Walkthrough, export problem

[shanybear]

I create a walkthrough, preview it in Revit and it looks fine but when I export it the .avi file is just lines blinking rapidly. Is there a way to fix this without creating a new walkthrough. I have been taking the recreation route but it keeps happening. Am I doing something wrong with the walkthrough.

The other problem I'm having is that Windows Media Player won't open the files, which I think may be too big, but when I try to shrink them I still get an error message. This new version of Revit is not user friendly when it comes to walkthroughs.

[snowyweston]

First off, welcome to the forum! :thumbsup:

Now to your quandry... but I'm afraid it's going to be an stackexchange-esque OP dissection:

Am I doing something wrong with the walkthrough.

Since we have no details on what you've done / are doing, we couldn't possibly say. Please detail your export steps.

The other problem I'm having is that Windows Media Player won't open the files, which I think may be too big,

Let's all first agree that WMP is a bag of crap. Download MPC and/or VLC, make sure you've a decent n' recent set of codecs installed (look to CCCP) and then report back.

I still get an error message.

From WMP or Revit? What does it say?

This new version of Revit is not user friendly when it comes to walkthroughs.

New version? Knowing which version you're using helps - although IIRC the walkthrough tool hasn't changed at all for years. Yes, it's a rather ugly tool, but with a bit of TLC can deliver pretty decent results.


So that's the end of the stackexchange-esque "cold" welcome, please take on board the criticisms that first posts (in threads, not 'first ever' posts) need to be suitably fleshed out for others to engage with. But I'm the type who likes to suppose and fill in gaps, so here goes...

To "summarise".... the issue (with Revit walkthroughs) is almost always at the point of export. As with printing, the "issues" almost always occur at disconnect between a native application's ability to "render" (as in draw) a view/scene/object/etc and the output medium (say paper, pdf, or in this case avi). Think how DPI plays with PPI, or how vectored arcs facet in other programs... it's exactly what's happening here. With video you've duration, frame rate, frame size, etc all to consider. I would hazard the "flashing" you're seeing is your walkthrough zipping past you at a million miles an hour - suggesting your FPS are off. The "only" problem with lowering the FPS is that you can then up end (very quickly) with juddery/stuttery frame-to-frame viewing experience. The key here is understand the interplay between frame count and frame rate.

Beyond establishing those fundamentals, the next significant barrier to your use of (Revit) walkthroughs is the .avi format - and in particular, Revit's implementation of it. Much like a .wav to an .mp3, .avi as a video format is pretty hardcore, as universal a format as it is, you would be better off exploring .mp4 as a format. But since Revit does not export direct export to .mp4, why do I mention it?

Well a quick search of the forum would have led you to a handful of threads that have discussed walkthroughs in detail before. I strongly recommend you hunt them out. Specifically, you will want to investigate the workflow of export singular frames, then re-compiling them (in something like Windows Movie Maker or VirtualDub) where you will have far greater control in post-editting of your video - and be able to produce (natively) smaller, slicker, smoother, silkier, sharper videos...

HTH

[shanybear]

I will look into VLC, thanks
(Let's all first agree that WMP is a bag of crap. Download MPC and/or VLC, make sure you've a decent n' recent set of codecs installed (look to CCCP) and then report back.
)

I used Revit 11 for a very long time but then finally upgraded to Revit 2014 so to me there was a big change as it had been many years. I now have Revit 2017.
(New version? Knowing which version you're using helps - although IIRC the walkthrough tool hasn't changed at all for years. Yes, it's a rather ugly tool, but with a bit of TLC can deliver pretty decent results.)


I don't have the time to render each frame so I need to get even the Hidden Line version of the walkthrough to render. (I would prefer to render the walkthrough in Consistent Colors if possible)

I have 750 frames on my walkthrough and I'm ok with either 15 frames or 30 frames per second. Do I need to render just 100 frames at a time? Or change how many frames per second?

I have discovered that I have to copy my building into an entire new file and then create a new walkthrough so that the lines videos will stop happening.

When I create a walkthrough, I click on Export, Images and Animations and then walkthrough. I then pick the number of frames to render (say 1-100) and on the Video Compression pop up I pick Full Frames.
Based on one of your comments, am I supposed to be picking on of the other options? How do I know which one I want?

Sorry for not having enough information, I've never been on here before and I was so tired and frustrated I was ready to through my computer against a wall the other night.

[snowyweston]

After the export walkthrough settings dialog (where you can set your visual style to consistent) simply select from the file types dropdown when defining where to save, and you'll see the .jpg / .png option.

[snoozulooz]

Thank you for this dialogue. This is the closest information I have found as yet as to what I am attempting to do.
Basically I would like to export 20 second walkthroughs (walkaround actually) in realistic render mode and use them as a full-width videos in web page headers. . My Revit avi extractions seem to be about 400 to 800 MB. I hope I can get there. My requirements seem to be <1GB MOV,MP4,M4V or WMP.

Thanks again. My first post.

[snowyweston]

and use them as a full-width videos in web page headers.

Mate, go with a .gif, seriously...


Check out the really rather tasty examples* here: DMA David Miller Architects - HomeDMA | Home


*not walkthroughs, (arguably cooler) but you'll get the idea.

; )

[snoozulooz]

Impressive

Mate, go with a .gif, seriously...


Check out the really rather tasty examples* here: DMA David Miller Architects - HomeDMA | Home


*not walkthroughs, (arguably cooler) but you'll get the idea.

; )

That's some impressive software....
Various display modes.
Walk around spinning on the building or site axis with 42 captures.
Some sort of white out existing phase most likely photo or laser mapping-captured. (I doubt he modeled all that existing).
Perspective section views with sequencing.

[snowyweston]

(I doubt he modeled all that existing).

*they

but yes, spot on, at least IIRC; photo-capture scan models & Revit proposals compiled in 3DSMax, w/ the turntabled & exploded snapshots then compiled as .gifs - but I have no idea how they then made them interactive (some natty web applet I imagine)

[Dhilip]

Kindly try using Revit live and Sting Ray for Walkthrough, it will feel realistic.

[snoozulooz]

Thank you Dhilip.