Grids in 3D Views

Learn how to control the visibility of grids in 3D views and use 3D grids to help you control grid extents in your models.

What are they?

Grids are a set of named reference planes you use to help you layout the structure or locate elements in your model. Traditionally you use, and see grids in projected views, such as plans, sections, and elevations. Starting in Revit 2022, grid elements placed in your model can be displayed in 3D views. 3D grids are not separate elements, but an enhancement to grid elements. Understanding the settings used to display grids in 3D will help you use them in your models.

Why should you use Grids in 3D?

There are two primary uses of grids in 3D views. Setting the 3D extents of a grid, and more clearly communicating the context of a 3D view.

Set 3D Extents

While working in Revit you may encounter situations when a grid line is not visible in a plan, section, or elevation view. When this happens, it is typically because the 3D extents of the grid are not intersecting the projection plane of the view where the grid is not visible. For example in the two floor plans shown below, grid line "1" is visible in the first-floor plan but missing from the second-floor plan .

1st Floor Plan

2nd Floor Plan

In the elevation view, grid line "1" appears to intersect both level 1 and level 2 .

Based on what is shown in the elevation view, grid line "1" should be visible in both of the plan views.

Looking at a 3D view with grid lines visible, the problem is illustrated. When a grid line is selected in a 3D view, the 3D extents of the grid are displayed. The 3D extents of grid line "1" are not tall enough to intersect Level 2. In contrast, the extents of grid line "2" extend through the roof of the model. This is why grid line "1" is not displayed in the second level floor plan, the extents of the grid do not intersect Level 2.

To make an adjustment to the extents of a grid, select a single grid line in a 3D view and grip controls are displayed. Use the controls to adjust the extents of the grid. Prior to this functionality, adjusting the extents of the grid required checking and adjusting the grid extents in multiple views. Used as a diagnostic tool the display of grids in a 3D view makes locating and adjusting grid extents quicker and easier.

Note: Controls to adjust a grid in a 3D view are only visible when a single grid line is selected and the view does not have a section box applied. When a section box is applied to the 3D view, you can select the grid line and see the extents of it, but cannot make adjustments.

Annotate 3D Views with Grid Lines

Grids displayed in 3D views function as annotation. Views may show parts of a model out of context from the model. In these cases, the 3D grids communicate where a particular view is taken from and where it is located in the larger context. The example shows a detail of a typical frame and the grids are used to indicate where this detail is within the larger model.

Where do you control the visibility settings?

Grids in 3D views are displayed on level datums in the model. Any level datum can be used. The 3D view controls if/where grids are displayed.

To show grids in a 3D view:

1. Open a 3D view.
2. In the 3D View Properties palette, under Graphics, click the Edit button next to Show Grids.
3. In the Show Grids dialog, check the boxes for the levels where you want the grid lines to be displayed.
   Note: The grid lines represent the intersection of a level plane with the grid surface. The grid lines will be displayed only for those grid surfaces that intersect the selected levels, and they will be updated automatically if the grid or level positions change. For each checked grid-level intersection a grid line will be displayed.
4. Click OK to save your changes and exit the Show Grids dialog.

By default, the lowest level is checked for newly created 3D views. For existing views, no level is selected after upgrading the model.

The display of grid bubbles is controlled the same way they are in plans, sections, and elevations. For additional information see: Show and Hide Grid Bubbles. In a 3D view the grid bubble cannot be offset from the grid line.

As you navigate in a 3D view the label in the grid bubble will rotate to keep readable in the view. Grid bubbles more than half obscured by geometry in the view or the crop boundary of the view will not be displayed.

Note: Grid lines can be displayed in 3D perspective views, but grid bubbles will not be displayed, and the grid lines will be shown as solid.