Import 3D Blog

How to Change IFC Textures in Revit (DirectShape Workflow)

Archi Communications Team
March 08, 2026
How to Change IFC Textures in Revit DirectShape Workflow

When IFC files come from landscape architects, interior architects, structural engineers, or MEP consultants, the geometry is often perfect for coordination but not ready for final visual output. In presentations, sketch views, and renderings, you may need to quickly apply your own color/material logic in Revit.

This guide explains the practical workflow to change textures on IFC-based DirectShapes in Revit, and why this is usually necessary in multidisciplinary projects.

Open IFC vs Link IFC: what actually happens

In Revit, both workflows convert IFC data into Revit geometry:

  • Open IFC creates a Revit model from the IFC.
  • Link IFC creates an intermediate <file>.ifc.rvt and links that into your host model.

So in both cases the geometry you see is not edited directly in the original IFC text file. For persistent material control, you generally need to work in the converted Revit representation (especially the generated .ifc.rvt when using Link IFC).

Why so much IFC geometry becomes DirectShape

IFC is exchanged mainly as an ISO 10303-21 STEP physical file format, but it can carry different geometric definitions: swept solids, BRep/CSG solids, and tessellated face sets (meshes). Revit maps what it can to native behavior, but unsupported or highly complex imported geometry is commonly stored as DirectShape.

In practice, consultant-authored IFC content often includes tessellated or non-native geometry patterns, which is why DirectShape appears so frequently in coordination models.

Practical workflow to change IFC DirectShape textures

  1. Link or open the IFC in Revit.
  2. If linked, locate and open the generated <ifc_file>.ifc.rvt.
  3. Select the DirectShape elements that need visual adjustment.
  4. Use Import 3D texture reassignment to apply the target materials/textures.
  5. Save the converted IFC Revit file and reload in the host model (if applicable).
  6. Verify appearance in your sketch/render view templates.

Where this is especially useful

  • Landscape packages received as IFC where vegetation/hardscape colors need office-standard presentation styling.
  • Interior consultant IFC models where finish palettes must match your visualization concept.
  • Engineering IFC models where key elements need visual separation for client communication.

Important note

If a given imported object becomes a fully editable native Revit element, prefer native Revit material workflows. Use the DirectShape texture reassignment workflow for IFC geometry that remains non-native in Revit.

Related guides

Want to apply this workflow in production? See Import 3D.

Related guide: Paint Tool vs Reassign Texture

Before choosing face-level painting for IFC DirectShapes, compare the scalable method: Paint Tool vs Reassign Texture for Revit DirectShapes.