limitless8

Hey!

Depends on many factors, where did you get the model from? 3dwarehouse?  If so, depending on which chief you are running, you should download the appropriate version.  For example, I use x10, and if i download models from them i choose 2016 or 2017 versions.  Also it depends on the number of faces/polygons the model has, for example if its a couch or chandelier with like 200,000+ faces/polygons, then its a very very big model that is hard for chief to handle.  I try to download models with 100k or less, the less the better and easier to use in Chief.  Hope that answers your question.  

both materials and lighting, but it's not stainless steel, it's tile and set to be polished. here's a close up. 

Some PBR on x10, sun at 100,000 and lights on at 2500 with 5 drop rate, 0.23 camera exposure with 7 saturation and 58 brightness.  

On 3/19/2019 at 3:01 AM, M-Ferioli said:

Well, I finally bought something.

 

I went with the new Dell G7 17".  Its has basically all the same specs as the "thin" laptops that have been mentioned in this thread except its a RTX 2070 MQ since they are finally launched.  It just arrived today so I don't have any news on its performance yet.  I can say that the fit and finish is really nice, looks like a pro workstation and not a gaming PC but has the matching hardware specs for its chassis size.  It has a bunch rear facing ports which is nice for a cleaner desk space and a good overall selection of ports.  I paid 2128$ directly from Dell, that includes taxes and an extra full featured 2 year warranty with accidental damage coverage.  

 

I went round and round with this decision, hopefully this will work out for me.

Yeah I am also curious to hear  your thoughts regarding the performance of the 2070, also if you do use PBR with let's say complex objects, curious how you see the performance in comparison to the previous graphics card you had whether desktop or laptop (do mention it)/  Thanks!

Damn I wish I could download your models into X10!

I was almost set on a MSI GS65, but now I am leaning towards a HP spectre and a aorus gaming box with a 2070 for PBR.  

Thank you Mick!  I already did and it came out to a total of 3gb and took maybe 10min, so I'll do this as well from time to time so when the new rig comes in I can import all my libraries easily.

On 2/12/2019 at 8:14 PM, LCrosno said:

@MarkMc thanks for this- I was assuming I would need to spend around $3k for what I want. I did see the top of the line Razer 17 has a lot of overheating problems, so staying away from that. I've also read 4K is not always compatible with drafting software- not sure if that's applicable to Chief Architect or not. 

If you are willing to spend 3k, then you have quite a few options.  I think one reason few people mention Razer is because their price tag is higher, while the core components are the same as the competition.  If looking at a 15 inch laptop, they all have hexa core 8750h and so on.

If I was you, I would look into getting a 2019 Gigabyte Aero 15 with rtx 2070 card.  It weighs in at about the same as MSI or Razer, it's the latest line, has the newest GPU, 4k screen with good colors, plus it has the BIGGEST battery in comparison the competition.

I was wondering just came across.  If at any point I build a new rig, i want to transfer chief to a new system, is there a way that all my catalogs can be exported as one file?  Thing is on my current rig I was sloppy and I have textures and materials and 3d objects scattered across 3 drives.....any advice?

Yeah I feel you, I have been thinking of going up to 64gb from my 32.  As for memory I am going to buy an adata 1tb nvme and make that my new C drive which is where CA always is, also a 2070 (dont see the point in the 2080), and we'll see how much more fun things will be at the end of all that.  If i was building a new rig and I'd love to, i'd probably still go with the 2950x with 16 cores at 4.1, a 2070, and 3*3tb nvme's for all drives, and 64gb of high speed ram like 3600 or higher.

Yeah I forgot that nowadays the only time CA will use all cores at full speed is during ray tracing, and I haven't done that since PBR, so maybe a 16 core processor is just  not needed, but a 1080ti or 2080ti or something is now the more necessary component, seeing as PBR is heavy on the GPU

well my hexacore at 4.4 does the job, but nowadays i'd probably go for a 2950x have that sucker at 4,1 running all 16 cores

16 hours ago, Electromen said:

What are the members thoughts on THIS MODEL

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1432666-REG/lenovo_81lf0004us_core_i7_8750h_16gb.html

 

  well I don't agree, a hexa core processor will give him a lot more power than a quad core for sure, and well this has an ssd question is, is it nvme or not.  overall these tend to be thicker than a msi gs 65 or others so if you don't mind that, plus the design and what not...

personally as of late stores have begun to import the gigabyte aero 15x, so i think i will go with that instead of the msi

Yeah they stole the concept from Microsoft, and saw a few videos the idea came out that with this positioning, it would get more air and cool better.  Considering the specs it pretty much is a desktop that you can carry around, sure 5kg isn't a feather, but my desktop weighs around 20kg probably without the screens   I am actually looking at the EVGA RTX 2070, actually had this dreamy thought of maybe selling my rig, adding on top and building something new up based on a 2950x, seeing as I am considering maybe getting lumion or another render engine, to see if I can get anything more out of it all.

So, having seen a few videos recently, this actually could be a solution for many people, price is probably going to be around 3,000$, but it's pretty much a portable desktop

https://www.asus.com/Laptops/ROG-Mothership-GZ700/

I will probably for now stick to buying the MSI gs65 stealth, up until then I first want to update my 980 to a 2070, don't see the point in a 2080 when the specs are almost identical, and change my main ssd where chief is to a 1tb nvme.  Afterwards get a laptop for work abroad

So the magical day of buying a laptop to have on the go is almost here, and I have narrowed it finally down to one laptop, the MSI gs65 stealth thin with a 1070 card, 32gb of ram, and a 512 ssd.  Being a true tech fan...always, always last second something comes along, and it did.  Now I don't know why but I am playing around with the thought of getting a Huawei matebook pro X, which has no gpu per say mx150, but it's form factor and design just got me, and I thought of adding a aorus gaming box with a 1070 card, and it would come out to the same price as a MSI...The natural issue becomes carrying the EGPU around, but logic and reason are saying it's a dumb idea because the MSI has it all inside, future proofing for some time...So yeah, just wanted to throw that out there, once I get the laptop I'll definitely post my thoughts and how it all works out.

3 minutes ago, TheKitchenAbode said:

 

The way I deal with this type of situation is to have an initial setup fee and then a per render fee. The initial setup fee covers the time to build the model, say for a kitchen this might take 1-2 hours. Then the render fee kicks in, the thing to consider though are potential client requested changes, usually after they see the render they want to change things, another type of tile, different paint color or cabinet finish/style. You may need to have an hourly rate to handle this type of request.

As always thank you for the great advice!  As said, I'm only familiar with being hired for the full project and I charge a flat fee per sqm which covers my time well.  I will look into your approach, discuss with this design firm afterward, and see if my pricing for this new approach will satisfy their budget.  Again thank you for all the information!

Well if there is, then it would make my decision much easier on whether or not I should work with that other company, because if I would have to literally do everything from scratch and pbr it, would take quite some time which I am not sure this other company would want to pay for.

I have come across a similar situation, a company reached out wondering if I would want to simply render their projects because they liked the results they saw on my instagram and professional webpage.  Thing is I do full projects and have never been asked to do a per image type deal, therefore in the dark now, trying to research how much others charge.  I honestly wouldn't mind giving it a try, only issue it seems is they use 2020 software which from what I recently found out, can't really be imported into chief...therefore what was supposed to be simply import and render/pbr, becomes completely replicate and show a final result....trying to figure out what the amount would be that would satisfy my needs when it comes to time invested, vs leaving it all together and continuing to work with clients instead of another design firm.

Yeah I thought as much, had hopes that maybe there was a magic wand (app) that would help me.  Seems the best approach or only one left is for them to send me cad drawings which I would have to replicate completely in chief and then start pbring it.. c'est la vie...

Thanks KitchenAbode!

On 6/3/2017 at 7:08 PM, MarkMc said:

I hope I'm not overstepping here (the moderators can always move this or delete me)

I was asked to compare the two programs by someone this week since I have fairly extensive experience with both. A number of years ago I'd written something on this forum in response to that question, think it was around X4 or 5? That was generally positive toward Chief but acknowledge some important weaknesses. Several versions later and the improvement to the program for kitchens in measurable. So since I had to write something anyway I thought I'd share it here. The first part is what I slammed together yesterday morning rather quickly. The second part I added today to fill it out a bit, again quickly so excuse the lack of editing and any drivel included..

 

The question:

Reply and note follow.

The short answer would be if you are looking at design build there is simply no contest. There may be some larger DB firms that use both but no one in their right mind would try to get adequate drawings for construction, build, serious remodel from 2020. Where I used to work we needed to do that to a certain extent. Then there were 6 designers, now there are 4 I believe. To solve problems they resort to either CAD or in many cases pencils.

 

I'd suggest that watching the presentation videos on line would be a good idea. Granted from both companies those are as much marketing as real life use.

 

I started using 2020 in 2000, I got Envisioneer (similar to Chief but imports 2020 files) to work with 2020 in 2010. Started with Chief X3 in 2011 so I stopped updating 2020 at V9 but continued to use it as an adjunct for several years. At first I was a somewhat reluctant user and a harsh critic/gadfly about CA's shortcomings. Today I am a true believer. I have kept track to changes in 2020- they have been negligible when it comes to fixing long standing problems IMO. Note since that time 2020 has moved to V11 with a few in between updates, CA is currently at X9 and will have another full upgrade next spring.

 

 

When to use 2020-if business model is to compete with the box stores, or target primarily budget minded customers, draw kitchens with a minimum number of walls and need to get decent pricing quickly using a semi custom cabinet brand from one of the conglomerates-it can be a good choice. 

 

• 2020 has a larger market share in kitchens so the labor force of people who know how to use it will be wider. That said many higher end kitchen designers can't or won't use it and look on it with absolute scorn.

• does pricing within the program - reliability of pricing depends on design catalog, drawing. Keeping retail pricing updated within the program is an art form and rarely done. The advent of on line pricing tools from mfg's makes in program pricing moot unless you run a mill IMO.

• It could be argued that 2020 protects you from yourself preventing the KD from including items are not available. In terms of protecting you from design mistakes, as used by most operators (who are porne to override settings) I'd say Chief wins.

• If you are a really good user it can possibly be easier to change brands mid-design. However you need to be completely familiar with the catalog of the brand you are changing to. In many cases operators resort to a new drawing.

• Stability has improved a little since I used it, however when it goes it goes and repair is not for the simple user. Support still sucks.

• Apparently there is now a work around that will get back disappearing user dimensions and notes most of the time.

• Changes to the rendering engine get mixed reviews. Can be nicer, can be more challenging.

When to use Chief. Business model is design matters more than price, you care about the final result, better brands of cabinets, most any amount of custom, need to draw accurate spaces/buildings, need detailed drawing for manufacturer or installer, need to move walls, need demo/construction plans, need electric plans. Need to represent stairs, split levels, vaired height rooms (floor or ceiling), any odd type of buiding. Simply the ONLY thing I can do in 2020 that I can't do in Chief is get instant pricing.

• Single downside is the learning curve is a bit worse though getting up and running to begin with is easy enough. (That said when I first got CA I took an 8 hour on line class, promptly got the flu and did not get near the program for a month. Then drew up a 2100 sq ft house with highly detailed cabinets in kitchen, LR, hall, walk in closet, another closet, master bath, bath, and office hobby work space. Though the drawings are not up to my current standards)

• Working- unlimited tabs, elevations, multiple perspective views, editable in all views (though some things work better in one than another)

• Stable-rarely crashes, even more rare to lose much work.

• Drawing walls and adjusting them is so easy that there is no point in not drawing a complet room. I generally draw most if not all of the floor in question though some outside the area under consideration is approximate. Yesterday I drew first floor of a colonial as built-primary area the kitchen with some windows and such for other rooms from photos-basically show whatever affects views to or from kitchen- in an hour.

• Changing things- changing colors or doorstyles is far faster. Changing cabinet configuration, custom cabinets, moving walls, windows, doors, no contest.

• Changing brands has a few issues (I have a system though The main issue currently is the height of the top row of drawers.

• Presentations-clients and contractors are routinely impressed with just the standard (quick) perspective views. Incredibly fast. More photo realistic renderings take some learning, altering materials is easier than in 2020, getting colors truly accurate is a bit of a challenge. (Paint OTOH from the Benni Moore catalog is nicely accurate with decent lighting for Ray Traces. ALL colors look different in Traces than in standard though.

• The ability to quickly alter cabinets (or anything else) live in 3D is incredibly useful for clients.

• Dimensions- I've worked out systems for this that are fast. Automatic dimensions are only a little better than 2020 but far easier to adjust. Adjusting any dimensions is easier. They are also stable (never disappear on you)

• Drawings- just no contest when it comes to dealing with print layouts. A print layout can bring in drawings from multiple plan files or other sources. Elevations can be edited, views and layers controlled.

• Stability- rarely crashes, have never lost any significant amount of work. Plays nice with the rest of the computer (I'd had 3 complete re-installs using 2020)

• Support is superb.

• User library is always accessible. Save ANYTHING- cabinets, moldings, doors, furniture NOTES, details.... Replace from library allows designing with generic rough cabinets and quickly changing them to things you already have stored.

• Automation-macros- there are a number of built in text macros and many more available for small fees from some users on the forum. They will also write custom macros as needed. Incredible time saver.

• There are some things that require "work arounds' a few that are inexplicably stupid-clipped corners is a bugaboo to me. There are a few others, I've worked out methods for all of them that are generally easy.

• NO PRICING-there never will be IMO. However as of X9 a system to have accurate codes for all cabinets AND modifications in a schedule has become a reality. Getting that information into a spreadsheet or an online order is also fast and easy.

• Building materials- I don't deal with the material list and from what I know there are quirks with it. However many builders have worked out how to deal with it hence can get a decent materials list for an entire building or part of for everything.

• Terrain, roofs, stairs- while these can at times be challenging they are virtually impossible in 2020.

 

 

To sum up- I"ve used half a dozen 2D CAD programs, DataCad, 2020, AutoKitchen (one day), Pro Kitchen, Envisioneer, Chief Architect and learned to draft with a pencil, run Linux, Windows and 6 months on a Mac with Final Cut Pro, have no idea how many other programs I've dealt with (went to school for tech writing for a while) 

CA is one of the best software packages of any kind that I have ever dealt with. and it has continued to improve based on user feedback every year.

 

I added the following to this post, not in original message. (this is all as of X9)

 

Caveats, complaints

• Chief will NOT protect you from designing with something unavailable in you brand, or impossible to make. Be well versed in what you have available to order.

• Framed cabinets in CA don't account for that extra reveal you get so watch out when placing wall cabinets next to deeper talls. If you are not getting flush sides your dimensions will be off.

• Cabinet interiors (as of X9) will match the exterior and there is no reasonable way to change that. If you are using the cool new open door feature to show clients something and using standard cabinets where the interior will not match be to inform you client. One partial solution is to change the color of the shelves.

• Same goes for cabinet bottoms- pay attention in case you need to order finished bottoms on wall cabinets.

• With X9- Chief did a great job fixing nomenclature for cabinet sides shown in the schedule. Automatically finished sides are almost as good as they are in 2020 but have a few quirks. Be sure to check you finished sides before ordering (I set the default to unfinished so I have to)

• I mentioned that changing brands has a few issues. It is doable but much harder than it needs to be, more so if you want the top row of drawers accurate. That will take some practice.

• I mentioned clipped corners. A few years ago they fixed the sizing to match industry standard- great. They did not fix how they work. If you place a 24” deep clipped corner cabinet next to a 21” deep cabinet (SOP in my world) the clip will disappear. There are work arounds (which is all I use for them, never use the feature.

• Stile extended to the floor (base cabinets only) which Chief calls a “closed toe” (never ran into that name myself) was given an “always present” option in X9- not disappear when next to another cabinet- BUT there is no control of each side. You get it on both or not at all. (I don't use it at all because of that)

• Manufacturer catalogs have NO cabinets in them. I don't find this an issue but you should be aware. They have door styles, molding, colors stuff like that.

• Adding modifications and or accessories is general manual, more difficult than in 2020. But X9 had provided a way to make much of that far easier. You need to learn how to use the OIP (object information panel) look on the forum.

 

Finally- there are more than enough important productivity tools that are only in the Premier version to make it worth the extra cost. IMO if you are working in kitchens and need Chief you need Premier. Use ctrl + S key often, the F1 key a lot, read the Reference Manual, follow this forum (read everything at least a little), say thanks to the folks at Chief when you think of it.

I was recently contacted my a 2020 user asking if I would be interesting in doing their renderings for them because they liked my end results.  Thing is, is it possible to import a 2020 file into chief, or is there some really long and way too hard process that is involved in the whole thing?

another bedroom in night view, as I mentioned before I prefer night scenes, they tend to look more realistic

On 12/20/2018 at 11:54 PM, robdyck said:

A recent project; All PBR

care to share what material you used for the glass effect?)

three more from the same project, all PBR, all chief architect no other software.

Just now, Joe_Carrick said:

 

Anyone sharing that catalog with you would be violating the license agreement with Chief Architect.  Best bet would be to purchase SSA.  Then you would have legal access.

My bad, didnt know that, in that case, everybody scratch that! Thank you for the advice Joe!