Add ability to display entourage as billboards

[Anonymous]

In computer graphics a billboard is a 2D object displayed on screen in such a way that it always faces the camera (the plane of the object is always parallel to the plane of the view). It would be really useful if entourage objects had an option to make them behave like billboards.

This would be most useful in 3D diagrammatic views that do not require fully rendered objects. In particular, current RPC people look terrible with the two planes crossing. Being able to see them as a flat silhouette always facing the plane of the screen would solve that, and introduce other creative possibilities.

[jason.barish]

I agree, a simple billboard would be prefereable to what we have now. Something like the sketchup version (below) would be great. 

Ideally, you could have more than one billboard plane in a revit object, (say front and side) and Revit would display the best one depending on view angle. 

It would be great to be able just draw model lines and have them show up, also.  Being able to be user-editable would be important, also. 

[pieter1]

This would be awesome!

[dan.stine]

I voted for this as it would be a nice option native within Revit. However, it is possible now, and for free, by following the steps I outline in this blog post: https://enscape3d.com/best-practices-custom-rpc-content/ 

Somehow, ArchiVions figured out how to achieve this in Revit via their RPC content.

[pieter1]

Good point Dan! Although we would like to see that while navigating in Revit.

The end goal is to do more design work in Revit, and having some billboards that indicate planting, people silhouettes that give us a sense of scale etc... will help with that.

Also great for non-rendered presentations.

[dan.stine]

Yeah, it works in Revit too!

[pieter1]

Oops sorry my bad. The reason we didn't use this is because the archvision license is super expensive. Especially as we would have to make custom people as their library is super outdated (90's look).

I think the licenses are at 500$ a year. We would basically have to have the same number as we have revit network licenses, otherwise people would have to ask to checkin/checkout licenses when printing/navigating a 3d view which would become a huge hassle. We have almost 50 licenses x 500 usd = 25000 a year for the ability to show face-me people and plants. Our finance director is going to have a heart attack... 🙂

[Anonymous]

Interesting and I will follow up on this simply out of curiosity. BUT, I
have enough experience with computer graphics in general and 3D software,
both development and usage, that I know that implementing a billboard
object is trivial. It is especially easy once you have a whole framework
for manipulating and rendering 3D output. Adding it to Revit would be very
easy.

I agree with Pieter, we really want to be able to do more design work in
Revit and produce more enticing non-photorealistic presentations (I think
they are very undervalued in todays world).

cheers,
-tomek

[jason.barish]

Yes, you can do this with an expensive add-in, but it is more oriented toward rendering. 

The argument here is that it entourage should be vector based core functionality, oriented toward the vector 3d window.   It would be much better to have a simpler system, something that just behaves like a simple billboard. Many of us still use vector the vector 3d window a lot.  The 'Out of the box' Revit RPC trees in particular look very bad, and you can't really customize them. One of the things architects do is put entourage into their drawings. Our software should support that basic function, as a basic feature. 

[Anonymous]

AGREED!

-t

[awasyliw]

It would also be much better if all RPC objects did this in elevation and section views... why would you ever want a line down the middle of your tree/person/etc?

[Tony.Lopezb]

@Anonymous

Hello,

The 2D and 3D RPC Content has the Billboard function build-on (meaning they will face the camera always),  and in some content like the 3D one, you can activate or deactivate this function. 

  

using the entourage workshop tool, available on Revit you can change  the physical appearance of the RPC geometry, and turn of properties like the base plane or one of the vertical planes,  @awasyliw

as you can see in the image below, the RPC has different properties now, changed the color and the opacity, this applies for 3d views plans and elevations. 

i will encourage You to check the ArchVision.com website as well the  FAQ /knowledge base helpcenter.archvision.com where you can find all the information about the RPC Technology or you can visit ArchVision youtube channel where you can find practical examples of this features.

** Then entourage workshop is  available upon subscription. 

[Anonymous]

@Tony.Lopezb Thanks for that info. I wasn't aware of the entourage workshop tool. It looks good. However, we don't have the money to pay yet another subscription. These tools are all very nice but they should be conveniences rather than necessities. Then firms with more financial resources can save time by paying for the convenience and others can spend more time rolling their own solutions.

So, I still wish that we could simply enable billboard setting in Revit.

[Tony.Lopezb]

@Anonymous I understand your concern but this is something developed by a 3rd party company, not Autodesk, and this kind of tools wouldn't be possible to create without resources.

as i mentioned The 2D and 3D RPC Content has the Billboard function build-on (meaning they will face the camera always),  and in some content like the 3D one, you can activate or deactivate this function. and its under the family "edit type" button,  Subscription is not necessary for that.

As you can see in this image all the  RPC demo content (installed with Revit) is behaving as a billboard. 

Trees have a additional tools instead the simple billboard option, so you can look the view you want to the camera

[Anonymous]

I will definitely give this ago. Thanks for the explanation.

cheers,
-tomek

[kimberly_fuhrman-jones]

We are pleased to say that this has been implemented in Revit 2022!

-The Factory