para-CAD

I am right there with you.....if I need a 3D accurate detail, I will create it in sketchup then bring it over to chief. Chief Architect is the most efficient and best looking construction doc maker (layout) for plans for permit. I like to use Note schedules to keep the image as clean as possible so the framers have maximum information....images and text. SketchUp is able to model anything...accurately. I don't know enough about HVAC install to make good plans, but I bet an HVAC tech could redline so pages if I needed to support such design work. Great tools, Nathan!

Not sure if you can split the top and bottom to only 1 top and 1 bottom. Specify with words on plan and in contract I guess.

Are they exposed truss tails or true rafter tails?

YES!!! SSA for the win.

I got rid of X16. I guess I could reinstall. I'll relook at the download library. Thanks much.

X17 I tried to download a silhouette that had the wire-frame globe symbol (to download) and I was denied. Is there some additional expense or tier that I need to have to access these offerings?

I use the MX3, the G604, and hard wired, the G502 HERO. All Logitech. But I also use a StreamDeck for custom shortcuts with one button ease.....and a 3D Connexion mouse (puck and enterprise) but I can't get them to work well with Chief.........only Sketchup. Someone (Rene) should do a pay per view video on his set up of 3D mice. $40 for a 1 hour interactive video. Get 100 people to sign up and he'd put a great show together.

So if the client goes with someone else, they have at least paid upfront for the design process, right? If you don't win the contract to proceed, the design time is still paid and NOT contingent on client acceptance. I had a "GC" try that once. Like I was investing in his ability to close the deal. Just seeking clarity for the guys looking to invest time helping you with this.

You might have a roof or ceiling plane that is too low

I tried to give you a thumbs UP but I've reached the daily limit that chief allows....... so Great Job.......you definitely help make people's lives better with Chief!

Who's the petty down voter? Nathan is offering CAD solutions to make us able to produce better plans and modeling. Some people must be "one-software-only" cultists. Why? I see so many people take 3D items from SketchUp's 3D warehouse.......do you all pay for that? Do y'all give work for free? I subscribe to multiple CAD platforms because it makes me more versatile and to me it feels worth it for me to spend the cash. Nathan creates these extensions to help people do more.....faster.....and more accurately. I wish UP and DOWN votes came with the ID of who clicked it. Thanks for your insane ruby work, Nathan. Keep up the great work!

You know the old saying......everything before the "but" means nothing... (just kidding.....since written text can sometimes be misunderstood) I used to be able to raytrace by CPU but I can't seem to find that right now. I made a pier block in sketchup and .skp files now import so I brought it over into chief. I'm actually rendering a few things to see how I might create 3D details more.

I started on Windows in the Army in 1995. I watched a "contractor" burrow into our Army Gold Master windows NT system that was considered secure from the Signal Corps, in seconds. Yep........N[ ]A has back doors. Windows takes user work to keep it maintained. People who like to tinker like Windows and Android. I started to hate computers and mac was a nice change. I could focus on creating the content and not have to also be a computer tech. The intel to Apple silicon switch is a bummer, but computers have a shelf life. As new features are introduced, software is modified to take advantage.....6 years is about right. I still have a 27" 2011 iMac. Works like a champ on most online tasks. I also still have an Alienware Area 51 desktop (WIN 10) for tasks that windows supports with better apps, but my M1 max MBP is a workhorse. I haven't found a need for rendering that people would pay for so I don't get all giddy for PBR. I guess if I was using rendering to actually sell the job then that might be different. All I do is create plans for permit which most jurisdictions want everything in 2D. People are odd. Often it's an ego thing......Ford better than Chevy......Dodge pfft. Everyone should like what they like and use what they want and keep to themselves about what other people choose to like or choose. I hope everyone has a super fabulous day.

YES. Color and 3D convey more information. Since most trades now have the PDF on their phone or tablet, color is where I am headed. I'm hoping to one day have chief modify the Notes feature so I can have colored fills, by individual note in a schedule.

Legibility is paramount to me. I'm a framer and I like clean, factual documentation. I dislike the fake hand written fonts. Scuffed up paper plans often get difficult to read dimensions when the font choice is nostalgia from the drafting table days and the plans are ever wet or folded. I'm also leaning more into 3D details and annotating with a Note schedule over just 2D and leaders. I can add so much more information in a note schedule and keep the detail clean with only the reference call outs. Alaskan Son set me up with the ability to use alphabetic letters (both lower case and UPPER case) instead of only using numbers. If your focus is on making the trades jobs easier and more accurate then your plans and rep will benefit.