HumbleChief

Here's something that might get you close enough to model.

Got to learn more, got to learn more...What is the Perry method? Perry?

I would probably use AutoCAD Sorry, that was low. I wonder if there's a way to create a really narrow truss and use steel as its material for the bar joist?

LOVE it, and that can go in my profile/template plan. Turn off when manual changes need doing. Nice, I'm going to try it thanks Dermot.

Thank you guys - appreciate your time.

Thanks

I've adopted that same method then and like it so far. Just have to remember to not auto-rebuild. Plus my profile plan has the notes on its foundation level (0) as well so they are never too far away. Thanks Scott. Michael, Alan, what method do you use? Or do you?

I've got an HP 100plus and haven't printed to it in a long time as it always chokes on even medium large files.. Always a PDF first.

Slow to the party huh? I've been working around it without too much trouble and I think you have your slab on floor 1 and re-size to the new walls? Anyone else have a method that works?

I have a bunch of notes I like to use on my foundation plan but every time I re-build the foundation the notes disappear. I've taken to using the same foundation plan and moving the foundation walls around to match any new floor above and that preserves the notes but was wondering what you all do to save those notes. Library I guess is obvious, but what other methods are there out there?

Good point.

I think it's really important that Chief get its software accurate and correct but I'm a bit confused by the need to have stairs measured and calculated absolutely perfectly for a builder - in the plans. I understand the argument but I've never seen a builder begin building stairs without measuring the actual height of the landing above and using his common sense, simple division, and building skill, build a stair that fits, and is built to code. If I had a builder who came to me after the fact and said my plans showed the risers to be 6 11/16" and I built them that way and look they are 1/2" too high at the top of the stairs, I would encourage that builder to find a new line of work - yesterday. Doesn't mean Chief shouldn't get it right, but if this is a real work place problem then having Chief be perfect in this regard is not going to solve the obvious deeper issue.

That's only common sense and to rush the job or do it fast just to get out of the house would be foolish. That's just me. Did a measure this afternoon. Small house, single story, maybe 1400 sf. Took exactly an hour with consultations with the Contractor and homeowner and a video recording of both the interior and exterior with audio notes on my phone. Remember I'm talking a small house and anyone who saw it would not be surprised at how short a time it takes to complete. I think we're talking apples and oranges. I've been doing them for 15 years and I have a system that doesn't require the job to be rushed to get it right. Of course there's the occasional error but they are minimal these days and they don't come from rushing or trying to be fast for the sake of fast. Anyone can take as long as they want to measure an as built, and can measure anything they want, I just wanted to throw my not so Humble (got it Michael) 2 cents up against the wall. Wanted to add a note. I do spend 10 -15 minutes on Chief before the job along with Google maps and draw a rough outline of the house's exterior walls and print out 2 - 4 copies of that for on site measuring. That way the exterior shape of the house is already complete. Just need to fill in measurements for walls, windows etc. and the exterior is done. Take another copy and sketch the interior wall layout and measure each space. Third copy is for unusual circumstances and weird layouts. Fourth copy is in case one blows away in the wind Kitchen, roofs, exterior detail is done from the video later at the office.

I can measure a small 1500 SF home in an hour, maybe an hour and a half if the client/builder interrupts me. Interior rooms and exterior walls, widow sizes and locations, complete. Two story maybe 2 hours but have never actually taken that long. In six hours I would have the as-built complete and probably 2 concepts for the owner to look at.

Can't find much current info on RedStick. I wonder if they are still in business?

Wow that's just like a modern day computer program...

Thanks Perry!!

Definitely there in my program.

I would like the same thing but I would also like it if they went back and corrected that one measurement that broke the entire design.

The 960 should get you smoother rotating and faster 3D model building (only on bigger models) but will/should have no effect on your RayTracing. Do you currently experience jerky rotating when you view in 3D (render)? Do shadows slow the 3D rendering down? Reflections in mirrors? If this is not currently a problem you will not notice much difference but as your models get bigger and more complex you'll be happy to have the extra video muscle.

Good strategy me thinks.

Sherry, here's the little bit I know about such things. Any time you can create an image at a very large size with a very dense pixel count the better the image will scale down to a smaller size. So just make sure you RayTrace at a high enough size to get a good quality image. After that you can scale the image down (make it smaller) to fit on a web site. Most web sites will scale an image to fit but you don't want to send some giant file that will slow down their web site. So, for me, an image around 1200 pixels wide by 800 high should give the web site enough detail to produce a good online picture quality. Signage is a whole different ball game and you need way more pixels to get a decent quality image. Do you have any idea who will print the signage? They can give you more information about pixel density DPI etc. needed to get a good looking sign. Heck you could even ask the web designer what he/she wants to see in resolution and set your RT's to match. Here's a really arcane bit info that might help. http://graphicdesign.stackexchange.com/questions/487/what-resolution-should-a-large-format-artwork-for-print-be

Redstick - that's it. Thanks Jon.

Probably not what you're looking for but an idea at least.

I love that idea for 2D presentations. Just sayin'