Materials
Materials control how elements look in drawings, in rendered views and in schedules. Learn how a material is built and how to assign and manage materials cleanly.
In this lesson you will
- Navigate the Material Browser
- Set graphics for drawings and appearance for rendering
- Assign materials through types and families
- Keep a tidy material library
The Material Browser
Manage › Materials opens the Material Browser: project materials at the top, libraries below. Duplicate a material before editing it; name materials descriptively (e.g. Concrete - Cast in situ, Brick - Common).
The parts of a material
Cut patterns are the hatches you see when an element is cut — e.g. concrete stipple, insulation. Surface patterns show on faces in elevation — e.g. brick coursing (use a model pattern so it's real-size).
| Tab | Controls | Seen in |
|---|---|---|
| Identity | Description, manufacturer, keynote, mark | Schedules, tags |
| Graphics | Shading colour, surface pattern, cut pattern | Plans, sections, elevations |
| Appearance | Realistic look (texture, reflectivity) | Realistic views and renders |
| Physical / Thermal | Density, strength, conductivity | Analysis |
Assigning materials
Most materials are assigned in type properties: each layer of a wall, floor or roof type has a material. Families have material parameters (e.g. Frame Material). Paint (Modify tab) applies a material to one face without changing the type — useful for feature walls, but use it sparingly because it's easy to lose track of.
Keeping it tidy
Downloaded families bring their own materials, and projects quickly collect dozens of near-duplicates. Purge unused materials, keep a standard library in your template, and schedule materials (Material Takeoff) to review what's in use.
Quick reference
| Command / tool | How to start it | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | Manage tab | Material Browser |
| Paint | Modify tab | Applies a material to a face |
| Material Takeoff | View › Schedules | Schedules quantities by material |
| Purge Unused | Manage tab | Removes unused materials |
Common mistakes
Walls show no hatch when cut.
Set a cut pattern in the material's Graphics, and use Medium/Fine detail level.
Brick pattern tiny or huge in elevation.
Use a model pattern (real-size) rather than a drafting pattern.
Exercise
Material setup
- Duplicate a concrete material; set a cut pattern and grey shading.
- Create a brick material with a model surface pattern at real coursing.
- Assign both to layers of your external wall type.
- Check a section at Fine detail and a realistic 3D view.
You should end up with: Walls that read correctly in drawings and 3D.
Checklist
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Lesson quiz
Which material tab controls hatches in sections?
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Taking the quiz marks it complete too. Your course page picks up where you stopped.
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