Bluebeam is a powerful tool used by professionals in the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry to view, mark up, and collaborate on PDF documents. It allows users to easily add annotations and markups, such as text, stamps, and highlighting, to PDFs, making it a valuable tool for reviewing and communicating changes to design plans, contracts, and other project-related documents.
One of the key benefits of Bluebeam is its ability to facilitate collaboration. The software includes features such as Studio Sessions, which allow team members to work on the same document in real-time, and the Markups list, which keeps track of all annotations made by team members in a central location. This helps to streamline the review and approval process and ensures that everyone is working from the most up-to-date version of a document.
Bluebeam is an essential tool for AEC professionals looking to improve their workflow and communication on projects.
Tip #1: Customize your toolbar
Customizing your toolbar in Bluebeam is a simple way to streamline your workflow and make it easier to access your most frequently used tools.
By customizing your toolbar to include only the tools you use most frequently, you can save time and increase your efficiency when working with Bluebeam.
Tip #2: Use the Measurement tool
The Measurement tool in Bluebeam is a useful feature that allows you to quickly and accurately measure distances and areas on PDF documents. Here's how to use it:
Open the PDF document you want to measure in Bluebeam.
Select the "Measurement" tool from the toolbar. It's the ruler icon.
Click on the starting point of the distance or area you want to measure. This will create a starting point marker.
Click on the ending point of the distance or area you want to measure. This will create an ending point marker.
The distance or area measurement will be displayed in a pop-up window, along with the option to add the measurement as a markup to the PDF.
If you want to measure multiple distances or areas, simply repeat the process.
It's important to note that the Measurement tool is most accurate when used on PDFs that have been created from vector-based source files, such as AutoCAD or Illustrator. On raster-based PDFs, such as those created from scanned images, the tool may not be as accurate due to the loss of quality that occurs during the scanning process.
Using the Measurement tool can save time and reduce errors when it comes to taking measurements from PDF documents, making it an essential tool for AEC professionals.
Tip #3: Comparing, Overlaying, & Synchronizing Pages with Bluebeam Revu
Revu's "Compare Documents," "Overlay Pages," and "Synchronization" functions make it easy to track changes and see what was modified in old and new documents. The Comparison tool highlights changes, while the Overlay tool shows exactly what was changed. When used together with the "Synchronize Page" function, these tools allow you to easily navigate and compare changes. This eliminates the need for manual, time-consuming reviews of both documents in their entirety.
Revu has a feature called MultiView, which allows the user to split the workspace into multiple sections (up to 16) and synchronize the sections. The program also has a feature called MultiView Extended, which allows the user to separate a document tab from the main workspace and move it to a stand-alone, detached workspace. This is especially useful for working with multiple monitors. Detached workspaces can contain multiple document tabs, can be split, can be synchronized with the main Revu workspace, and always appear on top of the main Revu window. Users can split the workspace vertically or horizontally, and they can synchronize pan and zoom settings and actions across split views in different modes (either by page index or without regard to page index). Users can also move document tabs between splits and detach them from the main workspace.
Tip #4: Use the Markups list
The Markups list in Bluebeam is a powerful tool that allows you to track and organize all of the annotations and markups you've made on a PDF document in one place.
Using the Markups list can help you stay organized and keep track of all of your annotations and markups in a central location, making it easier to review and manage changes to your PDF documents.
Tip #5: Use the Stamps tool
The Stamps tool in Bluebeam allows you to quickly and easily add predefined stamps to your PDF documents. This can be useful for indicating the status of a document or for adding a professional touch.
Some examples of stamps you might use in the AEC industry include "Approved," "Revised," "Confidential," and "Not for Construction." Using the Stamps tool can save you time and help you easily and clearly communicate the status of a document.
Tip #6: Use the Link tool
The Link tool in Bluebeam allows you to add links to external files or webpages within your PDF document, making it easier for readers to access related information.
Using the Link tool can help you make your PDF documents more interactive and provide readers with easy access to additional information. It's a useful tool for AEC professionals who want to include links to relevant documents or websites in their PDFs.
Tip #7: Use the 3D PDF tool
The 3D PDF tool in Bluebeam allows users to create, share, and edit documents with rich CAD data that can be accessed by anyone. 3D PDFs can be created by dragging and dropping files with the Universal 3D (.u3d) or Industry Foundation Classes (.ifc) file extensions into the program, or by using the Bluebeam plugin to convert files from their original CAD program. The Bluebeam plugin can generate 3D PDFs from programs such as AutoCAD, SolidWorks, Revit, Navisworks, and SketchUp Pro. In addition to creating full 3D PDFs, users can also add 3D content to an existing PDF using the Add & Edit 3D Content tool.
The 3D Model Tree in Bluebeam allows users to browse through the objects in a 3D model and sort and edit metadata, such as object names and colors. The Views feature allows users to save specific perspectives and configurations of a 3D model for reuse. Data from a 3D PDF can also be exported to a CSV file using the filter and export features in Bluebeam.
The 3D PDF tool in Bluebeam is a useful feature for AEC professionals working with 3D designs and models, allowing for easy sharing and collaboration on these types of documents.
Find more at How to create 3D PDFs
Tip #8: Use the Studio Sessions feature
One of the key benefits of Bluebeam is its ability to facilitate collaboration. The software includes features such as Studio Sessions, which allow team members to work on the same document in real-time, and the Markups list, which keeps track of all annotations made by team members in a central location. This helps to streamline the review and approval process and ensures that everyone is working from the most up-to-date version of a document.
The Studio Sessions feature in Bluebeam allows you to collaborate with team members in real-time through a virtual meeting space. This can be useful for reviewing designs, making annotations, and discussing changes to PDF documents.
Using the Studio Sessions feature can help you streamline your workflow and improve communication with your team, making it an essential tool for AEC professionals working on projects with multiple team members.
Tip #9: Use the OCR tool
The OCR (Optical Character Recognition) tool in Bluebeam allows you to make scanned documents editable by converting the text in the document into a digital format. This can be useful for editing or updating documents that were originally created on paper.
Using the OCR tool can save you time and help you more easily edit and update scanned documents. It's an especially useful tool for AEC professionals who need to work with old or hardcopy documents that are not already in a digital format.
This blog post from Bluebeam goes in detail: Optical Character Recognition (OCR)
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