how to export plot styles from revit

Daniel Parker

2 min read

·

06-02-2025

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Revit's plot styles are crucial for controlling the appearance of your drawings when you plot or export them to PDF or other formats. Knowing how to export and manage these styles can save you significant time and effort on future projects. This article details how to export plot styles from Revit, ensuring consistent output across all your projects.

Understanding Revit Plot Styles

Before diving into the export process, let's briefly define what plot styles are in Revit. Plot styles determine how elements in your model will appear in a printed or exported drawing. This includes line weights, colors, line patterns, and more. Consistent plot styles ensure professional-looking output and maintain a unified visual representation across your project documentation.

Exporting Plot Styles: Step-by-Step Guide

There isn't a direct "export" function for plot styles in Revit like you might find for families or templates. However, you can achieve the same result by exporting the entire template file that contains your desired plot styles. Here's how:

1. Create a Template: If you haven't already, create a new Revit template (.rte) file. This is crucial because plot styles are saved within the template, not as standalone files. You'll want to ensure this template includes all the plot styles you wish to save and reuse. You can create a new template from an existing project.

2. Organize your Plot Styles: Before exporting, ensure your plot styles are organized and clearly named within your template. This will make it easier to locate and manage them later. You can organize them into folders within the plot styles dialog.

3. Save as Template: Once you have set up your preferred plot styles within your Revit project, save the file as a Revit Template (.rte). Choose a descriptive name like "MyProjectPlotStyles.rte" to easily identify the file later. This .rte file now contains your plot styles.

4. Sharing the Template: To use these plot styles in another project, open a new Revit project and then use the "Open" command but select your saved template file instead. Your previously defined plot styles will be applied to the new project.

5. Alternative: Copying Plot Styles (Less Reliable): While not recommended for long-term consistency, you can try copying and pasting individual plot styles from one project to another. However, this method is less reliable and might lead to inconsistencies depending on Revit versions.

Maintaining Consistency with Centralized Plot Styles

Maintaining consistency is key. Using a centralized template file, as described above, is the most reliable way to manage your plot styles. This method minimizes errors and ensures that everyone on your team uses the same settings.

Troubleshooting and Tips

• Version Compatibility: Be aware that plot styles might not always transfer seamlessly between different versions of Revit. Try to maintain consistency in Revit versions across your projects.
• Overwriting Styles: When opening a new project using your plot style template, carefully review the styles to ensure they haven't inadvertently overwritten existing settings.
• Regular Backups: Regularly back up your template files to prevent data loss.

By following these steps, you can effectively export and utilize your Revit plot styles, leading to streamlined workflows and consistent, high-quality output. Remember, a well-organized template is the key to efficient project management and consistent visuals.