Time-Saving Bluebeam Tips

Construction Brothers - A podcast by Construction Brothers

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NOTE: Scroll to the end of the show notes for info on a discounted subscription for Bluebeam. Andrew and David brought us gifts! Chocolate and buckets full of Bluebeam tips! 01:00 - Chocolate Letters and Alaskan TroutWe start out today with some float-plane talk. Eddie shares about one of his trips to Alaska. Then we fess up to our lack of gift-giving etiquette and Tyler’s inability to wait when it comes to chocolate.Finally, we get into a few distinct buckets of Bluebeam tips.04:55 - Tips for Take-offs and EstimationDavid discusses the process of taking a Google Maps screenshot and pasting it into a blank Bluebeam PDF. Once it’s in there, you can calibrate and scale the image for use within your designs. He also talks us through photo- and map-overlay options that resemble augmented reality. Andrew shares about the Dynamic Fill feature, which allows users to do a take-off of an irregular shape. This tool allows you to easily apply custom measurement tools for dimensions including volume, which means that you can tag the area with fill materials, such as gravel in the case of a landscaping application. David mentions the Visual Search feature, which can identify every light fixture, doorknob, or anything else that might otherwise need to be counted manually. This can be applied on multiple files.Andrew describes some Excel-integration features that could save tremendous amounts of time.Tyler and Eddie mention a few ways they’ve used the simpler search and count features. 25:19 - 1+1=10 (Features That Combine To Be More Than the Sum of Their Parts)Although Tyler detests the word “synergy,” he was excited to hear the list of value-added combos such as these:Compare Documents + Overlay Pages + Cloud MarkupsCustom Statuses + Studio Sessions + ScriptsCover Pages + Custom Columns + Custom Tool Sets + Custom StatusesSnapshot Tool + Change Colors + Custom Tool Sets + Scaling43:44 - Delightful Little TipsAndrew and David share a few standalone operations that he’s noticed people really appreciate:Add a Leader LineAlign/StraightenCreate a CategoryAuto-mark/Page LabelsMultiplyEddie suggests that users experiment occasionally by just right-clicking on everything you can in order to see what options await you there.56:25 - Megaphone MessageDavid points out the need for everyone within the construction industry to take the initiative to mentor young people entering the industry. Don’t just watch them from a distance and hope they figure out how things work. Andrew builds on this by suggesting that everyone check in periodically with your peers to make sure they’re doing okay. He closes with a specific call for veterans to encourage young women who are entering the industry.Bluebeam Discount: Bluebeam is offering CBP listeners 20% off first year subscription on any of their three plans when you use the following link and use the code "bluebeambros" at checkout: https://store.bluebeam.com/. This offer is valid from now until March 31. Certain terms and conditions may apply.Video and Help Links:Compare with Overlay:-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3aX7NVjI81Y-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RESsnjNmOnECustom Statuses via Scripting:-