Create 3D PDF files from Autodesk Revit for free

The steps below show how to do it using the i-model plugin (you may also want to look at converting a 3D DWF straight to a 3D PDF):

Close Revit
Download and install i-model plug-in for Revit (you will have to register)
Download and install Bentley View
Open a Revit project
Open a 3D view
In the Ribbon, go to Bentley – Publish as i-model
Open the i-model DGN in Bentley View
File – Print to PDF
Tick ‘Print to 3D’
Click Printer button
Choose a place to save your file
Open the 3D PDF in Adobe Reader
Have fun navigating your Revit model inside a 3D PDF file.

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Discussion

13 archived comments. New comments are not enabled.

Luke Johnson 2011-09-02 03:46:19

Thanks to CJ for the heads-up on this one!

Julien BENOIT 2011-09-02 12:10:08

Hi Luke, thanks for the tip. I can't make plugin work in RST 2012, even with the polymesh setting.

any idea? I work with seven 64.
cheers

Anonymous 2011-10-12 13:00:21

Luke, I was able to save my RAC2012 model to an i-model file and open it in Bentley View. However, when I printed to 3D PDF and opened in Adobe Reader, I only see a blank white page. No model. Any idea what else I can try?

Thanks,
Tim

Anonymous 2011-10-12 13:49:08

Luke, Please disregard my last message. It works as described with Adobe Reader but not with PDF-XChange Viewer. No need to post my previous message unless you think it might help someone else. Thanks.

Luke Johnson 2011-10-12 22:44:31

G'day Tim
I have noticed the same limitation with PDF-XChange Viewer. It seems that vanilla Adobe Reader is the most stable viewer for 3D PDF files.

Re: REVIT to PDF 3D plot - Autodesk Discussion Groups

The BIM Man 2011-10-17 02:01:03

try this one too... http://simlabsoft.blogspot.com/2010/04/3d-pdf-from-revit-models.html

Mercedes 2011-11-29 17:37:33

Great post! I just purchased 3d Cad software for my graphic design business and the results are phenomenal! Everything comes to life and it makes our designs pop! 3D is definitely becoming a way of the world

Anonymous 2012-01-19 03:28:56

Apparently this method is better than the Bentley method:

I've also worked a little further with 3d pdf and have come to the conclusion that when you run it through bentley as in my previous blog post becomes the graphic details, colors and other broadcast on building "distorted" with some wrong colors for instance can windows become red. Not the best to send to the client or some contractors. Therefore I purchased an older program called Acrobat 3D, where you can export their Revit drawings to DWF format and open it directly in Acrobat 3D.
via Google Translate

Anonymous 2012-03-06 12:04:19

you need to selectt which area to plot.

Luke Johnson 2012-03-07 00:11:14

Eagle 3D for Navisworks can now be downloaded, but it is just a 15 day trial:
Google Translated page

Luke Johnson 2012-07-25 23:27:29

Here is another paid option:
Tech Soft 3D
3D PDF Converter for Revit®

nealmac1978 2013-08-02 09:11:54

The i-model plugin download link is broken. I'm registered and logged in, but when I hit the download button I get the Google Chrome "oops" page after about 15 seconds.

Tim West 2014-06-10 23:03:35

FYI
Bentley View option works with .dgn .dwg out of revit also, so imodel exporter is not necessary...... Haven't tested other 3D options with Revit.