4.4 Grow/Shrink Animation

Available with the Following Subscriptions: All Subscriptions
Available for the Following Roles: All Roles

This guide covers how to use the Presentation Visuals tool to animate and color-code BIM Elements in Architectural Model Presentation Mode. Available animations include grow and shrink which can be assigned to BIM elements and are automatically applied at the start or end milestone depending on whether the element is added-to or removed-from the site plan as defined by the project schedule. This feature is a great way to visualize concrete pours or demolition sequences.

How to Use Presentation Visuals


Note: Before applying Presentation Visuals to a BIM Element, it is recommend that you ensure the elements are properly sequenced by assigning the correct milestones/start and end dates.

1. Identify the BIM Element(s) you want to animate in the tree or the 3D model
2. Open the element's side sheet by double-clicking it or right-clicking it and choosing Edit BIM Element. 
   
   
   
   
3. Access Presentation Visuals by clicking the tab on the BIM Element's side-sheet
4. Choose an Animation Type by selecting it from the drop down. There are 3 options:
   • • New Construction: Use this option to visualize additive processes, like a concrete pour or an installation.
     • Demolition: Use this option to visualize subtractive processes, like a demolition or removal.
     • None: the default setting, no visualization is applied
       
5. (Optional) set a Highlight Color. Highlight colors are set automatically based on animation type (green for new construction, red for demolition), however users can change the color by clicking the colored square and setting a custom color. The color will be applied to the 3D BIM Elements when they are animated during the playable presentation indicating which elements are being animated in the current milestone.
   
6. Select a Grow/shrink animation Direction from the drop down, there are 3 options for each Grow and Shrink. Find more information in the Grow/shrink animation Direction section:
   • • Grow ⬆️ / Shrink ⬆️
     • Grow ⬇️ / Shrink ⬇️
     • Grow ➡️ / Shrink ➡️
       
       
       
       
7. Choose how the animation is applied to the element(s) from the Grow/shrink across dropdown, there are 2 options. Find more information in the Grow/shrink Across section:
   • • Whole model: the set of elements will be animated in series, one after the other, sequenced based on Grow/shrink Animation Direction
     • Individual element: selected elements will be animated in parallel, all at the same time
       
8. (Optional) toggle on/off Preview Changes in Viewer to apply the color code to the BIM Elements in the 3D viewer.
9. (Optional) when you are ready to view the animation, select Presentation Preview. Automatically, the full screen Presentation view will launch and begin playing from the current milestone.
   • • To exit presentation mode hit the esc key, or click the "x" that appears when the cursor is moved to the top-center area of the screen.
10. (Optional) click Done after making your selections for all settings. Note that your selections are automatically saved as soon as they are set, whether or not you click Done.

Grow/shrink animation Direction

The below graphic shows how the 3D element will be animated based on the Grow/shrink animation direction.

When the direction (1) is set to either of the horizontal options (Grow ➡️ or Shrink ➡️) users are given a further setting (2) to set the angle at which the BIM element will grow or shrink.

Grow/shrink across

There are two options to choose from for both Grow and Shrink: Whole model and Individual element. 

• Whole model: the set of elements will be animated in series, one after the other, sequenced based on Grow/shrink Animation Direction
• Individual element: selected elements will be animated in parallel, all at the same time

Whole model

Animates the selected BIM Elements as if they are one unified element instead of separate pieces.
Recommended Use Case: For elements that need to be animated in sequence (one after the other) based on proximity/adjacency. For example structure erection starting from the ground level and progressing upwards.

Individual growth

Animates selected BIM Element(s) as individual(s) not dependent on one another.
Recommended Use Case: For demonstrating construction activities that will happen at the same time but independently, for example communicating 2 pours that need happen simultaneously in different areas of the site.