Masking Region 2008

[cdchristian]

I can't seem to find any benefit to using the masking region instead of a solid white filled region. Someone mentioned that it exported to ACAD better... is that it? I could see it being 'better' if it had separate visibility controls, but, alas, it hangs out with the other detail items. Please enlighten me!

[patricks]

If you have any white filled regions in a drawing and you export it to CAD, the region appears as solid in the CAD file and will print solid black if you print from that CAD file.

In previous versions, you could do a Blank Mask filled region type by hitting the No Fill button at the bottom of the drafting/model pattern selector window. Now, that button is no longer there and you just use the Masking Region tool. It accomplishes the exact same task as the old Blank Mask filled region type did.

In fact, when upgrading a project to 2008, any Blank Mask filled regions are automatically converted to a Masking Region.

[guy.messick825831]

Masking regions are also useful for detailing - say a Fry Reglet extrusion, you can create it with a masking region - no small bits floating around - export only lines to Acad.

[Wesley]

Note that 2008 only converts those filled regions that are using a white solid fill...
Also, masking regions can be given a height value so that, for instance, a cahir can hide the floor below while itself being hidden by a table. All automatic (if the masking regions are in the families...)

Wes

[patricks]

It does in fact also convert our Blank Mask regions, which were set to No Fill, to Masking Regions.

[Haden]

Note that 2008 only converts those filled regions that are using a white solid fill...
Also, masking regions can be given a height value so that, for instance, a chair can hide the floor below while itself being hidden by a table. All automatic (if the masking regions are in the families...)
Wes:confused:
My problem (and I hope someone has an idea for a solution) is one item C. Christian brought up that I think everyone has overlooked or missed: If I build pieces of furniture that have masking regions built into them, then I either see them masking the floor pattern, etc., or I don't see the furniture at all. There is not any way to turn off visibility of just a "masking region" subcategory of furniture in the object styles. Thus, if I want to have one plan view in which the furniture masks the flooring, I can, but if I want a second one to show the furniture as transparent, I cannot hide the masks globally for that view in my Visibility Graphics list.

I hope there is a way to achieve this, other than having a yes/no type or instance property for the mask's visibility, which would be global to all plan views, and would require swapping out this parameter individually by type or by instance just to show a plan the other way with respect to furniture masking.

[Steven Campbell]

:confused: Thus, if I want to have one plan view in which the furniture masks the flooring, I can, but if I want a second one to show the furniture as transparent, I cannot hide the masks globally for that view in my Visibility Graphics list.Try this: select one of the furniture families in the project, right click "Override Graphics In View -> By Category" then check Transparent for the category in the visibility/graphics override dialog.
Steve

[Haden]

Thank you, Steve! You guys get a gold star for that one!!!

[Steven Campbell]

Thank you, Steve! You guys get a gold star for that one!!!No problem, glad I could help.

[SCShell]

Hey there,

That tip, along with other "general" upgrade features, is included in the little screen pop-up slide show which goes through some of the main new features in 2008. (It fires up the first time you start Revit 2008; however, most folks pass right by it by clicking "don't show me this anymore".) But, not to worry....it is in the "Help" menu.

Good Luck
Steve