Using Layers in Bluebeam Revu

Layers in Bluebeam Revu provide a powerful way to organize, manage, and view different elements of your PDF documents. By using layers, you can control the visibility of various markups, making it easier to focus on specific aspects of your project. This feature is particularly useful in complex documents such as construction plans and architectural drawings. Here’s how you can create and use layers effectively in Bluebeam Revu.

Setting Up Layers

Setting up layers in Bluebeam Revu is a straightforward process. Follow these steps to get started:

1. Open Your PDF Document: Launch Bluebeam Revu and open your PDF document.
2. Access the Layers Panel: Navigate to the Layers panel, which can be found in the side panel of Bluebeam Revu.

3. Create a New Layer: Click on the Add Layer button. This will open a dialog box where you can name your new layer. Enter a descriptive name and click OK.

4. Assign Markups to Layers: Select the markups that you want to assign to a specific layer. Right-click on the selected markup, choose Layer, and then select the desired layer from the list.

Using Layers

Once you have set up your layers, you can use them to streamline your workflow in several ways:

• Controlling Visibility: Layers allow you to turn the visibility of different elements on and off. This is useful when you need to focus on specific parts of your document without the distraction of other markups.
• Organizing Information: By categorizing related markups into layers, you can keep your documents well-organized. For example, you can create separate layers for electrical, plumbing, and structural elements in a building plan.
• Grouping and Sorting Markups: In the layers tab, you can create “child” layers that can be grouped into different categories like a folder structure. You also have the ability to sort your layers in any order, including alphabetically.

By utilizing layers in Bluebeam Revu, you can significantly enhance your productivity and document management. Layers allow you to keep your project organized and easily accessible. Try setting up layers in your next project to experience the benefits firsthand. If you are interested in learning more about layers, check out our Bluebeam training courses where we talk about layers in much more detail.