Changing the color of symbols in Revit, particularly within families, can be tricky. You might want to make your fire alarm symbols stand out in red, as shown in the desired outcome below, but applying color changes globally can affect other elements unnecessarily. This article explores a solution using Revit filters to customize symbol colors effectively for families, focusing on fire alarm symbols as an example.
Initially, users might consider editing the family directly. Default Revit libraries include families like “M_Smoke Detector” and “M_Heat Detector,” often based on the “Metric Generic Model.rft” template. While tempting to alter object styles for “Generic Annotations” to red, this approach changes the color for all families using generic annotations, such as sprinklers. This broad change is often undesirable.
The solution lies in utilizing Revit filters. This method allows for selective color changes based on specific parameters assigned to your symbols, offering a more refined approach to symbol customization within Revit families. Here’s a step-by-step guide to implementing this solution:
- Identify a Unique Parameter: If your symbols lack a unique parameter for color differentiation, create one. This parameter will serve to distinguish the symbols you want to color-code.
- Create a Filter: Navigate to “View/Graphics/Filters” in Revit. Click “New” to create a filter. Select the relevant categories (e.g., Fire Alarm Devices). Define filter rules using your unique parameter. Options like “Contains” or “Equals” are useful. For example, if families have a text parameter containing “FireAlarmSymbol,” using “Contains ‘FireAlarmSymbol'” will filter them effectively, assuming no other elements share this parameter value.
- Apply the Filter and Override Graphics: Press “VV” or go to “View/Graphics/Visibility/Graphics.” Go to the “Filters” tab and add your newly created filter. Click “Projection/Surface/Override” for the filter. Choose your desired color (e.g., red). Click “OK.”
- Apply to Relevant Views: Repeat step 3 for each view where you want the color change to be visible.
By using filters, you achieve targeted color changes for your Revit family symbols without affecting other generic annotations. This method provides a flexible and efficient way to customize the visual representation of symbols within your Revit projects, enhancing clarity and communication in your designs. For further guidance on symbol editing, resources like this YouTube tutorial can be helpful.
