Hide 3D elements and layers in BIMx

[Roland Szabo]

Element hide and layer visibility control are Pro features in BIMx Mobile and Desktop. Introduced on iPhones and iPads in October 2024, and later on Android, Windows, and macOS.

How to Access

Signing in to BIMx automatically enables Pro features for members of eligible companies. Read more: BIMx Licensing.
You can also try Pro features in the built-in demo model.

Get the latest BIMx app:

- iOS and iPadOS: Apple App Store

- Android: Google Play
- macOS: Apple App Store 

- Windows: Microsoft Store

Hide elements

Available in all 3D models

The Hide element function has been added to the element context menu, which opens easily with a long tap.

The Hidden elements label counts the hidden elements in the 3D window’s top left corner. The label disappears when presenting favorites.

Open the Hidden elements palette from the label to list hidden elements in alphabetical order based on their ID used in Archicad. The “Element ID” property is usually displayed, but can differ depending on your Classification system.

• Unhide elements by tapping on their ID. The blue element highlight helps you identify the proper element before unhide.
• Unhide all to revert element hide interactions.
• The Invert view function lets you quickly isolate one or more elements.

BIMx stores each interaction. Use the Back function to undo steps. 

The Hide selection function has been added to the Selection palette. Select elements and hide them at once. You can combine selection with the Invert view function to isolate multiple elements.

 

Did you know?
Multiselection is automatic when opening the model from an interactive element schedule with the Show all in 3D function.

Layers

Available in Hyper-models exported from Archicad 28 or later

To utilize the Archicad project's layer system, tick the “Use Layers in BIMx” checkbox in Publisher Set Properties before export. This option is available as of version 28 and is enabled by default.

Layer functions appear in BIMx’s navigation bar at the top and in the element context menu only if the necessary conditions are met (latest Archicad version, Use Layers checkbox, Pro account).

The Layers palette lists the Archicad project’s layer structure. Layers and layer folders without 3D elements in the current model are filtered out from the palette.

• Use the eye icon to hide or unhide layers and layer folders.
• Tap on the layer name to activate the blue element highlight on all the layer’s elements. This helps identify them without changing their visibility.
• Expand and collapse folders, subfolders, or even the complete layer structure by tapping their name.

Use the Hide layer function in the element context menu to hide all the elements on the associated layer.

The Hidden layers label in the top left corner counts the number of layers hidden (either with the Layers palette or from the element context menu).

The Hidden layers palette opened from the label also includes the Unhide all and Invert view functions. Inverting the view of hidden layers is useful for quickly isolating multiple elements on the same layer(s).

Layer Combinations  are available from the top-right corner of the Layers palette:

Select another layer combination to rapidly hide multiple layers and layer folders. Unlike Archicad, selecting another layer combination in BIMx will not reveal elements that are not included in the original 3D model. The content of the BIMx Hyper-model must be defined before publishing.

Benefits

Interactive 3D models with element filtering enhance communication efficiency during architectural, engineering, and construction workflows.

Faster project revision

Detect documentation or modeling issues using the project’s layer system. Create BCF-based issues and send them directly to Archicad’s Issue Organizer.

Enriched presentations

Hide multiple elements with layers and use the same 3D model to create various filtered views.

 

This simple example presentation highlights element hiding capabilities using a single 3D model. You can improve your presentations by integrating different 3D models, 2D-3D transitions, layouts,  sun settings, shading options, etc. Read more: How to present with BIMx.

Optimize the Publisher Set

Exporting different 3D models is no longer required to hide, e.g., the environment, or show only the structure, interior furniture, or MEP elements.
Now, you can prepare these views in BIMx instead of Archicad. Simplifying the BIMx Publisher Set results in more consistent documentation, faster export, and smaller file sizes.

 

Saving different 3D models is still useful for sharing the predefined 3D Views with externals. It is also needed to show different Design options, Graphic Overrides, and Renovation statuses – when the intersection of elements changes. Read more: 3D Model Switch.

Any feedback or questions about element hide features? Feel free to open a discussion on Graphisoft Community's BIMx Forum or contact us at bimx@graphisoft.com.