SusanC

@Renerabbitt Thank you so much! I knew this new X15 library browser was powerful, but needed some explanation on all of the features and your video was extremely helpful. Susan

Thank you Keith, that is where I started, but just wanted more info.

Hi, Maybe I'm not looking in the right place, but I cannot find a detailed training video or written tutorial on how to use the X15 Library Browser. Any suggestions? Thanks, Susan

I agree, the Standard View doesn't have enough definition and Vector View is better for construction documents, but if you really did need to see your jpgs in elevation view, using the Standard View and selecting "Hand Drawn Lines" as an option, but adjusting them down so the lines are more straight than hand drawn would get you some definition.

Hi Doug, Glad that helped and I'm just curious, what view are you are using for your elevation view? I'm so used to using "Vector View" for my elevations that I forgot that it's also possible to select "Standard View" or "Watercolor View" when in Elevation and the photos (or other textures) will show up in either of those views. Susan

Glenn is correct.

Doug, I think I understand what you are after and this is how I would approach it: Your custom frame needs a backing in the middle of it, like a real picture frame would have. Draw it inside your custom frame using a 3d solid. Select the frame and the 3d solid and block them. Save the block as a symbol to your user library in a folder you create, called "Picture Frames". Then import your jpgs into your user library as a material and save them into another folder you create called "Photos". Place one of your custom frames on your wall. Open your "Photos" folder and spray paint one of your jpgs into the middle of the frame. Your jpgs will only show up in a 3d view, not in an elevation view. 3d views see texture (your jpg) and 2d views see pattern. Susan

You could simply use a custom countertop. Then you have full control.

I work on a Mac and I've never run into an issue with everything printing in color when printing to a pdf so long as I have the "print in color" box checked. This is an Option in the dialog box when printing to a pdf.

And attached are what I see when importing the first and second of your files on my MacBook Pro.

Thanks Joe!

Thank you Chris, Gene, Mick, and Rich. I knew I was missing something easy - setting 2 doors to the left and 2 doors to the right got me exactly what I needed. Appreciate all of your help! Susan

Hi, I have a 10' sliding glass patio door with 4 panels, but want the 2 center panels to each slide off to a side. Is there a way to control this? I have a feeling there is and I'm missing something obvious! Thanks, Susan

A couple more good wallpaper resources are linked below. In case anyone needs a refresher on how to get these prints into Chief to be used in a design: Take screenshot of any wallpaper design and save to desktop. (Pay attention to the repeat and try to get one design repeat.) Go to User Library in Chief, right mouse click, and create a new folder and name it "Wallpapers". Right mouse click on your new "Wallpapers" folder. Click on: New / Material. Dialog box opens up in Pattern: Name your material. Click on Texture (right under Pattern): Texture Source allows you to browse out to the screenshot you just saved on your desktop. Select it. Click on OK. Now you have a wallpaper saved to your new User Library folder of Wallpapers that can be used in your design. https://www.phillipjeffries.com/shop/books-binders https://www.farrow-ball.com/en-us/wallpaper?gclid=CjwKCAjw8-OhBhB5EiwADyoY1a06bCeMHUzzoU1Z5kSBnofJRxhni691CU34K-6xzNfx5WZ6fcS0VBoCuFUQAvD_BwE

That is a beautiful custom hood Greg. There is also a nice hood catalog available in Chief's bonus catalogs with a similar, but not exact, hood style.

Thanks Dustin! Yes, the only way manufacturers get on board is to have many users contacting them for a 3d catalog to use in Chief and it can be a slow process to get their attention. However the reward is a catalog in Chief with models that work correctly, have all of the info embedded for schedules/material lists, and is updated and maintained by Chief. The link posted above discusses a few strategies for contacting manufacturers. There is also a new thread called New Manufacturer Catalogs for Chief: Email Contacts. Chief users can help out by sending a quick email or sharing an email contact for others to use. Susan

My 3rd email contact to share is for Visual Comfort. When I was at KBIS last year I met Allison Wyrwicz, Director of Marketing for Visual Comfort. Visual Comfort has .skp files for much of their line so translating those into a catalog just for Chief is a relatively quick process. Please send a short email to Allison and let her know that you also like and use Visual Comfort and would love to see them place a 3d product catalog in Chief! Thanks! Visual Comfort Co. awyrwicz@visualcomfortco.com

Great! Glad that worked and no, you're not going nuts!

Hi Kevin, Yes, you are correct, Visual Comfort is not offering a Chief library yet, but we're trying to get them interested. Yes, we can and I have imported .skp files into Chief and built my own libraries for objects that I use often, but if a company already has .skp files for download on their website, it is not a big leap for them to join with Chief and create a library catalog. Having the catalog in Chief just makes things easier and faster.

Doug, This tool is listed in the response Chris posted and it is the tool I use when looking for something in plan. Maybe this is what you were thinking of? Click on an item in the schedule. "Find in Plan" tool is highlighted. Click on the "Find in Plan" tool and your item is highlighted in the plan. Susan

Hi Kevin, Thanks for the tip on Visual Comfort! That is another one we've been working on. Getting a manufacturer to commit to Chief can be a slow process, but really worth it in the end when we wind up with access to a library catalog that has all of the correct part numbers populating our schedules and 3d models that are built to work with Chief. So, that's what keeps me motivated to try and get other Chief users to write emails! Susan

My second email contact to share comes from a post I made on Instagram to Bain Ultra. They replied with an email contact and suggested I email this person directly. I've had 2 emails with him and I think it would be helpful to have some other Chief users email him as well to let Bain Ultra know there are quite a few of us who would like to see their catalog in Chief. Bain Ultra bathtubs ekristian@bainultrausa.com

Hi Kevin, Thank you so much for offering to share your models and letting me know you've contacted Top Knobs in the past. I have seen a Top Knobs catalog in 2020. 3d models must exist somewhere, but not sure who owns them - 2020 or Top Knobs. However, they've been through the process of getting a digital catalog into 2020 software so they could do it again with Chief - if enough of us request one. I agree with you, I would also like to see more manufacturers build 3d models of their products. The only way they are going to do that is if we ask. Might not happen immediately, but if we don't ask, it will never happen! Thanks again, Susan

On this thread you'll find email contacts for manufacturers. Please take a minute to send a short email to these companies and let them know how much you like / use their products, would like to see a digital catalog in Chief, etc. No need to be wordy, these are companies that have already been contacted by a Chief user. If you have an email contact for a manufacturer that you would like to share, please do so on this thread. Getting manufacturers on board can be a lengthy process, but definitely speeds up if they hear requests from many Chief users. Top Knobs is the first contact I have to share. Top Knobs responded to an Instagram post yesterday by a Chief user. If you'd like to see a Top Knobs catalog in Chief, please send them an email at this address: customerservice@topknobs.com. Thank you!! Susan

Are you on Instagram? Come join a growing group of Chief users who are working together to get more manufacturer catalogs in Chief. Getting a manufacturer on board is generally a slow process and your voice is very important. Scroll up this thread to the post with the bathtub to read details of how this process works. Have a good day!