DIYJon

I'm sorry to hear that it pains you so much to produce accurate representations of a design. I'm renovating a 1973 townhome, and I'm documenting it, and I'm drafting plans for the city so I can legally perform the work, which I'm doing myself. I'm also researching this entire process called Architecture, of which I have no formal training. We call that learning. I am the building department. Would you recommend, since part of this renovation is converting to copper, that I deploy GFCI breakers instead of being concerned with GFCI receptacles? I hadn't considered this.

For the purpose of modeling accuracy, I presume I would use a standard 110V CAD block and simply check off GFCI in the options for that receptacle so the model doesn't show individual GFCI outlets in the rendering. Yes?

...or just the first outlet? Also, should I create a custom line type to use with electrical connections that reads GFCI in the middle of the line to denote which part of a circuit is protected?

Just to test the polyline feature, I created an area over a dividing wall and calculated. I get results in the materials list for just about every part of the walls except the upright studs. I get Blocks for the block wall, headers for the door, stucco, running bond, but no studs under framing. Any ideas? Here's a short video of the problem.

I have 15...and that's the last version I'll ever have since they changed the licensing model.

The inset is due to a 1" layer of foamular insulation that will be added behind the wall.

It's too big to attach here. Are there any restrictions to linking to a doc share?

I have a layer set intended to show connections between lights, and I have another layer set to show connections between receptacles. There are two layers for this in each layer set: Electrical, Connections, Lighting Electrical, Connections, Receptacles. I've created a view for each, and each view has the appropriate layer set assigned. When I'm viewing all of the views for Receptacles, including the layer set that has Receptacles layer on and lighting layer off, when I draw a connection between receptacles, I'm prompted to turn on the layer for lighting connections. I have selected the Receptacle layer as the active CAD layer, but it doesn't seem to matter. Is there somewhere else that I need to tell CA to draw connections on a specific layer?

Here's a quick loom of my problem. https://www.loom.com/share/1aaff659860b4d948e871b4617c8aebd?sid=a5f72cd2-8f98-4545-815a-0482ef459fda I have a few top plates that sit higher than adjacent walls and I can't figure out what's determining that setting.

I've recorded a quick screen cast of the problem. When adding a notes schedule to a new CAD view in the Project Browser, despite selecting the category for the notes, nothing populates the list, but on the plan where the notes are, the same notes schedule shows what it should. Loom Question

I'm sure. Here's a quick Loom of what I'm experiencing. https://www.loom.com/share/c29cf9acd6784aeea39fb21f8664c6ee?sid=9365c5e7-27f6-4a7c-9c55-88ce425f7461

I have, but it doesn't seem to do anything to the ceiling.

With a 1/2 shadow reveal?

I have speakers that I'm putting into the ceiling. Rather than mounting them directly on the drywall, I'm creating a 1/2" wide x 1/2" deep shadow reveal that surrounds the circumference of the speaker. When it's complete, it looks like the attached photo, which puts the speaker grill flush to the drywall and leaves that reveal ring around it. How would I replicate this look in CA? I imagine I would create a circular polyline 3d molding and then insert it into the drywall, but I can't figure out how to make a hole in the ceiling surface so I can recess the ring into the drywall.

For visualization / modeling / explaining or asking questions about construction, I find it easier to offer a visual representation of what I'm doing. Right now I'm trying to learn how to physically connect a small sloped roof on a new shed (lean-to) to an already existing and finished stucco wall on a framed structure. To do so, I'd like to present an image showing the underlying layers of the proposed solution much like the image attached, where it's a sort of cut-away showing each material layer. Is this possible with CA? If not, what software are these guys using to create these images?

As you can see in this image that I've ray traced, the tops of the doors, the recessed lights, the ceiling fan...they all have a bright glow to them. If I turn off the sunlight, this goes away. What could be causing this?

I've used the Fence feature to build a wrought iron gate whereby the Balusters are the 1/2" uprights between both of the 1 1/2" posts and 1 1/2 top and bottom rails. It looks great. The only problem is that I can't figure out how to insert synthetic 5" wide slats between the Balusters. If I create a 3D shape, it's constrained by the fence planes and can't slip between. If I edit the fence and change Balusters to Panels, I get alternating wood panels which resemble what I'm looking for, but that removes the wrought iron Balusters, naturally. Is is possible I may have to completely model the entire gate as a 3D object rather than building a fence between the block wall pilasters? I suppose modeling it would also allow me to add the doorknob insert on the gate as well as the flat-iron cross beams which the boards attach to... Thoughts?

I have cameras all over my plan to create "before" images of my remodel. Those cameras will remain in place and after I make my changes to the plan, I'll create images again. With over 20 cameras placed, is there a way to select all cameras and export a PNG of the view without doing each one manually? I'm not ray tracing at this point, just grabbing the 3D view. Thanks.

Thanks for the tip. I'm part of a lot of forums where this is frowned upon, unfortunately. @DBCooper

I'm lost. I got the facet angle adjusted for the edges with the molding, but I'm not sure what an inverted return is, nor how to do what you mentioned.

So easy. But, I'm stuck on one thing. Is there a way to slice the bullnose molding to match the arc of the ends of the countertop?

Aha...okay. I'll give it a shot.

I had already modeled these long ago, and I don't know how to do the same type of modeling in CA yet.

I modeled my kitchen island formica counter-top in Fusion360, exported it to *.OBJ format, and imported it into Chief Architect. I set it to "Sits on Base Cabinet or Table" in the item's options. It sits just fine on top of the base cabinets I've placed, but I'm unable to add a sink to it, I presume, because it's a solid object. Is there a way to cut a hole in it using Chief Architect, or do I need to model it with the hole for the sink? And, if I do need to model it with the hole, when I try to add a sink to it, will the sink snap to the right spot above the 36" base cabinet? On another note, the base cabinet in this image was also modeled outside of Chief Architect and brought in as an OBJ.

If I double click a spline between two electrical fixtures, I can set the new segment angle. Is there somewhere that this can be set as a default for every connection created? I can't find it.