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What a revision cloud is for
A revision cloud is a scalloped outline around changed drawing content. It draws attention to the affected detail, note, or group of related changes. Autodesk describes Revit revision clouds as a way to indicate design areas that have changed, and its AutoCAD guidance describes them as a way to call attention to modified or revised drawing areas (Revit 2026 help; AutoCAD Blog).
When to use a revision cloud
Cloud a change when a person reviewing or using the drawing needs to locate it without comparing every part of the current sheet with an earlier issue. Enclose the changed content closely enough to identify it, but do not cover dimensions, notes, or nearby design information. Apply the project’s rules for which changes require clouds and how they are drawn.
For example, PacifiCorp’s consultant drafting standard directs engineering groups, contractors, and consultants to cloud specific affected details on drawings in design or construction. That is an owner-specific requirement, not a universal rule for all construction drawings (PacifiCorp CAD Drafting Standards).
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When a cloud is not enough
A cloud shows location; by itself it does not establish which revision is approved, explain why a change was made, show the drawing’s issue status, or record who authorized it. Keep the cloud connected to the project’s revision identifier, title-block or revision-block information, issue details, and document-control process.
ASME describes Y14.35 as covering practices for revising drawings and associated documents, including identifying and recording revisions. Y14.100 sets requirements for preparing and revising engineering drawings and associated lists, subject to applicable specialty standards. As of October 3, 2026, ASME’s catalog listed Y14.35-2025 and Y14.100-2017, noting that the latter version remains in effect. Confirm the current edition and whether it applies to your project with ASME and the governing contract documents (ASME Y14.35; ASME Y14.100).
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Follow the project’s cloud conventions
Before drawing clouds, check the CAD or drafting standard for the required layer, color, linetype, arc size, revision marker, and views or sheets to be marked. Conventions vary by owner and project. PacifiCorp’s standard, for example, specifies red clouds on a REV layer, a continuous linetype, consistent arc size, and a nearby revision triangle carrying the drawing revision number. It also advises keeping clouds with drawing entities in the same space and allowing a line break if a cloud conflicts with text (PacifiCorp CAD Drafting Standards).
Whatever the specified convention, keep the cloud clear at plotted scale and distinct from the design geometry. Separate changed areas when one boundary would make it unclear which content is affected. The sources cited here do not establish a universal color or numerical arc size; use the applicable office, owner, and contract requirements.
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Creating and checking clouds in CAD
AutoCAD
AutoCAD workflows can create clouds freehand or from existing geometry such as a polyline, circle, polygon, or spline. The AutoCAD Architecture 2025 command reference documents freehand, object, polygonal, and rectangular cloud shapes, along with settings such as color, arc length, and polyline width. For that command, maximum arc length cannot exceed three times minimum arc length; this is a product constraint, not a general drafting rule (AutoCAD Architecture 2025 command reference). Exact prompts and interface steps can differ by product version, so consult the help for the version in use.
Revit
Revit 2026 supports assigning a revision to a cloud, tagging it, adjusting its boundary and appearance, hiding it, controlling arc length, and creating a revision cloud schedule. Autodesk says a newly added cloud receives the most recent revision by default, but another revision can be assigned. Check the cloud’s revision association before issuing the sheet (Revit 2026 help).
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For extensive changes
A cloud is most useful when its boundary can point clearly to affected content. If a change is so extensive that clouding individual areas would obscure the drawing or leave its scope unclear, check the project’s document-control procedure. It may call for a reissued sheet, a narrative change description, or another control step. There is no universal threshold established here for replacing clouds with those alternatives.
Quick Recap
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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