NeilofOZ

Eric, no I wasn't, but am now and Collada export is hi-lighted. But now can't access the CA file to insert for conversion, Neil

Need to import A CA file into a third party programme ( Twinmotion ), did one early last year, but the Collada option doesn't hi-light to activate, don't know why. Currently running with version X11, Neil

We had our local User Group meeting today and I revisited the topic of using ELEVATION LINES in lieu of ELEVATION POINTS. The previous meeting the consensus was that ELEVATION LINES were the preferred method for altering terrain levels, but this seemed incongruous to me as both LINES and REGIONS can only have a single reference to their heights and the tutorials only use LINES from one side of a lot, to the other. I ended up using ELEVATION POINTS instead of LINES, as there were numerous entry points to the building, which made it difficult to re-shape the terrain to each of these areas, using a single reference for horizontal data to multiple points Ended up doing the following:- 1. Reset my contours to 1M. 2. Added ELEVATION POINTS along the contours, which allowed me to copy/paste the same data along each contour. 3. Removed all the contour lines 4. Created an TERRAIN HOLE to match the profile of the building 5. Placed a new TERRAIN POINT at each area that coincided at all entry points. 6. Where the terrain appeared out of kilt with the existing land, changed the original ELEVATION POINTS closest to new points, to nullify any obvious discrepancy. The result was far better than expected and allowed me to micro manage the terrain levels with the utmost accuracy. Have attached a picture as the plan is too large, showing new ELEVATION POINTS in orange, but would be interested in any comments that other Users may have.

Chopsaw, when you say copy/paste or transform/replicate, are referring only to the plants or the building with the plants.

Have a terrain site plan and transposed a building onto it via a symbol which I created from another plan, every thing worked except the plants weren't included. On my first try, I realised the plant items weren't checked in the "Layer Section" "Display Options", but corrected this and still no plants. Files are too big to email both plans, but have attached the original plan that was copied as a symbol. Regards Neil. Sharrock_Ray_Trace_-_Copy_D_+_Entry_Portal.plan

Chopsaw, This fixed up the background, but when converted to Jpeg and expanded, the pixcelation is too rough, however with the PDF image the image definition is good, no matter what size it's expanded to. I'll send both cad and PDF formats to my supplier, am sure one of them will be OK. See attached my PDF image and thanks for your help, regards Neil. Door Pocket.pdf

Chopsaw, I just saved it as a PDF via the print format and it's OK, will send to client and see if he can use it, but he originally asked for it as Jpeg image, see attached. Regards Neil. Door Pocket.pdf

Chopsaw, 1. When I printed the image direct through CA Software, everything is OK, but I cant get that definition when exporting. 2. When I click on your image you sent is has a black background, it looks OK, but the background is the problem. 3. When I exported you image to my desktop, it only shows the text but no cad lines, although the lines flashed on for a second then disappeared. Back to square one, I think.

Just done a small cad detail for a supplier and exported this as a picture file as it will be inserted into a brochure. The image detail lacks definition and the the arcs are shown dotted and not solid lines, which detracts from the image. Have attached CA Plan file for reference. Regards,Neil. Door Pocket.plan

Gentlemen, Solved the problem, but not the desired result. It's obvious now that the problem is in Ray Tracing, because if I export straight from the screen image, then the option is there to delete the Background and to me this defies logic as one can't use all of the software's capabilities to deliver the best possible image, am I correct here. Regards to All, Neil.

OK, Pics were ray traced in both PBR and SR formats and have saved as PNG, BMP & JPG, all carried the grey backgrounds. Am using my laptop at the moment while away from the office, but i don't think this would make any difference as these issues were the same on my desktop. Regards Neil.

Gentlemen, Tried saving in all file formats as suggested, but nothing has changed, back to square one. Regards to all, Neil.

Sorry again Fellas, But that window doesn't come up when I select "Save Picture" , it goes straight to the locations where the image is to be saved.

Matty, See attached captured settings available to me using PBR and there is no facilitiy for checking a "Transparent Background", whether it be in the camera settings and or exporting of image. There are boxes checked for Camera Exposure and Camera Settings, but are not available to uncheck, so I don't know if this is the problem, no facility in Defaults to change these. Regards Neil.

Sent this article on Tuesday and no responses, what's up. Having an Issue regarding creating a transparent background to 3D images. Checked all settings relating the background and white is the setting which is required. Checked the most detailed tutorial and this relates only to inserting pictorials. As soon as I Ray Trace, the grey background emerges which then prints with the image. The same is pertinent to shadows, these are shown and not required as they distort detail in the picture. See pic attached with grey background & shadows, something is amiss which I don't understand. Regards NeilofOZ.

Having an Issue regarding creating a transparent background to some 3D images. Checked all settings relating the background and white is the setting which is required. Checked the most detailed tutorial and this relates only to inserting pictorials. As soon as I Ray Trace, the grey background emerges which then prints with the image. The same is pertinent to shadows, these are shown and not required as they distort detail in the picture. Something is amiss which I don't understand. Regards NeilofOZ.

OK, got this sorted out, was nothing that you guys suggested and had already done those things. I backtracked on where I started and it dawned on me that somewhere along the line, I deleted the internal wall surface, thinking it was a lining material and not the framing material, took 30seconds by just replacing the walls that I deleted. It just goes to show, that unless you understand every facet of the programme, it's the little things that create issues, another lesson learned today and only 999,999 to go LOL. Regards to all, Neil.

Have created a large workshop but don't understand how to display and expose the wall framing. Initially i set the walls up with steel framing when setting my wall type and even change this to fir framing which is shown in the attached, but all you see is a solid wall of the material pattern. There are no internal linings required or specified in the Wall Type, so the framing should be exposed if the framing has dimensions and spacings, even in the Framing Overview, no framing is displayed. Regards Neil

Thanks for the tips fellas, & comment as follows:- House Position OK have several options here, leave the house & rotate the plot, convert the house to a symbol and move at will or Edit Area All Floors, I like the 2nd as it allows me to play around with the house as an individual object, just my way of thinking. Stacking of Polylines Latest Plot plan was amended, checked it again and it seemed OK, still can't work out why/how this came about. House Elevation Will adjust the height of the terrain when house is in it's final position, also the decking posts and footings. Remember that the house is existing and have measured the existing heights above ground level. General Will leave the Terrain break lines ( i like them ) this plot is only a segment of a large agriculture lot and depends on the outset of how I deliver the final drawings as I need to add an extension to a large workshop ( yet to be drawn ) for council approval. No watering necessary as the ground is Wheat country and that's the nearest matching grass that was available and is pretty much what it looks like with a bit of dirt mixed in. Regards to all. Neil.

Thanks Glenn & David, Couple of things before I go into detail, I have difficulty dealing with the collective programme as a whole, so in some instances I separate the elements so I don't go messing up other things I am working on, this is a classic scenario. In the fullness of time and gaining experience from guys like you, hopefully I will be able to cut corners with this knowledge. 1. Fixed up the text, all of the text editing done previously was via Open Selected Object, this the process was totally new to me. 2. Deleted the stack of Polylines embedded in the Terrain Perimeter, lord only knows how they got there. Even after doing the whole exercise again, the same thing happened. 3. Have sent a new plan which combines the new terrain and house, the terrain profile looks good but still have the problem resetting the house on the site, things go missing and other components remain in the original position, thought this could be done by just Selecting the house and shifting it to where I wanted it to go. To me, CA doesn't have a structured tutorial system, a beginner is left to a seek & search method for answers via a search box and or forums. When I reviewed similar cad packages they came with a classroom tutorial package, which in hindsight maybe this would have been a better option for me. We have User group in town, but they only meet once a month for a couple of hours, which doesn't give you much of an opportunity to learn. I actually engaged a member of the User Group to get me started, but in the end it became to costly. From my perspective, CA should have a structured learning programme whereby beginners can start with the elementary processes and work into the more complex ones and encompass a sort of Curriculum backed up be videos. Anyway, I am achieving something that I never had the chance to do so I'm sticking with CA. Regards Neil. Tracey's House Plan & Terrain.plan

Just imported a PDF lot and traced over the boundaries and contours as indicated in CA's tutorial Playlist 21, see attached both Tracey's Block Plan showing original PDF drawing and Tracey's Site Plan of the conversion I did, so far so good, I think. Still have some issues as follows:- 1.Can't find where I access the text for the boundaries and contours as these are minute and require enlargement. 2.Obviously the next stage is to place the house on the Site Plan, but having difficulties as I am losing the foundation structure and other elements during the copy & paste procedure, pasted the house onto the Terrain and the Terrain onto the house without success, need some help. Neil. Tracey's Block Plan.plan Tracey's Terrain Plan.plan

Followed Michael's video on the above and looking good with purlins now exposed to all Decking areas. Have a couple roof minor issues and seek advice on the above:- Gutter Extension See attached snippet showing gutter extending below the roof sheeting over the decking, where it connects with the gable roofs. Obviously at the junction of the 3 roofs ( 2 Gullwings + Gabled ) a valley gutter should be shown at this point but can't see where this option is available. Gable Ends See attached snippet of the gable where a gap is seen above the gable sub fascia, have tried a couple of methods to close up, but not successful. See attached CA plan and snippets for clarification. Regards Neil Tracey's House Plan Purlins.plan

Mick, Initially when setting up the deck, I thought I was being smart by just changing the angle of the material to the direction I needed, but obviously this element works against the decking process, every day I get better & better, lol. Will work on the purlins this weekend as I'm still running a business which keeps me active and busy at times. Regards Neil.

Mick, Re Decking:- Got mine working, but took sometime as I had previously change the material direction and this was creating a cross hatched appearance in some areas which had me baffled, all good now and I'll know for next time. Regards Neil.

Mick, Regarding the deck planking, already tried the things you suggested over the weekend including isolating the deck areas, change all planking to a common size, turning auto off & on, changing plank direction, changing material direction, changing the planking in defaults, etc etc etc and no deal, so something is still missing, it shouldn't be this difficult for a simple task, virtually spent a half day trying to get this right in accordance with several videos and User Guide. See my latest Floor Plan Neil. Tracey's House Plan-Decking.plan