VisualDandD

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  1. VisualDandD
    Thanks....still working on it. I'll copy over the settings next time I am in there. It is at the point where it still needs a little tweaking, but i'll see what you can do with it. I noticed your last rendering of the entryway in luminon. Looked really good. I was going to suggest a touch of 'volumetric sunlight'. I have noticed at lower levels, it really improves my floor reflections. (shows off your bump maps really well).
  2. VisualDandD
    I use this method. If the cleanup looks like it might be a lot (because you can only select in a rectangle fashion) another method I use is save the file as a copy "save as"xxx Delete all the stuff but the garage. Then select and move it. Then you can copy it and "paste HOLD POSITION" into the old plan. This allows you to either use the "Edit all floors", or copy over layers one by one to ensure you are getting the desired effect.
  3. VisualDandD
    I call it stainless but it is a brushed metal. I colorize it to lighten and then play with gloss and reflective qualities. I have had decent results with it....but it still needs work. Here is a still of it applied to the appliances. You can see the bump map in it and I have it scaled way up and relief turned up high. It is fussy though and I still need to tweak it more. I might need to make my own bump with a very fine grain texture.
  4. VisualDandD
    Very nice! What texture are you using for your stainless? Are you using your own or one of lumion's metals. I have been having trouble finding the right look for stainless for some time. Mind sharing what you are using?
  5. VisualDandD
    Been working on improving my walk-throughs a little. Modeled in Chief and using Lumion for walk-though. It does come down to very small things that begin to make a large difference after a while. Really got the flooring properties tweaked better in this one. Still have not detailed master bath too much yet. (eg vanities / fixtures....etc). Just working on bits.
  6. VisualDandD
    I dont know that much about Mac, but I know I can get a lot more PC for the money, and multiple screens is a MUST for me. I have a 24"-27"-24" monitor config. Yes 3 monitors make life a lot better drawing. I built my own PC about a year ago which I think I spent less than 3k (not including monitors) for a i7 4790k overclocked to 4.2, 32gb ram, 4 hard drives which 2 are "hot swap" (2ssid, 2 data) and a gtx970 4gb ram OC edition video card. This setup smokes chief in 3d views even with 2-3 view open. Basically any Nvida powered gaming PC will do. Lots of places you can configure a box from. I say for 2k you have have a very fast system. Biggest thing for me, is I could not give up the extra monitors. Now that chief can be displayed on separate monitors it is a GREAT function.
  7. VisualDandD
    In a 5' wide bath, even the smallest standard tub (30") only leaves a 30" walk in front of tub area. (not something I would want as it would feel very tight). Many tubs people are now using come out 34", which chisels out that space even more.
  8. VisualDandD
    We do that all the time here. 30-10 or 40-10 fixed. I dont know about you, but I dont know many people that actually open a window in a bath for ventilation even if there is a SH or DH easily accessible. We have turned into a climate controlled society. Anyway, we do that all the time, and the light provided is great. Just dont forget to raise header to clear the top of most surrounds
  9. VisualDandD
    Yea....guess you can call that a "sale." They are raising the price of SSA and keeping it at current levels till Jan 12. So you "save" if you renew now. That is one way to run a sale
  10. VisualDandD
    Been using one for just a few days now. I dont think (without specific permission) any of the beta testers can disclose any details. Chief would have to answer. It will be a little bit of a leaning curve using it I feel. I find it is not full automatic at this point, but I have only played with it a little. I also tend to do most of my work in 2d (coming up from older versions of the software). I can see how manipulating in 3d views will be FAR FAR superior once it becomes second nature. I think it will be one of those things that I cant live without once I get used to it.
  11. VisualDandD
    Very nice and I can see you put a lot of work into the landscape (which to me is what really takes renderings to the level they need to be to approach realistic). If I could offer my bit of constructive criticism on something I often struggle with myself, I would say go with a different shingle texture. (or different bump map). The shingles look homogeneous and are flat enough that you can begin to see the repeat in the pattern. For bump maps, I used crazybump for a while, but I actually found a free web based software that works just as nice. It has helped me generate some of the best bump maps I have ever used. It takes some trial and error, but it is easy to use. Best thing I have found is to export a .dae file for a project and it will put all your project texture files in one folder. From there you can easily drag the ones you want to create bump maps. Works very nice and I can bang out bumps for a scene in only a few minutes. Here is the link.... http://cpetry.github.io/NormalMap-Online/
  12. VisualDandD
    All right, you guys guilt-ed me into it! I will put my name into the beta testing pool. Actually a good time as I am wrapping up a bunch of plans and just starting some new projects. We will see if they take me
  13. VisualDandD
    Thank you. I agree and if I were not too busy I would certainly share my views. I was a member of the old forum but only recently found my way back here and am glad to share experiences. Like many others, I slowed up for some time but have gotten quite busy again. If I felt I could contribute, I would do so. But right now, I am struggling to keep up with my commitments and the added uncertainty of a Beta version is something I could not afford to do. Thank you, and I look forward to the new release. As a long time user of Chief, I have seen it come a long way. While I appreciate the catchy looks and neat outputs we can accomplish, at the end of the day, functionality of basic drawing functions always takes precedent for me. (without too many work-arounds) Thank you and I look forward to seeing what you guys have in store!
  14. VisualDandD
    I almost thought is said stair tool has been revamped. Being a user since Chief 6 (no not x6), I cant believe this one has gone ignored for so long. I am really hoping and holding out hope that we see a solid update with fixes of MAJOR longstanding issues. Truth is, I can live without color elevations and shadows, but the stairs prove to be a REAL limitation and have been for years. I think many would agree this is on the top 1 or 2 of most "real" users of the software. (guys using to do more than just draw pretty pics.) Not being a pain....but I have stood on the sidelines for too long and just felt the complaint was being heard as I have seen it over and over for years. I figured maybe I should say something too...
  15. VisualDandD
    I started a thread about doing this a while back. The ruby function I found that finally got this to work was ".ceil" There is info in the thread about the exact macro. https://chieftalk.chiefarchitect.com/index.php?/topic/4721-roof-rafter-labels-using-for-take-off/
  16. VisualDandD
    As designers and builders, you usually try to avoid window trim frieze interference..... From a practical standpoint, it would seem hard to accomplish this look without having the window slammed to the top to the ceiling and still trying to leave proper room for insulation. (unless you were going to clip ceilings with furr-downs to accomplish this.) Also...where does header go? On top of TP?. How does roof vent properly...ect. Like I said, does not seem like a good detail for me. Maybe 10-15 years ago when you did not have to worry about insulation out over wall plates extending to the edge of envelope. Am I the only one seeing this?
  17. VisualDandD
    Than why does the crossection view look weird? I usually send to layout first, than adjust the properties. Ok...now I have it! Funny, my typing wpm has gotten pretty fast over the last few years and I make more and more silly typos. The subconscious is pretty neat. To tell you an honest admission, my Grammer did get worse after suffering a tbi in 09. Not an excuse....but if I didn't have spell check sometimes, you'd probably think it was a 6yo typing
  18. VisualDandD
    Your right. Forgot to mention that about the perspective view. I drop it down to just below header height. The other is just a ortho top view (in standard render) combined with a floor plan view.
  19. VisualDandD
    I do them a few ways. Some are just perspective views labeled in photoshop with a little tweaking. Or you can combine ortho views and watercolor for a different effect. (no perspective)
  20. VisualDandD
    Na....just not the way I draw (or would build) so it was difficult to see what you mean. The weird thing I thought would work would be to delete ceiling and draw on in manually and even though the clip lines on the floor plan went away, the roof still followed vault??? That had me puzzled. Frankly, I would draw it with 2x6 and the do "cad detail from view" for my sections. That is what I do anyway. Then I would edit rafter depth and manually draw the deeper cut on rafter.
  21. VisualDandD
    I dont get the issue. Raise the clg ht and make the rafter sit at whatever depth you want. (for proper birds mouth depth or whatever your desired stand height is. If you are talking about the tail of your rafter getting skinny, that is just the framing DBX of that roof plane. Change gable sub fascia to 7.25 and you will have a straight tail. As for getting the ceilings to align, it should not be an issue as the 2x6 has to be elevated to flush out the roof plane. I am just not seeing the issue. This is another case where this would probably take all of 30 seconds to answer if you posted the plan and gave desired clg hts...etc. (just saying )
  22. VisualDandD
    Or you can change wall definition of the lower wall and change material of the center portion to your same tile material. (or just change it to a single layer wall with the tile as the material. This will make it display correct in 3d.
  23. VisualDandD
    Why not just draw a rafter, and then set it to the dept and width you want. Lower it with transform replicate 'move' in the "z" plane. Of course polyline solids will work too...as will soffit tool, but for something like that, a simple rafter might do the trick. I used polyline solids to build these dec trusses. I wanted the detail of the reveals created by hanging the outer trim boards down slightly. Lots of ways to skin a cat...
  24. VisualDandD
    For any that thought x7 upgrade was on the lighter side....the multi monitor support was worth it for that alone I often draw with three full screens going. Transparent fills is a close second....now if we could only cut holes in fills.....
  25. VisualDandD
    I did the VERY quickly. Needs a good bit more detail to start to make it more realistic. Also some tweaking could be done in lots of areas...etc. Just wanted to shoot over something fast. I shot you an email if interested. Full 3d walk thoughs not a problem... Here is an example.