By Garry Stockton
There are times working within Revit that Masking Regions are needed to hide/cover model information within a project file. There can be many other reasons for you to do this (hiding unrelated content for example). You will recognise the need when you have it. However, when working with Masking Regions, it is always good to know the guidelines and rules for how they work.
The image below of a Masking Region covering part of a simple HVAC model.
Below are some guidelines for using Masking Regions in Revit:
- Masking Regions placed in a model are not carried through to other models in which they are linked. For instance, if an Architect places a Masking Region in the Architectural model, it will not affect the Engineer’s model.
- If you use anything other than Invisible Lines for the boundary of the masking region, the lines will be visible.
- Masking Regions can be any shape.
- Each edge of the Masking Region boundary can be a different line style.
- Masking Regions are part of the Detail Items category. If Detail Items are turned off in a view, the Masking Region is ineffective and the model information behind it will not be hidden.
- Annotation categories (such as text, tags and dimensions) will NOT be hidden by masking regions. Model categories will be masked if they meet other rules.
- 3D views cannot be masked with a Masking Region, even in a locked 3D view on a sheet.
- Masking Regions should be pinned so that they are not accidentally moved.
- Masking Regions will mask lines, text etc from a linked CAD file.
- If a Masking Region is placed in an area that can be seen in adjacent dependent views, it will hide the model information in both views. You will need to hide the Masking Region in the view where you desire to see the model information.
- The Masking Region command is available from the Annotate tab and the Detail panel.
The various visual styles that are assigned to a view will affect whether the masking region is effective.
- Wireframe – the masking region will have no effect and the masked information will be visible.
- Hidden Line – the masking region will hide model information behind the mask.
- Shaded – the masking region will hide model information behind the mask.
- Consistent Colours – the masking region will hide model information behind the mask.
- Realistic – the masking region will hide model information behind the mask.