If you missed our latest user group session, don’t worry — we’re recapping the highlights from Myles Smith, Senior Industry Growth and Strategy Manager at Graphisoft, who walked us through the new Bluebeam Connection feature in Archicad 29.
This exciting update bridges design collaboration between Archicad and Bluebeam Studio, bringing long-awaited functionality back for Mac users and streamlining issue management for everyone.
Bringing Bluebeam Back for Mac Users
One of the standout updates from this release is Graphisoft’s renewed partnership with Bluebeam. As many users know, Bluebeam ended support for Mac several years ago — leaving many design teams scrambling for alternatives.
With the new Bluebeam web-based Studio integration, those days are over. Archicad users can now:
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Create and join Studio Sessions directly from Archicad.
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Collaborate on live markups with multiple users in real time.
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Import issues and markups from Bluebeam back into Archicad for tracking and resolution.
“This update is a big step forward for our Mac users to start coming back into the Bluebeam universe,” said Myles.
And the best part? The connection is built right into Archicad 29 — no add-ons or extra installations required. You’ll just need an active Bluebeam license to access Studio.
Learn more about Bluebeam Studio on the official Bluebeam site.
How It Works
Myles demonstrated how to create a Studio session directly from the new Bluebeam Connection panel in Archicad.
Once logged in, you can:
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Select a Publisher Set (for example, “PDF for Bluebeam”).
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Publish your sheets directly to Bluebeam Studio.
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Collaborate live — engineers, architects, and contractors can all add markups simultaneously.
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Import those markups back into Archicad as tracked issues, visible in your Issue Manager.
These markups can then be assigned to team members, prioritized, and resolved — giving teams full visibility from design to documentation.
Feature Parity & Future Updates
One of the most discussed topics during the session was feature parity between Bluebeam’s desktop and web versions. While some advanced tools are still catching up, Myles confirmed that Bluebeam’s web app is “closer than ever” to full parity — a promising update for design teams transitioning from desktop workflows.
Graphisoft and Bluebeam continue to collaborate closely to improve functionality and expand support for hybrid Mac–PC workflows.
For details on what’s currently available, check Bluebeam’s Web vs. Desktop comparison chart.
What This Means for You
The Bluebeam Connection represents a major leap in interoperability for design professionals who rely on seamless collaboration tools.
Whether you’re an architect, engineer, or project manager, you’ll benefit from:
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Simplified issue tracking and markup management
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Real-time collaboration without OS limitations
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Direct link between design models and review workflows
As Myles shared, “People love marking up in Bluebeam — and now, with this integration, that’s easier than ever.”
See It in Action
Want to watch the Archicad User Group featuring the Bluebeam Connection?
👉 Join our LearnVirtual User Group Plus program: Join and watch the Full Review of the New Bluebeam Connection
You can also explore more upcoming webinars and training sessions at archvista.com/upcoming-events/webinar-schedule.