• Home
  • CADnotes Store
    • AutoCAD Block Best Practices
    • Document Management with AutoCAD Sheet Set
  • Write for CADnotes
  • About
    • Contributors
    • Feedback
    • Contact
    • Privacy policy
    • Cookie Policy

CADnotes

CAD Tutorials and Best Practices for professionals and students

  • Featured
  • AutoCAD
    • AutoLISP
  • Revit
    • Revit Architecture Basic
    • Revit MEP Basic Tutorial
  • Inventor
  • MicroStation
    • MicroStation Basic Tutorial

How to Create Better Revit Families Thumbnail

January 24, 2018 by Edwin Prakoso 4 Comments

The loadable family is essential in Revit. It allows you to load families from the manufacturer or a custom family that you made. However, looking for a specific family can be very difficult. When you tried to load a family, often what you can see are just the parameters and connectors like this.

Finding a particular family would be tough.

Wouldn’t it be better if you see the thumbnail like this?

Most of the thumbnails are also not attractive.

Indeed, most of you know how to find a door if you have 2D views like above. But it still looks better like this, right?

 

How Revit Made the Thumbnail

Revit creates the file thumbnail when you save the file. It saves what it sees on your screen. It’s how most Windows software works.

If you want to have the thumbnail to show 3D view with realistic visual styles, you need to set it that way then click save. If you don’t want to see the pipe connector elements, light source, host, etc. you have to hide them before you save it.

It is a simple process but can be tedious.

Preview Image Generator (P.I.G.)

There is an add-in that can help you update the thumbnail faster: Preview Image Generator a.k.a. P.I.G.

There is two versions of this add-in: free and batch. In short, the batch (paid) version allows you to update multiple families thumbnail at once. The free version needs you to open the family then click Update Preview in Add-Ins tab.

This add-in saves the file and updates the thumbnail with the default settings. If you have the batch version, you can do this without opening the families.

The default settings will create the family with Top, Front, and Right view, Realistic visual style, and Fine detail level. You can override the setting for a particular family.

In the General Settings tab, you can choose to hide unwanted objects when creating the thumbnails.

Even with the free version, you can skip several steps to adjust the appearance. It’s a simple open and update process.

Downloading the Add-in

You can download the free add-in here: Preview Image Generator (P.I.G.) Free Version and you can download the batch version here: Preview Image Generator (P.I.G.) Batch.

The Demo Video from the Publisher

If you are interested to see how the batch version works, you can see it in this demo video.

About Edwin Prakoso

I work as an Application Engineer in Jakarta, Indonesia. I've been using AutoCAD since R14 and Revit since Revit Building 9. I occasionally write for AUGIWorld magazine and also active in Autodesk discussion forum.
I'm an Autodesk Certified Professional (ACP) for Revit Architecture and AutoCAD. I'm also a member of Autodesk Expert Elite, appreciation for individuals who give contribution to Autodesk community.
Connect with me on twitter or LinkedIn

Filed Under: Revit Tagged With: Revit family

4
Leave a Reply

avatar
wpdiscuz_captcharefresh
4 Comment threads
0 Thread replies
0 Followers
 
Most reacted comment
Hottest comment thread
3 Comment authors
nisha guptaJohn CarltonMike BNevon Recent comment authors
avatar
wpdiscuz_captcharefresh

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

  Subscribe  
Notify of
nisha gupta
Guest
nisha gupta

Excellent and intelligently written post … this will help me out of the funk I’ve found myself in lately .. thanks!

Vote Up0Vote Down  Reply
1 year ago
John Carlton
Guest
John Carlton

Great Video tutorial.

Vote Up0Vote Down  Reply
1 year ago
Mike B
Guest
Mike B

This is a decent tool. Thanks for the info

Vote Up0Vote Down  Reply
1 year ago
Nevon
Guest
Nevon

Very helpful. Thank you

Vote Up0Vote Down  Reply
1 year ago

Featured

Sharing files and designs with Autodesk 360

If you have Autodesk account, you can have free 5GB online storage. You can use it to share large files or provide 3D viewers. You can showcase your design on your company website or your personal portfolio!

AutoCAD tip: Working with different measurement unit

Reminder: Install AutoCAD 2018.0.2 Update Before June 1!

Advertisement

Get Connected


Meet the Authors

avatar for
avatar for
avatar for
avatar for
avatar for
avatar for

© 2009 – 2019 CADnotes · Feedback · Privacy Policy · Become an affiliate

wpDiscuz