Steve_Nyhof

Another update. I think I have what I need for the projects I work with. That includes Pole Barns and the Steel Siding. I messed with this until I got the 3D model to look right AND the Layout elevation lines. Pole barn Steel Siding Library Polebarn Siding.calibz Here is an update on the Standing Seam Roofing Profiles. Note that when I create the bump in the flat space, because it joins to another bump, those lines do show up here and there in Elevations in Layout. (image above). So I plan to only use the smooth Standing Seam. Maybe someone will figure it out and share it. Updated Roofing Standing Seam 3D Profiles Library Roofing Profiles.calibz

I want to add some details here so you understand more about how the 3D Profiles work. This update is more specifically for the Modern Siding, but read the below first and download the new Library as the bottom Here is an updated version of the Shiplap modern siding (new name for the old Profile: Lap Modern X-Teak X" Lite name). I have renamed it because to change it from lap to vertical you go into the profile and change the Angle Rows to 90 deg. I found that in Elevation view, the old Modern Profiles showed no lines. This was because I had a radius set on the molding profile. 3D Profiles show these lines with a sharp corner only. Also. I have changed my walls (normal and attic) in Elevation View to Line Weight 1, so the double lines show up in Layout. Note that in Elevation view, the line thickness does not seem to be effected by changing the thickness, but it does change the thickness in Layout. The shadows will still show up in Elevation and Layout views. I also played with my color to get the look I want in Layout. Also note, that you need to test the other 3D siding and roofing Profiles you use, Lap siding, B&B siding, etc. to make sure these all look good in Layout. Molding Profile note. I add an extended line to the moldings so that any recess to the molding does not make contact with the surface below (the sheathing) as that will cause z-fighting. I will be updating some of my molding profiles now that I am learning this, and also making the moldings simpler in design as more complex moldings will slow down screen generation. If you replace a molding, note that the new moldings will check the box for the Texture Up Direction... You want to uncheck this in this situation. I am including 2 color material versions of the modern siding with 4" and 6" profiles. You can change the size by changing the Height and Vertical Offset respectfully. 6" Height needs 12, 6, and 0 Vertical Offset. The materials will update properly to the new sizes. New Modern Shiplap Siding Library Only - Replaces the existing Modern Profiles in the full Library Modern Shiplap.calibz This added note is for CA: The Lap Siding profile (normal lap siding): adding a hatch Pattern in the material in the Define Material DBX, did not add the hatch to the Elevation view. However, while messing with the Modern Shiplap, the hatch pattern on this material did show up in elevation view. I could adjust the vertical height and move the hatch line up and down in the elevation. I removed the pattern so that added line did not show. I could adjust the color of the line also from the DBX. Was just strange that the hatch would show up on one Profile and not another.

Here is a library of 3D Profiles you can use in the new X18 version. (Updates below) I am also including a lattice wall as it is easy to draw a room under a deck, set the floor height and have lattice under the deck and at grade. I also have a standing seam cap that matches the sheen of the 3D profile standing seem. There are a few elaborate profiles of siding that I do not recommend using as it slows down processing (regeneration time). But they can be used for cross sections where the profile is important. There are also some teak siding where I made slight variations of the material colors and used multiple moldings to create a more random pattern. If you want to make more colors, you would duplicate the profile and the materials, bring the materials into photoshop and make more (very slight) color variations of the materials. Note, I no longer use the vinyl profiles as the radius on the bottom edge does not generate a clean line in Layout views. Use the wood lap profiles. Most of the siding is white as that is how I make most of my materials that are easily colored to match what you want (painted result). Enjoy 3d-Profiles.calibz

And to help with the trusses

Truly Amazing Work!!

AI is often going to try and make a rendering look more photorealistic. I think it looses something when it does that. Using a number of my true renderings I gave ChatGPT my style, or maybe the software rendering style so that the whole of the scene is congruent - which I bring attention to in this thread. This house you can see does not even have a driveway or sidewalk - so you will want to have that as you can see AI placed the sidewalk into the side of the porch. But this is my result

I will share this. I use a CAD Details sheet for my Area Schedules, and there are some hoops I need to jump through to make it work in X17 - mainly around the Room Types below grade and the Shared Room Types above grade. What is Heated Living space or not. These based on what Room Types I use. So has nothing to do with CA's Living Area, (Included or not). I use my living area only as a reference to what my schedules tell me. And Sq.Ft. is not always 1 to 1 - FYI. But close enough in my opinion. Some times I need to disconnect a wall and put it back together to update the sq.ft in the schedule. In my layout I have a view that looks into this Schedule Detail sheet and I drag it in layout left or right to the Schedule display that works for my drawing. The schedule could easily be adapted to Remodel plans based on what Room Type you would use. However, when I set up these Schedules (with the help of @Alaskan_Son) There was a limitation in the Schedules options, and so I put in a feature request, and that new option I can tell you will be available in the next version coming out this summer. We are currently in beta. I cannot tell you what, but it solves the issue of really making schedules work for Area that previous versions just could not do smoothly. Here are what my schedules look like in the CAD Details X17 - current Just an example of how the View is shown on the Layout - wherever you like to put it Updated. If I remember - I will update this with working samples when the new release comes out. I will also need to work on some Remodel options - I currently do that differently, but now I think it might work with the new Schedule options coming soon.

Wow!! Is that amazing or what! Beautiful

Its been a while - and I have been busy, but I finally got around to testing AI software to generate renderings. I tested a few on the market like Rerender and ArchiVinci, and they fell flat in comparison to ChatGPT. I moved to Claude for writing as ChatGPT is typically sycophantic in its approach. But I tested it for rendering with very little prompt and its output is very impressive. Exported image from Chief. Note I did not even ask it to retain the original structure, it just did. Also note that I worked with it for 8 months and it knows who I am and what I do. That could play into the short prompts working for me. Prompt: Add beautiful landscaping plants and flowers and bright morning sky with 20% clouds. Add a few kids swimming in the pool Prompt: Add beautiful landscaping plants and flowers and evening mood. sky with 20% clouds. And the front. Note the stone still shows a pattern. I tried to have it remove the pattern, and I will find a way, but I do like that ChatGPT has left my model alone.

Thats it. I added a wall divider to stop the pony wall. Thank you!

Hi Rob. I'm not saying that there is a problem with the pony wall, but I have used these pony walls like this for years now without an issue. I think the golf room may be more of an issue, and possibly the firr walls, but they have not giving an issue either for years. Once I get back to the plan, I will put the golf room back to the normal floor and test that. I also think the window well itself so close to the side of the wall in that spot may also be "part" of the issue.

Thank guys for trying. I think it is either that "flag pole" or the golf room dropped below the basement floor I did this and it does work, but by default the holes depth goes down to the golf room footings which something funny on the main foundation outer footings. So when I make the whole the depth of the main footings it is better, but still shows some dark spaces under the footings. I got it working good enough. Thank you again Seve

Anyone want to take a stab at why the foundation is not cutting out the terrain? I am able to make a terrain feature and cut it, and I just found out because of the 12" drop in the gold room that it did funny things to the foundation bottom. But I change the depth to the bottom of the main footings and it works, but I feel like I have something disconnected. Thank you! https://drive.google.com/file/d/11exjAQHgc-0cCsptIUdCxBaaTYlFdEoI/view?usp=sharing

To the Makers at Chief Architect Years ago, I set aside familiar lines, Left AutoCAD’s careful, measured ways, And stepped into something faster, deeper— A tool that thought like a builder thinks. Since X12, you’ve been beside my drafting table, Quiet partners in every wall and beam. More than seven hundred homes have taken shape Because you cared how ideas become places. I know software isn’t just code and commands— It’s late nights, hard choices, And people who argue for what could be better. X17 tested some of us. It asked questions before giving answers. But time revealed the wisdom beneath the change. Now, as I work within its rhythm, I see not a departure—but an evolution. It is stronger, cleaner, and more capable, And I find myself helping others Trust the new view, Just as I once had to trust it myself. So this is my thank-you— To every developer, designer, and thinker Who poured heart into precision, And gave my work new life. May you know your effort matters. May your holidays be filled with rest and joy. And may the coming year bring clarity, creativity, And well-earned pride in what you’ve built. Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year.

Thank you, I would love to see it!

Looks great! Thank you for showing a solution to my backgrounds. So a little more context to help others. Did you upload this picture and ask AI to clean it up? And would you like to share what AI you used. I personally like Midjourney, but there are many now.

Seems this is a problem. You are the second one to note this. Because we are in X17 now, I would use HDRi backgrounds as chief uses them. I do like my backgrounds because they are more congruent with the 3D imagery of the model, and I can often rotate the scene or sun a bit to hide the lines, but what I am seeing here in your image would work nicely with HDRi backgrounds... Check a number of them out here...

X17 - HDRi 4K Backgrounds - they are smaller so even on a long process rendering they will still be a bit blurry. But they will not kill your computer if you have a slower graphics card. I have a 4090 and I still use the 4k because I like the effect of a slightly blurry background - draws attention to your model. Download the Library here... https://drive.google.com/file/d/1yWtMoAV0IryyEDPZRBXNWttF3AkPSGrx/view?usp=sharing

I've been busy, so not hear much. But I wanted to give an update on this thread now that a I'm a number of months in and using the Project Browser. Here is what my folders look like that help keep me organized. I am typically juggling 20 to 30 plans at a time so that is what I have in the Project Browser. I have not changed a thing from my initial content on this post. That tells me that these folders (for me) made this all work to help keep me organized. A BIG PLUS!! The LGR folder is a builder who builds condominiums. So the sub-folders are the names of the units. Under SND (the folder for my clients - not builders) has some sub-folders where I may move a project to get it out of my main working view of active projects under SND. So just pointing out how I am using this and that it is working as expected. Now the only reason I open my main Chief Plans folder on disk (explorer) is to export a project to, or open an old project that I need to bring back into the Project Browser. Otherwise, all my operations are right here inside Chief. I have really been enjoying the improvements in X17. Great Job Team! Cough, cough... update just two things on the stairs to make a bunch old timers happy

I know I posted this earlier, but it is worth the read as I answer or expound on a number of questions that are coming up. In fact I think I mention to stay on X16 and use X17 in Project Management mode until you understand the details before committing time on important projects. I use it every day now and love it. I am a single user so I cannot speak to a team.

Good to know, thank you!

I know you have it in you to say something nice to the programmers. Just do it! Do it for fun if not just to be kind. I'm sure you will get many people to give you upvotes and offset those nasty red downvotes. Plus, I bet that saying something nice will make a number of peoples day. Come on now... Put a nice big smile on your face, and say something nice!

You should change the title of this thread - MAC / PC X17 Disappointment Thank you

Download this rendering file and see what my settings are https://drive.google.com/file/d/1I2ZwzEyGUJHPKaD5RQ6J2S5B-f7iW8Mt/view?usp=sharing

I am getting these light stripes also. Not as bad as you are. I have tried a number of things, including adding a large solid behind the image and that also does not work for me. I do believe the lighting for the background plays a role so you might mess with that. But, one thing that is about this thread, is that it has progressed over time, and ended with me using HDRi backgrounds when introduced with X16. I did not hear anything about the image background issues from anyone else, so thought it was just me. I might have even eluded to this issue in this thread. I don't remember. Try moving your sun around a little also and see what you get.