VIEWS
If you are doing a detail create a detail view using View tab > Call-out. Don't duplicate a view as there will be no cross reference to it (and you will have to manually create cross references).
Choose which View Type to use.
If it is a large scale detail where you may want to add further, smaller details (e.g. 1:20 containing references to 1:5 details), use one of the main view types - Floor Plan or Section.
For smaller details use a Detail View type.
More information refer GUIDELINES > DETAILING GUIDELINES > WHAT TYPE OF CALLOUT TO USE.
Decide whether the detail will be a single reference broken into separate parts, or separate details.
Views can be broken, and the broken pieces moved closer together. So you can create a detail reference of a whole wall in section, but then break up the actual detail so it only shows the top and bottom.
Note that if you turn off Crop View in the detail the breakup is lost and has to be re-created. For this reason it is more robust to do separate details. Revit will align separate details on sheets so there is not a lot of advantage doing broken details.
Name the view to identify it as a detail (e.g. Detail - Grid 8/D), keeping in mind the name you give it is the name that will appear on sheets.
View settings to consider:
set the correct Scale and Detail Level
turn off unnecessary model categories (furniture, casement, electrical, etc).
turn off unnecessary annotation categories (elevations, sections).
change Far Clip Setting to Independent, and set Far Clip Offset to small figure (e.g. 100mm).
change Display Model to Halftone.
Create a View Template to record the changes you have made. Next time a call-out is create use this template instead of manually changing settings.
SIMPLE DETAILS
Use the underlying model as much as possible using techniques like:
Visual Graphic overrides (including Override Host Layers which allows changes to lines within walls, floors, roofs)
Override Graphics in View...by Element.
Linework Tool
Add minimum components, filled regions, lines etc.
COMPLEX DETAILS
If the underlying model is messy or quite different from the detail draw over the top instead of using the underlying model.
You can use change the view parameter Display Model to Halftone or Do Not Display.
Use Detail Components where possible.
Use Repeating Components for roof sheeting, multiple stud, purlins etc.
Use Filled Regions - make sure the sketch lines used to create the filled region are an appropriate sub-category.
Linework tool can still be used, even if the view parameter Display Model is set to Do Not Display.
Use Lines as a last resort - make sure they are an appropriate sub-category.
Use Draw Order (Bring to Front, Send to Back) to get things on top of each other.
Use Copy & Paste to copy elements between similar details.
NOTING
Use Type Comment tag to note components in preference to Text. This ensure all notes change when a component is changed (e.g. from plasterboard to fibre cement sheet).
Filled Regions can also be tagged with a Type Comment tag.
LINEWEIGHTS
Lines are on a subcategory that defines their lineweight, line pattern and colour.
Always do a test print at the scale of the detail to make sure line weights show correctly and don't overlap.
If they do adjust geometry so they display correctly. (Details have never been drawn 100% dimensionally accurate because of this problem).
USE OBJECTS NOT LINES
Instead of Lines use Detail Component families or Filled Regions or Masked Region so that the background is hidden.
These are all created using lines so make sure you think about the subcategory these lines are on. Note that subcategory settings within a family file get overridden by settings in the project file.
In Detail Component families consider adding geometric parameters - but don't over do it. Think about whether a parameter should be an Instance or Type. Use Type parameters for dimensions fixed by the material (e.g. thickness - 10mm plasterboard), use Instance parameters for extent of the material (e.g. length). Instant parameters can be visually stretched once the component is placed, Type parameters can not be stretched.
MAKING COMPONENTS FROM CAD FILES
DGN and DXF files as well as DWGs. DWGs or DXF are usually easier.
Unless you can see the CAD file is clean and simple it is best to open the CAD and clean it up, removing all annotation, breaklines, surrounding structure etc. Then Purge. Also check the origin (0,0,0) is not a long way away (> 30,000m). If it is move everything to be closer to the origin (the exact origin location doesn't matter).
Create a new Detail Component family from a Detail Component Template.
Insert the CAD file into your Revit Detail Component file, make sure Center to Center is selected.
Move the CAD insert to an appropriate location. The Reference Plane intersection is the insertion point.
Do a Full Explode.
Select all the lines, change their sub-category to a Revit sub-category (typically Detail Items).
You now have a detail made up of lines, so it is transparent - things behind will not be hidden.
If the detail component represents something solid that would hide things behind it you need to create Masking Regions.
If it is cut create Filled Regions with a Fill Pattern.
Use Copy & Paste to create Masking Regions or Filled Regions from the CAD lines:
Select bounding CAD lines (hit Tab to cycle to select string of lines).
Masking Regions and Filled Regions are made from lines forming a fully enclosed shape.
Copy clip (ctrl C).
Start a new Filled Region (or Masking Region).
From toolbar Paste>Paste Aligned.
Note that lines shorter than 0.8mm will delete themselves.
You may need to edit or add lines to create a fully enclosed shape.
Change lines to appropriate sub-category (Thin Line, Medium Line or Wide Line).
Finish Masking or Filled region.
Delete CAD lines used to create the Masking Region or Filled Region.
When finished:
Manage tab > Object Categories and delete all CAD imported sub-categories.
Manage tab > Purge and purge everything.
Save As using a name prefixed with DI_ and a description of what it is, in the appropriate folder under Detail Components.
You can then use Load in to Project to place it in your project.
If it doesn't work as you want go back to the family file, make changes, save it, then Load in to Project again.
Remember to go back to the family file and Close it when you have finished.