In Revit, we often have to input RGB values for various color properties, such as shaded view colors for a particular material, or if you want a specific Paint color for a rendered material.  To do this, you can use Paint.NET and the Color Picker tool – the resultant properties include the RGB values you need.

However, you may obtain a sample image of a material, but the color is irregular.  For example, you scan in a paint sample and there is a color variation in the scanned image.  Or perhaps you simply want to take a detailed pattern sample image and find out the average color of a particular part of that image.

Here’s how you do it:

  1. Download Paint.NET
  2. Download Average Color plugin
  3. Copy the DLL file from the extracted Average Color ZIP you downloaded into the ‘Effects’ folder, which is in you Paint.NET installation directory (for example: C:Program FilesPaint.NETEffects)
  4. Open Paint.NET
  5. Open the image you want to find an average color from.
  6. Make a rectangular selection.
  7. Click on the Effects menu – Average Color
  8. Now click on the Color Picker tool (looks like an Eyedropper)
  9. On the ‘Colors’ palette, click the More>> button
  10. The RGB values for your selected color are shown.
  11. In Revit, input those RGB values for the desired color or material

Average Color of Selection forum thread
Plugin to Average Color of Selection – Paint.NET Forum
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Locate32 is a free tool that allows you to create custom search database files for a nominated directory (including network resources and USB storage).

You can then manually update these database files when you want to do a fast search.

It is very quick to index the files and the search results pane is very fast and functional.  I have used it in the past to delete or archive Revit backup files.

Check it out at:
Locate32 Web Site – Downloads

Do you have some large format black and white PDF drawings that are taking up excessive space?  Perhaps they contain multi-layered vector information that is clogging them up.  You can easily make them smaller by recompressing into TIFF format with G4 compression.

Option 1 – PDF Tools and Irfanview

  1. Convert PDF to multipage TIFF using PDFill PDF Editor with FREE PDF Writer and FREE PDF Tools
  2. Open TIFF and save as TIF with G4 compression in Irfanview (suggested dpi setting 200 dpi)

Option 2 – PDF-Xchange Viewer

  1. Open PDF in PDF-Xchange Viewer
  2. File – Export – Export to Image
  3. Page Range – All
  4. Use TIFF format, Options – Compression – CCITT Group 4 fax
  5. DPI settings at 300 all round (for other settings also see image below)
  6. Click Export…

If you want to make a TIFF into a PDF again, just open in Irfanview and Print to PDF file using CutePDF or similar.  The resulting PDF will generally be way smaller than the original PDF.

    There is a way to link Excel data into Revit, and retain the ability to ‘update’ that data when it changes.  Essentially, it involves using AutoCAD as a middle-man to get the job done.  In simple terms:

    1. Link Excel into AutoCAD DWG
    2. Link DWG into Revit

    When you want to update the Excel spreadsheet in Revit, you have to:

    1. Save Excel spreadsheet
    2. Open AutoCAD DWG and update Data Link
    3. Save DWG file
    4. Reload DWG link in Revit

    This all works surprisingly well.  Check out the video below as a demonstration:

    Here is a little diagram of the concept:

    Process via
    RevitCity.com | Importing Excel into Revit

    In words:

    1. Save Excel File
    2. In AutoCAD – Insert – Data Link – new Excel Data link
    3. TABLE command
    4. From a data link – select Data Link, Ok
    5. Use 0,0 as insertion
    6. Save DWG file
    7. New Drafting View in Revit, link the DWG in Origin to Origin
    8. Its a two step update process whenever you change Excel.  Save, in AutoCAD / update link, Save DWG, in Revit – reload. Done.
    This hotfix restores the ability to apply material family parameters to faces of family elements using the Paint tool.

    Make sure that Update Release 2 has been applied prior to adding the hotfix. Verify that the build number of Revit 2012 is 20110916_2132.

    The Readme contains the latest information regarding the installation and use of this update. It is strongly recommended that you read the entire document before you apply the update to your product. For your reference, you should save the Readme to your hard drive or print a copy.

    revit_2012_material_hotfix.zip (zip – 4430Kb)
    Readme (htm – 87Kb)

    via
    Autodesk – Autodesk Revit Architecture Services & Support – Hotfix – Autodesk Revit 2012 – Apply material family parameters using the Paint tool

    Free Standards Guide – Energy Efficiency

    This guide provides information on Standards and Certification schemes relating to energy efficiency and climate change and covers topics such as solar panel systems, energy efficient products, nuclear energy, wind turbines and more.

    Download here: Guide to Standards – Energy Efficiency

    via
    SAI Global

    KarelCAD with Autodesk Australia will be presenting a FREE Webinar to showcase
    the NEW Cloud Subsciption Capabilities.

    We invite you to attend!

        Date:     Friday 14th October @ 10.30am AEST
        URL:     To log onto the webinar go to:

    https://www.livemeeting.com/cc/autodesklearning/join?id=oloang&role=attend
        Entry Control:     Free Entry

    via email version of
    KarelCAD invites you to a Cloud Webinar