Chose between digital and paper markups for redlines last week

I had to pick between using Bluebeam Revu for markups or sticking with paper redlines on a set of plans for a 40 unit apartment complex. Went with Bluebeam since we were all remote, but three of the subs couldn't open the files and kept asking for prints. Has anyone else run into this where the tech just doesn't work for everyone on the team?

3 comments

3 Comments

aaronsullivan3d ago

Happened to me last year on a school retro fit. We had a few older subs who still wanted real prints because they didn't have the software or a decent screen to mark up on. Ended up doing a hybrid thing where I scanned their redlined prints back into Bluebeam, which was more work but kept everyone happy. It's a pain when the tool that's supposed to save time just creates more headaches.

karencampbell3d ago

Wait, you actually had subs who couldn't open a PDF? I thought everybody at least had a smartphone or tablet they could view that stuff on by now, that's wild.

-1

phoenix_lewis3d ago

Oh man, I gotta push back on that a little, @karencampbell. I think you're underestimating how many people in the trades still live in a paper world. Some of those older subs have been doing it the same way for 30 years and a smartphone isn't gonna change that because their hands are covered in grease all day. Plus, if you're out in a basement with no signal or your tablet battery dies halfway through, that PDF is useless. The guy who wants real prints isn't being lazy, he's being practical for his specific situation.