stager386

Thank you. It helped, but I am still missing something. I need the door to be on the shorter wall that juts into the main room with the high ceiling. But the door opens up into the room I had to create for the illusion of a shelf ceiling. If I don't create that second room, the ledge will go the entire length over the bedroom. I tried creating a doorway on the inside wall but then the door has this weird depth to it. Rendering shows how I want it to look from this view.

Sometimes it's hard to frame a question, in order to look up suggestions. So I will describe what I am trying to do and hope someone can guide me. I am working on a condo in a very old renovated warehouse. Ceilings are high. 2 bedrooms and kitchen have 8' ceilings. One of those bedrooms juts into the main area, creating an open ledge over the portion of the 8' wall that sits below the high ceiling. The door into the bedroom is part of that shorter wall that sits below the high ceiling. I have tried creating an 8' tall soffit but I can't place the door in it. And if I do this with a half wall, I can't get the open space above it. Thoughts? Thank you!

Excellent suggestion!

Thank you for the video! Very helpful!

I know how to update my library, and I know how to download new library items. What I find cumbersome is trying to see if there are new libraries to download that I don't have. Is it possible to do an update which includes adding new libraries I don't have? Otherwise, it is extremely time consuming to go through each one and check it against what I do have. Even if there was an excel list of all current CA libraries, that would be better than nothing. If I am missing something, I'd love to know! Thanks.

Is there a way for me to add drawers built right into a wall? They would be using space under an eave.

That is the first thing I did.

What do you mean "create the as built"?

I am trying to figure out what I am doing wrong. I have a cottage where the second floor is basically a finished attic. We are adding a deck, expanding the kitchen, and leaving a high ceiling in the kitchen, with no space above. If I treat this like a Cape Cod or story-and-a-half, I am constantly fighting with roof lines and upstairs wall heights. Here is what I can create with the first floor expansion. Here is the original cottage. Once I start dealing with a second story (since CA won't let me turn an attic into living space) the roof lines get messed up with the addition, and the gabled front wall gets wonky. The interior near the addition gets all weird too, with roof edges cutting into rooms etc..... I am trying to find the right direction as far as instruction. I have done so many seminars and watched videos, but clearly I am missing some fundamentals. Any thoughts on this? Thank you!!

Thank you Eric. I have produced some decent images too. It's just the amount of time and the many trials and errors to get there. And all the variables you mention (material surfaces, illumination etc) are different in every situation. There is a lot of reinventing a good ray trace every time. Also (and this is something I have been meaning to mention to the folks at CA) so many of these videos are outdated and it's tough to follow along at times. Options have changed, advances have been made, and the interface has evolved. Watching a 2015 video for CA12 doesn't always translate. Technology moves way faster than that. Thanks again for your thoughtful advice! ~ Kate

I love the screen capture feature of CA. I often import specific items that clients want to see. I am stumped on how to make tile patterns come out proportionately. I've watched all the videos including this one: https://www.chiefarchitect.com/videos/watch/10145/ When I see the instructor select a portion of the pattern to create the repeat, I can't seem to do the same when I am capturing this image of 12x24 tiles in an offset layout. I am not clear on how much and where to grab. This is odd because I design fabric and wallpaper, taking my art and using photoshop to create a repeating pattern. What am I missing? And what information is vital when doing this, in the material definition screen? Is pattern type needed? If a single tile is 12x24 but I have captured a bigger chunk, what do I put for X and Y scale, offset and angle? Thanks for any help you have!

I know many of us are unable to get the latest video card, which we will need for CA13. Meanwhile, I do not even bother to ray trace because it's so hit or miss if I selected the right settings for a good result. And I don't know the result until after a 20-60 minute rendering. When I am doing several views for a client, this is way too time consuming. If we still can't get the latest video card upgrades when CA13 comes out, what do we do? Is there any way that a software developer like CA has an industry advantage to make sure its customers have access to necessary components?

It is not bigger, no.

thank you for that.

No I am trying to make it the length of the wall, 12'.

I have watched the video about stretch planes and zones so many times and I still find it nearly impossible to control the changes I try to make on furniture. I am missing something in the concept of how to do it. I am trying to customize a bed by stretching the headboard only. I can't seem to make it work. And when I do play around with the stretch zones or planes, the image changes just by placing the zones, before I have even edited it, which adds to the confusion for me. Alternatively, I would create my own bed and headboard, but cannot make the solid polylines look soft like a fabric covered headboard would look, with padding and rounded edges. Are there any other instructional tools that I can go to? Thank you for your help! CA help with stretch zones.plan

Thank you everyone! I don't feel so stupid now. I do have 2 monitors just like RidgeRunner does. I shut down everything and did a restart of Windows. Seems to be fixed now. Thank you!

This question is going to make me feel stupid when I hear the answer. Suddenly, my cursor changes from the arrow to this double arrow when I move it up to the line that identifies any opened file or view. It has never done that before. It's usually just the plain arrow. I have looked everywhere to try and change this and can't figure it out. Thank you!

Thank you. The problem was in my method of importing it, I believe. I used File-Import-3d symbol. Now I just tried Library-import which seems to get me the right file. Thank you so much for your help!

The light fixture on the left is a fixture, and allows me to position it properly. But there is no light data. The one on the right I have as an electrical item, and I can get light data but can't manipulate it. I imported this from 3D Warehouse. I can't seem to send the plan, it's too big even zipped.

Hello. Trying to import a lighting fixture and having trouble with it. Seems I need to choose between it being a fixture and an electrical symbol. If I get it to look right and behave well, it contains no light data. If it is an electric symbol, I can't move it around and get it positioned properly. What am I doing wrong? Here is the .skp file I downloaded. Thank you! Nova+L+Sconce+with+Opal+Shade+NB (1).skp

Thank you for your thoughts! I will think about everything you suggested!

Michael, GCs, carpenters and homeowners are who I get work from, so you’re absolutely right. I’m trying to think beyond that market, but you’re confirming that I’m probably wasting my time looking outside of that group. Thank you for the feedback!

AutoCAD, AutoDesk, Revit, Rhino, ArchiCAD, SketchUp

In response to COVID related business loss, I’m trying to get my business built back up. I’m even looking for drafting jobs with other firms. I was also planning to test for CA professional certification. I’ve been applying for remote contract drafting jobs all over the country. I am finding that MOST design and architecture firms use anything BUT Chief Architect. They require experience with one of about 5 popular software programs. Almost nobody uses CA. I have invested so much time and money in CA and now I need to upgrade to X12 ($695) if I want to be up to date. My question is what anyone else’s experience is, when doing work for other firms. Thank you!