Creating RPC Shadows in Revit
Enabling RPCs to cast shadows in Revit is easy. The following tutorial will show the process of enabling RPC shadows for Exteriors or Interiors.
Basic RPC Shadow Info
To cast shadows an RPC needs to be on a surface that can receive shadows and have a light that can create shadows. Most RPCs are planar and consist of one texture and one alpha mask per available view (3D RPCs have multiple views). As the light’s ray passes through the RPC on it’s way to the surface the alpha mask determines what part of the plane is transparent. Since it cannot pass through the opaque part of the alpha mask a shadow is created. The same is true with 3D+ content except it relies on the mesh instead of an alpha mask.
Exterior RPC Shadows
Exterior RPCs are created by the Revit sun. To cast Exterior Shadows: Step 1. Turn on Cast Reflections. 1. Right click on the RPC and select Properties. 2. Select Edit Type. 3. Click on Edit.. next to Render Appearance Properties. 4. Turn on Cast Reflections. (This may be on by default depending on the Revit version.)
Step 2. Render with an Exterior Lighting Scheme.
Enable an Exterior sun option under the Lighting options.
A shadow will then render.
Interior RPC Shadows
Interior Shadows work almost exactly the same as Exterior, except instead of the light source being the Revit sun system, it is from a lighting family.
Step 1. Turn on Cast Reflections. 1. Right click on the RPC and select Properties. 2. Select Edit Type. 3. Click on Edit.. next to Render Appearance Properties. 4. Turn on Cast Reflections. (This may be on by default depending on the Revit version.)
Step 2. Render with an Interior Lighting Scheme.
Enable an Exterior sun option under the Lighting options.
A shadow will then render.
Need help? Please e-mail support@archvision.com.
