With Revit’s drafting views, you can create and edit 2D drawings that have no connection to model views.
This allows you to add details, notes, and other types of annotations that complement your sheets and detailed views of the model.
Creating a Drafting View
Add independent 2D views to Revit projects.
Steps
- Go to the View tab > Create panel > click Drafting View.
- Enter a name and a scale for your drafting view.
- Click OK.
You will see a blank canvas. Here are some tips on how to use it to your advantage.
Add Elements
Use the same tools and commands you use in other 2D views to add and modify elements.
Go to the Annotate tab to start using the different tools for drafting. Learn more about Revit annotations
From there, you can draw geometric shapes, add text, tags and dimensions.
Export
If you want to share your drafting view with others or use it in other software, you can export it as an image or CAD file.
- In the project browser, right-click the drafting view.
- Click Save to New File.
- Open the project to which you would like to copy the detail.
- Go to the Insert tab > Load from Library panel > click Insert From File.
- Browse to and select the file that contains the view you want to copy.
- Select the view > click OK.
The copied view now appears in the list of drafting views you have in your project. You can copy entire sheets of drafting views as well as schedules.
Copy or Import
If you want to reuse some elements from another view or another project, you can copy or import them into your drafting view.
To copy elements from another view in the same project, select the 2D elements, and then use the Copy to Clipboard (shortcut: Ctrl+C) and Paste (shortcut: Ctrl+V) tools on the Modify tab.
To import elements from another file, such as a DWG or PDF files, learn how to link CADs from the Insert tab.
This means you can either transfer views between projects or save an existing view as a CAD file and then import it into a drafting view to protect it from changes in the model.
Crop and Resize
It’s not possible to crop a drafting view because it doesn’t make any sense to do so. Each view is limited by the drawing space created by the user.
However, changing the scale is one way to change the size of each drafting view on sheets.
Learn more about cropping other views
Drafting View vs Detail View
A drafting view is a standalone view that isn’t linked to any model views, while a detail view inherits the scale and view template from its parent model view.
| Drafting View | Detail View |
|---|---|
| To add an independent view from scratch or importing an independent PDF or CAD drawing. | To view an enlarged section of your model. |
| An independent view and scale. | Dependent on model views. |
A drafting view can be considered a detail view, but the reverse isn’t possible. Learn more about Revit Callouts
Mohamed Fakhry has helped thousands of architects and designers find their next project with step-by-step guidance on his blog, mashyo.com. About Mohamed
His journey began during his university years when he recognized the need for information-rich 3D models to accelerate learning and improve production processes. Now, Mohamed shares his expertise through Revit tutorials that are accessible to all.
