scottharris

Chief Architect X14 runs directly on Apple M1 ARM processors without the Rosetta emulator. As a result, there is approximately a 20% performance improvement when you take a 3D view, generate elevations or other tasks. X14 is in beta now – if you’re interested send an email to beta @ chiefarchitect.com

The Physically Base Rendering requires lights to be on. Be sure to have lights near your windows and set the number of lights in the render camera that it uses to a high number. This video may help: https://www.chiefarchitect.com/videos/watch/6155/clay-rendering-real-time-ray-tracing.html?playlist=102

Here’s a short video on creating templates that may help. https://www.chiefarchitect.com/videos/watch/248/creating-templates-from-existing-plans.html

Cris, welcome to Idaho! The local NHAB chapter (NIBCA) would be a good starting point. Several long time members there should be able to get you started. Also, could be the county and other local building depts. have notes they can share. If you do design/drafting for local builders, let us know (PM), we get lots of requests for local work and like to pass the information along.

NVIDIA posted a new driver today (Jan 10, 2022). This may solve some of the driver issues related to the 3D ‘device removed’ error. See the ‘studio driver’ 511.09

I have an I9, MSI Laptop w/ a 3070 GPU and Windows 11. I too frequently see the 3D ‘device removed’ error. In working with our testing & engineering groups, we believe this is a video driver issue from NVIDIA on the 3xxx GPUs in Windows 11. NVIDIA is working on it (maybe too slowly). I finally moved my laptop to Windows 10 and so far have not seen the issue. Moving to Windows 10 was not ideal, but I also had other performance issues that appear to be solved with Windows 10.

I have both a Mac and PC laptop that I have damaged the batteries by CPU ray tracing overnight. Typically, I would setup the scene and then ray trace at a higher pixel count overnight. My first experience was when the Mac was very, very hot one morning. Later I found the case was warped and the battery was the cause. The PC laptop seemed to manage the heat better, so I continued (?). Recently its battery stopped taking a charge and I ordered a new one. In replacing it, the battery had mushroomed (see photo). It should be flat. I’m sharing the story to perhaps save you a battery replacement or possibly worse. CPU ray trace on laptops in short periods, and/or reduce the CPU utilization, or use a desktop, or use real-time GPU ray tracing. Happy New Year!

Here you go. This is using an auto roof. The left side of the house has a +6' higher ceiling. The plan is posted if you want to investigate the wall settings to build it. 1463105307_ShedRoof.plan

Greg, if it's not in your digital locker and you cannot do it online, please call us Monday. We will be open at 7am. Your SSA should still be valid thru year end.

Bob, it looks like you are using X12? We made a number of framing changes in X13. When I open your plan – since it is set for auto framing – does this look like you would expect ? (see the attached image). Here’s a related video for more info: chiefarchitect.com/videos/watch/316/designating-platform-or-balloon-framing-conditions.htm

You can set that default in the Ceiling Finish Definition. In the attached screen shot, it’s using ‘storm’. Change it here to what you want for the initial material.

You might find this video helpful to learn about PBR rendering chiefarchitect.com/videos/watch/10251/real-time-ray-tracing-setup-optimization.html

Also, we do offer 1-1 personal training where we can screen share. chiefarchitect.com/training/

You might find this video helpful to create a hung foundation https://www.chiefarchitect.com/videos/watch/5202/creating-floor-platforms-that-hang-inside-walls.html

Here's an example of a detail with ibeam / post connections. You can find a few in the Lake Point sample plan.

These are the tips I use when creating a 3D walk through -

To push the fireplace into the wall – you can override bumping/pushing by holding the control key (PC) / command key (Mac) and sliding it in with your left mouse button.

Style Palettes can allow you to change the cabinet door types – you may need to dial in the scoping settings to limit just the door type. This Style Palettes video may help.

See if this helps in the Symbol Dialog.

There’s a video that shows a few different ways you can place the apron / farm sink depending on your design https://www.chiefarchitect.com/videos/watch/1552/placing-an-apron-sink.html