DeLayDesign

Hi @KirillP My lumens are 450.0

Can you share your plan file with us? It might be easier to sort out what the issue is. I think your issue is your drop off rate - which is causing the harsh shadow against the wall. Below is what the light looks like as a spot light with a 'zero' drop off rate (12" between lights") - which is what I think you meant to say when you said lights are 'point' lights. Drop off rate of 3: This is what spot light with a drop off of 7.5 (Default) looks like: This is what it looks like as a point light (no direction)

I don't know much about custom graphic settings, I just recently started looking into them - but does anyone have a custom set up for Chief? I'm asking because I'm noticing my RTX3080 is maxing out it's GPU when I run PBRs in Chief. Using another program at the same time to record my screen while the render is working causes my PC to shut down - even though the GPU temp doesn't go above 60 degrees Celsius. Moving forward I'll stop the video recording before I enter into a PBR; but I has me curious if there is a way to adjust my graphic settings to keep the PC from freaking out. Thanks!

Hey Mark. Is your X15 current/ updated? Is your graphics cards up to date?

Hmmm... Strange Worked fine for me. Can you share your file or how you're doing it??

@DawnSimp If you have access to "Cabinet hardware No.2" there are latches available for you to use.

A while back I had to build custom 'sails' for a similar project. I'm not sure it will work for your application, but here is what I did: Shade Sails.mp4 The 'elevation' data would obviously be pertinent to what you're working with, I just chose random numbers for this example. Once the object is imported the shape can't be changed. The size can, but not the shape. You can then paint it a fabric texture if you'd like.

@jenmarsch Can you provide a little more context? When you're opening the program after closing - are you logged into the same account on your PC? When you load it up, the files are missing from your catalog completely (meaning you can't find them at all) or are they showing up in your catalog but missing the actual texture file?

This is why I blocked "Solver"

@TCB_BdnMY I'm not sure if you received an answer yet, but I downloaded your file and quickly realized your roof plan does not touch the wall - thus Chief doesn't know you need an attic wall where you would like one. when I move the plane up against the wall - the attic populates as it should:

Seems like an issue for sure - turning off the sun makes the glow go away in the second scenario... If you want/ need the sun on, here is my setup for rendering that I think can help. Your rendering global illumination daytime backdrop intensity is really high for an interior view. (10,000). There is no real need for it to be this high. Try this on your actual model instead and see if it helps.

Strange. The only way I could replicate your issue was to build a room behind the toilet add a window and have the light from the sun hit the back wall directly where the toilet is. Try turning off the sun, or rotating the direction of the sun. With Window in room behind: Without Window in room behind:

Could be that your railing is drawn with an exterior material. My exterior deck framing is often just railing, no additional materials on the exterior, but for things like Balconies or even decks with skirting - I'll add it back in.

Hey Experts. Before I reach out to @ChiefArchitect about this, I though I might try here first. I have a client who wants me to show a specific scenario on floor plan where I extend the stile on a cabinet, but the drawer face covers it. I've accomplished this task, but I want to show this particular drawer open so the client can see what we are proposing. Doing so though makes the drawer open in my elevations as well. Does anyone have a way to show it open on floor plan and closed in elevation - without drawing the lines myself? Thanks

Yep. I believe I started a conversation a few months ago about it.

I build mine in two sections for each transition (floor one to floor two; and then two to floor three - 4 stair sections total). This allows me to control the riser and run without it going wonky. Granted this was a tactic I learned in X14 and it may be fixed in X15.

@Michael_Gia Coincidentally enough I came from SoftPlan myself, so I know the struggles that program has. I've used Chief for 15 years and I know no program is perfect and I genuinely appreciate the support system Chief offers. I did get a work around answer to my question from their dedicated support staff so the issue at hand was resolved; but my statement still stand. Less limitations or the ability to adjust them as we need would be awesome. I don't have any desire to leave Chief - I'm a 'ride or die' at this point, just wish we had more control - especially when my architects complain about not being able to do something - which 9/10 times - is user error.

Let me first say I am a Chief Architect enthuses. I have recommended and fought for the software more times than I care to count... but... There are just some things Chief does that make me understand why more architects ignore it as a viable design software. Outside of the bugs that continue to plague the software - often things with work arounds like missing thresholds from doorways or issues with bay windows (something I've asked about more than once), to more frustrating issues like working with their decking system... doing anything with their deck system... Chief insists on limits on constructability - which makes me question on a regular basis - why? A true design software needs to give it's users the freedom to design within the world of all things possible, not just what the developers have coded possible. This is important now more than ever because of the most recent price increase pushing the software into the same cost arena for new users as the other 'main stream' brands. Most recently I was tasked with building a brick home with 'Chicago masonry' construction. This is mainly just a wall with a double brick wall with furred interior and often plastered finish, but Chief does this with any wall. This particular build involved a tight connection between a bay window and the end of the wall. Internally the wall would be a flush connection, but outside there is an actual corner. Chief doesn't understand what I need it to do and wants to build the wall as a single eliminating the corner altogether. It doesn't have to be this way and I'm sure it's developed in a way to helps more often than it frustrates - again I'm a proponent for Chief Architect. I'm also sure it's probably difficult to rebuild the coding to give us the freedoms we need to build properly, but @ChiefArchitect - You may need to.

Jim, it could be that your current antivirus protections is keeping you from using the software. In fact just today we ran into a situation where Microsoft's 'Windows security' (previously windows defender) assumed Chief Architect X15 was a threat. You may need to 'whitelist' the software in order for your PC to allow it to operate correctly. https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/add-an-exclusion-to-windows-security-811816c0-4dfd-af4a-47e4-c301afe13b26#:~:text=Go to Start > Settings > Update,%2C file types%2C or process. I use Malwarebytes as my virus protection and can easily access the whitelist in my settings. If you're using a third party you may want to google how you access that list for your particular provider.

Definitely something @ChiefArchitect should incorporate. The material schedule already knows what materials you're using based on what you've specified (eg - Tan tile); they would just need to add a script that tells the schedule to show the material file in a 1x1" square - similar to what you see when you open the room itself and venture to materials . Good suggestion.

I found one Google's 3D warehouse. I imported it as millwork so I could apply it "above the window" and set it as such - unfortunately there isn't a way to 'lock' the position of the pc above the window as a window element so when you change the height the main component stays put. I also tried to use it as a 'shutter' and it technically works but there are some additional sizing steps you'd have to take for it to look correct. The easiest way would be to simply add it to your model an an individual component and then place it above the window as an object. You can stretch the unit down to show it closed if you'd like. It will stretch evenly leaving the top untouched. Fire Shutter.calibz

Changing it to zero would make all fractions go away; which it does.

I checked the 'rounding' it's set to a value of 1/8" and each cabinet is an exact width (3" increments)... Even if I try to move the wall to the dimension I want (10'-6"), Chief says it's 10'-6" in the dimension dialog; but the dimension keeps saying it's 10'6.125". I ended up overwriting the text so it read correctly, but something strange is definitely happening. I have also submitted a ticket to chief.

Hey folks - has anyone experienced a random 1/8" being added to your dimension strings? No matter what I do to try to adjust the dimensions it keeps adding in 1/8" to my dimensions. What's even more strange is when I try to adjust the dimension to 10'6" even, and click on the dimension that says 10'6.125" chief is telling me it is actually 10'6". I've tried moving the connections, moving the walls... and nothing changes.