mthd97

In the end its not wrong to have a combination of major apps to get the job done. If Softplan gives you something you need that you cant get done with Chief yet, then it may be good to have both? I play guitar and I use Kramer, Fender, Gretsch and Gibson they give me different tones and some are good for playing the rhythm and others for lead and some for both. So you don't have use one over the other if choose to use more than one.

I use both CA & ArchiCAD and both are very good tools. Right now with ArchiCAD 18 the new C4D render engine is much easier to use with good results with pre defined settings and Chief has given me good fast results for rendering for a long time now. We have more support in Australia with ArchiCAD and our library parts being Aus specific as well as having and Australian version of ArchiCAD. If I was in the US, CA is all I would need and use for my low rise housing projects. I still think the Chief learning curve was very easy for me but ArchiCAD was much harder and worth it. I would not give up Chief because of its very fast modelling capabilities for less complicated houses and gives me lots of productivity and saves time on certain jobs.

Chief Architects learning curve has increased over the years but I would say it is not really that steep, just looking at a demo of SP I would say that would be allot steeper? The training Videos in the SSA package make that climb easier. Yes CA to me is suited to quick design and rendering for residential housing. In the end each Design Professional has his own specific needs and priorities unique to them.

Hi Ian, hope they get this sorted for you soon as builder clients are always wanting things done yesterday. All the Best, Manuel Trantalis.