Apply a different material to an element section without altering the family definition or adding a new family to the model.
This video demonstrates the following:
Use the Split Face and Paint tools when you need to apply a different material to a distinct portion of an element. For example, we want to place a decorative pattern with a different brick color on a wall of the building. Because it is only a change to the material in one small area of the wall, splitting the face and then painting the alternate material may be easier than making modifications to the wall type or adding a family to the wall.
Before an alternate material can be painted, first, split the face of the wall. On the Modify tab, click Split Face. Click to select the wall face to split. Then, from the draw panel, select a tool to sketch the area to split. Like other sketch based elements in Revit, the sketch for the split face must form a closed loop. Click Finish to complete the split face area.
Because a split face can only contain one closed loop in the sketch, the split face is copied to finish making the pattern. With the design for the split face complete, you can now paint it. On the Modify tab, select the Paint tool. In the Material Browser dialog, select an alternate color brick material.
Place your cursor on the split face to highlight it, and then click to apply the paint. Do this for the remaining portions of the design. Click Done in the Material Browser when finished painting the design.
Use the Split Face and Paint tools to add materials to the face of an element without altering the family definition or adding families to your project.