Materials & Colours

Any material opened for editing will always open/go to the global materials settings (ie. regardless of how you arrive at this area), so will change materials globally for that component selection.
That is, eg.

• select component
• edit type (properties)
• eg. structure, materials - click on the ... which will bring up the materials editor for global changes

So, ALWAYS
1. always Duplicate when modifying (the duplicate icon)
2. Stick to Revit naming conventions so it's easy to find
Appearance = for rendering
Graphics = appearance in Revit, (SD on keyboard), always check the 'use render appearance for shading'

Two ways of applying
1. Edit parameter - Edit Type in properties, etc (above) and all of this same type will change
2. Instance parameter - if you just want that instance of the component to change (eg. just one face):

• modify, paint, choose a colour, then click on the component
• don't click DONE until you've finished changing materials
• probably how I'd do this for concept models

Families & Materials

1. Open the model, select the (eg) table top. (easier to do this in plan view)
2. Go to properties, Material, click on the formula button not the 'By Category' window there...this will open up an "associate family parameter" window. Add parameter, name it something sensible like 'materials - table top', leave 'Type' selected, Ok.

The steps above will allow you to change the materials when using this model in Revit.

1. Open the model, use the 'blue box' icon to create new types within this family editor.
Probably only want to do this for standard things like glass.

Paint Bucket (PT)
Modify - Geometry
NB. rule of thumb = don't change colours on exterior corners.