You can easily set the color and transparency of objects in Simplebim. When you export IFC, the exported model will have the colors you see in the 3D window. What you see is what you get.
You can colorize objects manually by first selecting them in the 3D window and then setting the color and transparency for the selected objects. You can use any of the methods available in Simplebim for selecting objects and we have a detailed how-to article about how to select objects here.
Simplebim remembers your latest settings and you can easily apply the same appearance to other objects like this
While setting appearances manually is useful you will find that setting appearances with templates is the winner. This is because you can set up rules to create consistent color schemes for your models. You can for example give a different color to fresh air and exhaust air systems, to external and internal walls or different kinds of rooms. If you are not familiar with templates, you can find basic information about applying templates here.
Example: You can download a template that demonstrates this functionality here. For using this template please import our getting started model. The template will colorize the walls in that model based on the Layer Set Assignment -property, such that external walls become green and half transparent and internal walls orange. You can easily adjust this template to work in your use-cases.
You can use the Table -palette for colorizing objects temporarily based on the hierarchy you create in the Table -palette. You can switch this functionality on/off with the 'Colorize groups' setting. Please note that if you export to IFC while the temporary colors are used, the temporary colors will be exported to IFC. What you see is what you get.
If you want the original colors that you imported from IFC back, you can simply run the Reset Colors -tool.