3D Models for Autodesk Revit

Autodesk Revit (2024/2025) supports several 3D mesh formats for import and linking. RFA (Revit Family) files are Revit's native parametric content format — the most integrated option. For external mesh assets, Revit supports: DWG and DXF (AutoCAD) with 3D solid/mesh geometry, FBX (for linked 3D views and rendering pipelines via 3ds Max), SKP (SketchUp files via the Revit SketchUp import add-in), and IFC (Industry Foundation Classes for BIM exchange). Direct OBJ and STL import is not supported natively in Revit's main workflow — these formats are typically converted to FBX or DWG first, or used in the linked 3ds Max rendering environment.

The two main methods for adding entourage to Revit are: (1) Revit Family (RFA) method — use Insert → Load Family to load an RFA entourage family (Revit comes with built-in RFA content for people, trees, and cars). You can then place instances using the Component tool. Free and paid RFA libraries are available from manufacturers (furniture brands) and content sites. (2) Linked 3ds Max method — export your Revit model to FBX via File → Export → FBX, then import into 3ds Max or 3ds Max Design. In 3ds Max, add marketplace 3D assets (people, trees, vehicles, props) from Proofly or other sources, set up materials and lighting, and render for client presentations. This FBX pipeline gives access to the full Proofly marketplace.

Revit does not support direct FBX import into the modeling environment as a placed element. However, FBX is central to Revit's rendering pipeline: you export the Revit model as FBX (File → Export → FBX) and import it into Autodesk 3ds Max, 3ds Max Design, or VRED for photorealistic rendering. In 3ds Max, you can then add FBX entourage assets from the Proofly marketplace — furniture, people, trees, vehicles, and props — to populate the scene around the Revit architecture. The combined scene is then rendered in Arnold, V-Ray, or Corona. For direct use inside Revit, convert FBX assets to DWG first using Autodesk FBX Converter or 3ds Max's DWG export.

Architectural visualization with Revit benefits most from: (1) Furniture and interior decor — sofas, chairs, tables, lighting fixtures, kitchen appliances — used in interior renders to show occupied, lived-in spaces. (2) Human figures — people in various poses (standing, sitting, walking) to show scale and activity in the building. (3) Vehicles — cars, bikes, scooters — for parking lots, streetscapes, and exterior views. (4) Trees and landscape — deciduous trees, conifers, bushes, ground cover — for site context renders. (5) Urban props — benches, streetlamps, signage, planters — for exterior streetscape compositions. All these are available on Proofly in FBX and GLB formats suitable for 3ds Max or direct GLB viewing.

The standard Revit-to-render pipeline: (1) Build and finish the Revit model with materials assigned to walls, floors, roofs, and furniture families. (2) Set up a 3D View in Revit with the camera angle, section, and visual settings you want. (3) Go to File → Export → FBX — Revit exports the 3D view geometry as an FBX file preserving material names and camera position. (4) Open 3ds Max, import the FBX file, and add entourage from the Proofly marketplace or 3ds Max content library. (5) Assign rendering materials (V-Ray, Arnold, Corona materials) to the imported Revit geometry and add lighting. (6) Render. The FBX from Revit contains clean geometry ready for material assignment in any renderer that 3ds Max supports.

Yes. Proofly has free FBX, GLB, and OBJ models that work in the 3ds Max rendering pipeline used alongside Revit. Use the Free filter in the marketplace to find no-cost people, furniture, trees, and props. Autodesk also provides a free Revit content library (RFA families) included in the Revit installation. For the 3ds Max visualization pipeline, Proofly's marketplace assets complement Autodesk's native RFA library — especially for contemporary furniture, custom props, and high-detail human figures that aren't available in the default Revit content.