Rethink Hatch / Fill Patterns

[Paul_F_Aubin]

Isn't it time to devise something a little more modern for patterns? Hard to believe that the 35 year-old PAT file format is still the "technology" of choice for this. Would love to see a modern pattern creator that could do any kind of pattern. Including: rectilinear, random, and especially radial. It is just silly that we have to use model lines and arrays or material hacks to simple brick arches or radial floor patterns. 

A new pattern technology and editor please... 

[MiWolff]

I think the pyRevit plugin already provides that functionality concerning the generation of patterns. A more modern approach to patterns would be very much appreciated.

[r.pearsonKLGKT]

Archicad the European competitor has a great method, you draw a pattern in lines and can copy and paste it to create a fill pattern. It is very easy to use!!! Something similar to that would be great.

[jason.barish]

I used Archicad for many years. I definitely liked the ease of making hatch patterns, and making new line types.  I also really liked the 3D view orientation interface which allowed all manner of axonometric projections Isometric projections, etc. which was useful creative as a creative / visualization tool. Wish Revit had all 3 of those. 

BTW: 'hatch 22' for revit -sort of works like you describe. But hatch editing should be core revit functionality, not an add-in.

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[Paul_F_Aubin]

@jason.barish I’ve used Hatch22 and I know the developer. It is a handy tool. There is also a free pattern maker in the pyRevit plugin. But both are limited by what Revit and the PAT file format can do. So I agree that it would be great to have similar functionality built-in, but I would prefer enhanced functionality including something that would do radial patterns. 

[Anonymous]

This would help in an effort to get fire/smoke rating patterns in the three dimensional walls, floors/ceiling, and roofs so they are visible in all plans and section cuts. While communicating to the consultants where the rating are in the building. This way we could model the code required information into our Building Information Model.

Related post for Patterns in fire/smoke rated walls.

  https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/revit-ideas/fire-tape-built-into-wall-properties/idi-p/6819733

[iCs-tna]

Would be also nice to have for line patterns like rock lines

[Pattycake_Kyle]

Some have mentioned 'outdated' plugins and such --- we're attempting to fix this. We launched version 01 Pattycake yesterday and would love some feedback from the user base here (throwing our hat into the ring). www.pattycake.io Its web-based, so should be a good alternative for the Revit LT users.

For the topic of this thread, i'd have to slightly disagree and suggest a twist... the simplicity of the file format is the reason why PAT files have been around for 30+ years. I truthfully used to hate PAT files like the rest of the post... But as soon as you make the file more advanced... its inevitable that you are going to lose compliance and universality between programs. Then you'll get people complaining they can't open their Revit patterns in AutoCAD (which already can be an issue - they did not update AutoCAD's compliance with Revit's expanded abilities) --- and ultimately I could see then having to learn new pattern creators or PAT types for each program.

Instead, I would offer the idea that Autodesk should instead consider expanding compliance for pattern types by relaxing the rules across the board. You can already create almost all patterns you need... just the biggest issue is reducing quality due to max and min value limits & character limits. If they are able to do that, it would open up higher precision PAT files with a wider range of base grid ratios, which is a big problem for custom patterns (allowing tighter curves for example in model patterns). Then, it'd be great to match AutoCAD PAT rules exactly to Revit rules to reduce the export from Revit to CAD hatch issues. 

I do agree that radial and circular arrays can still be an issue for something like a brick arch - and agree that some sort of new solution probably needs to be developed for this. I don't think it would be a PAT file, but some other file type that allows precise basepoint control and such.

[hugha]

All please note that the comparison information posted on the pattycake website being advertised above is quite misleading regarding both capabilities and pricing for both HatchKit and Hatch22.

thank you

Hugh Adamson.

www.hatchkit.com.au

[Pattycake_Kyle]

@hugha Thanks for pointing out discrepancies! Sorry it seems that way, there is no intent to mislead at all. We took down the comparison table. To keep this thread on topic (and not further propagate misleading information), please shoot us an email [email protected] with corrections so we can remedy.

@mertens3d bump for you to see this too

The page should be missing the comparison if you visit again, so if you email us, we can provide a snapshot of the page in question to you personally for so as to not advert here.

[eyalbRAPVR]

Number 2 since 2016 and still under consideration? ARE YOU NUTS???!!!

WHERE IS YOUR GOOD SERVICE AUTODESK? WE ARE YOUR CLIENTS!!!

[nmarcelis]

@ can completely agree that there's a need for a modern solution for patterns. However the age of PAT files is irrelevant, tcp is also the still used in data communications
. 

[john_olav_kopperud]

While Autodesk is snoozing, i found a free Github project that drastically improves the pattern possibilities inside Revit. Its called PyRevit and is SUPER easy to use. Check it out. https://github.com/eirannejad/pyRevit/releases

Autodesk: A bit embarrassing that guy uses his spare time to create a filled region editor that kicks your ass?  Why not just hire this guy to fix your problems??

[eyalbRAPVR]

I use Pyrevit to create patterns but Revit doesn't know how to apply patterns to edited floors. It is crazy to try and fix this. It messes up also 3D rendering due to that, unless you export to another software. Any builtin Renderer will look sad with Revit pattern application. Don't know a solution for that other than manual editing, and even that does not work always. 

[AdityaS4ZCZ6]

I use this plugin to create patterns for my firm's template:

https://revitpure.com/blog/how-to-quickly-create-a-pattern-in-revit-using-pyrevit

[kimberly_fuhrman-jones]

To reorganize and consolidate our Revit Ideas for ease of use to both our customers and our product teams, we are eliminating the "Future Consideration" category. All Revit Ideas are always under review, and consolidating posts (and Kudos!) will give weight to topics previously spread across many posts. We are continuing to evaluate where this request falls into our roadmap and will provide an update when we have made a decision. 

Thank you for your contribution!

-The Factory

[elzohry2007]

we hope hatch is and external file
to edit it easly

[matt.barnett72U83]

I agree, there should be much better built in functionality for this and not reliant on 3rd party add ons. I've found pyrevit to be a very useful tool.

https://revitpure.com/blog/how-to-quickly-create-a-pattern-in-revit-using-pyrevit

[akesh]

Revit should include a new built-in tool that would allow a user to easily create a custom hatch pattern.  Also one should easily be able to convert an existing drafting hatch pattern to a model pattern and vise versa, with this tool.

[wr.marshall]

Hi @akesh 

There is a wish about this already: Rethink Hatch / Fill Patterns - Autodesk Community

please ask @kimberly_fuhrman-jones to combine if you feel they the same.

[lpendergraft]

Couldn't agree more. Seems like an oversight that .pat files are still the only way to create custom patterns without plug-ins in 2023.