A Revit sun study shows how sunlight and shadows move across a building, site, or interior view at a specific location and time. It is useful for early massing, facade decisions, shading devices, presentation diagrams, and quick daylight conversations before doing a deeper energy or lighting analysis.
In this 2026 workflow, you will set the project location, turn on the sun path and shadows, choose the correct solar study type, add labels to a locked 3D view, and export a still image or animation for your presentation.
What a Revit Sun Study Shows
A sun study in Revit visualizes the sun position, shadow direction, and shadow length for a model view. The sun path is the graphic guide in the view: it shows the sun’s daily path, monthly analemma curves, dates, and times based on the project location. Shadows show how that sun position affects the actual building geometry.
For architecture students and designers, the best use is not only making a nice diagram. A good Revit solar study helps you explain why a building is rotated a certain way, where overhangs are needed, which facade receives the strongest afternoon sun, and how nearby buildings or trees affect outdoor and indoor spaces.
Before You Start
Before creating the diagram, prepare the model view. This makes the result more accurate and easier to read.
- Set the project location: Go to Manage > Location, or set the location directly inside Sun Settings.
- Use a clean 3D view: Duplicate the 3D view and rename it something like Sun Study – Presentation.
- Turn on shadows: Shadows must be visible if you want to study shade movement.
- Hide unnecessary model categories: Use Visibility/Graphics, temporary hide/isolate, or a section box to simplify the view.
- Choose the right view style: Shaded, Consistent Colors, or Realistic usually reads better than Hidden Line for a shadow study.
| Study type | Best for | Output |
|---|---|---|
| Still | One exact date and time, such as June 21 at noon. | Single image |
| Single Day | Shadow movement during one day. | Animation or frame sequence |
| Multi-Day | Comparing shadows across multiple dates. | Animation or frame sequence |
| Lighting | Presentation shadows based on a sun direction in the active view. | Single image |
Create a Revit Sun Study
Start with the simplest version: a 3D view with shadows and the sun path enabled. After that, you can refine the date, time, location, and presentation style.
- Open a 3D view.
- On the View Control Bar, click the Shadows icon to turn shadows on.
- Click the Sun Path icon and choose Sun Path On.
- If Revit asks to change the sun setting from Lighting to Still, choose Yes.
- Select the sun or the sun path in the view to adjust the date and time visually.
For a clean presentation diagram, orbit the 3D view so the sun path, building mass, ground plane, and shadow direction are all visible. Avoid an angle where the sun path hides the main building form.
Adjust Sun Settings
Sun Settings control the solar study type, location, date, time range, time interval, and ground plane. This is where you make the study accurate instead of only visual.
- On the View Control Bar, click the Sun Path icon.
- Choose Sun Settings.
- Under Solar Study, choose Still, Single Day, Multi-Day, or Lighting.
- Check the project Location. If needed, update it here so the sun path and shadows use the correct site.
- Set the Date, Time, Time Range, and Time Interval.
- Set Ground Plane at Level if you want shadows to cast on a specific level in shaded 2D or 3D views.
- Click Apply to test the result, then click OK.
Read the Sun Path Diagram
The Revit sun path contains several visual controls. The daily path shows the sun movement across the sky for a selected day. The analemma is the figure-eight curve that helps represent the sun position across the year. Date and time labels help you understand exactly what the diagram is showing.
- Drag the sun along the daily path to change the time of day.
- Drag along the analemma to change the date while reading seasonal differences.
- Use hourly and monthly marks to choose readable study points for diagrams.
- Use solstices and equinoxes when comparing seasonal sun access.
For portfolio diagrams, one still image is often clearer than a long animation. Use a Still study for a key time, such as summer afternoon or winter morning, then add text labels explaining orientation, solar gain, shadow area, and the design response.
Preview a Solar Study Animation
Use Preview Solar Study when you want to see the shadow movement before exporting. Animation preview works for Single Day and Multi-Day studies.
- Set the solar study type to Single Day or Multi-Day.
- Set the start time, end time, and time interval.
- Click the Sun Path icon on the View Control Bar.
- Choose Preview Solar Study.
- Use the frame controls or Play button to review the animation.
A smaller time interval creates more frames and smoother shadow movement, but it also increases export time and file size. For quick presentation work, 30-minute or 1-hour intervals are usually enough. For detailed shadow movement, use 15-minute intervals.
Add Labels to the Revit Sun Study
Labels make the sun diagram useful for readers who are not looking at your Revit model. Add only the information that supports the design argument: north direction, date, time, key shadow zones, hot facades, shaded entrances, and recommended shading devices.
- Lock the 3D view. Revit needs a locked 3D view before you can place normal annotations reliably.
- Go to Annotate > Text, or use the shortcut TX.
- In the Leader panel, choose a leader style such as Two Segments.
- Click the view to place the note and leader.
- Keep labels short: use phrases like summer afternoon sun, deep winter shade, or south facade solar gain.
If your labels are not appearing, confirm that the 3D view is locked. You can also use annotation symbols for a cleaner presentation style.
Export the Solar Study
Revit can export a solar study as a still image, video animation, or image sequence depending on the study type and file format you choose.
Export a still image
- Open the prepared sun study view.
- Go to File > Export > Images and Animations > Image.
- Choose the export range, file name, image size, and format.
- Export as PNG or TIFF when you need a clean presentation image.
Export an animation
- Set the study type to Single Day or Multi-Day.
- Go to File > Export > Images and Animations > Solar Study.
- In the Length/Format dialog, choose the output length, visual style, and dimensions.
- Check Include Time and Date Stamp if the animation needs to explain itself.
- Click OK, choose a file name and file type, then click Save.
- If exporting AVI, choose a compression option. Full Frames gives high quality but creates a larger file.
One limitation to know: Revit’s exported solar study animation focuses on the shadow movement. If you want to show the visible sun path graphic and your labels moving on screen, record the viewport with screen capture software instead of relying only on the native export.
For that workflow, see this guide on how to record your display.
Presentation Tips
- Use a north arrow: Viewers need orientation before they can understand the shadows.
- Show the date and time: A shadow diagram without a date and time is incomplete.
- Compare two or three key moments: Summer solstice, winter solstice, and an equinox usually communicate more than a long unedited animation.
- Use consistent colors: Keep the model quiet and let shadows, labels, and key surfaces carry the diagram.
- Change the background carefully: A darker background can make the sun path easier to see, but make sure labels remain readable. You can learn how to change it in this background color guide.
Common Problems
The sun path does not update after changing location
Toggle the sun path off and on. For a more reliable workflow, change the project location from Sun Settings instead of only Manage > Location.
Shadows are not visible
Turn on Shadows in the View Control Bar, use a visual style that supports shadows, and confirm the model has elements that can cast shadows onto a visible surface or ground plane.
Labels cannot be placed in the 3D view
Lock the 3D view first. Then use Annotate > Text or annotation symbols.
The animation is too fast or too slow
Adjust the time interval and export length. Smaller time intervals produce more frames and smoother shadow movement.
FAQ
What is the difference between sun path and solar study in Revit?
The sun path is the visual diagram of the sun’s movement in the active view. A solar study is the setup that uses location, date, time, and study type to evaluate sunlight and shadows.
Can Revit export a sun study animation?
Yes. Use File > Export > Images and Animations > Solar Study. Single Day and Multi-Day studies can be exported as animations or image sequences depending on the format.
Can I add text labels to a Revit 3D sun diagram?
Yes. Lock the 3D view first, then use Annotate > Text. Keep labels short and use leaders to point to the relevant facade, shadow, or sun direction.
Which Revit sun study type should I use?
Use Still for one date and time, Single Day for one-day shadow movement, Multi-Day for seasonal comparisons across dates, and Lighting for presentation shadows based on the active view direction.
References
- Autodesk Help: Solar Studies in Revit 2026
- Autodesk Help: Workflow for Solar Studies
- Autodesk Help: Types of Solar Studies
- Autodesk Support: 2026 sun path location refresh behavior
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.
