on the .dwg file that I exported from revit.

I need help !! Thanks.