johnny

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Everything posted by johnny

  1. If you are using DropBox through your file browser on each machine, doesn't that happen anyways? I can't speak to CA, but with my "shared" files I have shortcuts to the directories in Dropbox so anything that happens on one or the other is mutually affecting both.
  2. Thanks Scott - yeah, I do use multiple apps well, but they all have strong similarities in getting things done. Modeling in Vectorworks is now very similar to Sketchup except more accurate and better "publishing" tools. Vectorworks is very similar to applications like Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop in many ways. Chief has been, without a doubt, the most difficult software i've tried to learn - yet I see the power of truly mastering it. At first everything looks so easy, and I wondered why the heck more architects/designers weren't using this application.....well, then I found out. CA in many ways is amazing. It handles things other apps don't even try to. I'll admit the resent DAE file format support from CA has made things nice in import/export of 3D models.
  3. Also, that detail often has the sill/stool being all the way to the outside edge of the wall/brick. You may need to just use a poly-solid or something. (added) below is just a reference to what I mean, not the design of stool/sill I would use.
  4. I've used mostly Sketchup and some Vectorworks up to now with 3D work. Here is a "Main Street" shopping area addition done in Sketchup, and you can say CA can do this work, but larger projects need better grouping and components than what I think CA offers. (added) To clarify, I think CA could model this scene just fine, but the organization of the file would be challenging IMO.
  5. True, there is no question you end up with more if you invest more time in 3d. If everything goes correctly it may be a time-saver over the entire project. However, i've also had many clients want to go completely different directions - and having only 2D investments was much easier to digest that change than 3D models etc.
  6. Yeah, I am trying to nail CA down - I really am. Perhaps in the future it will be faster for presentation work - however, my 2d process is so "experimental" I feel 3D modeling I often have to invest too much time into a direction I wont go. I've show this project before, but its a good example of what I mean. Below is the floor plan of a waterfront home for a client. The husband wanted a rustic stucco home resembling a "french country" design, and the wife wanted a "beachy" Cape Cod (Nantucket) influenced home. I feel to model both styles in CA would have taken much longer, whereas a simple 2D elevation of the different ideas was very quick - especially since I was changing details of the frame I already had. Perhaps I will find 3D work as effective - and I am working on that.
  7. This was a recent video from CA which will help you. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xW1dipAXZo
  8. Vectorworks. I have "blocks" (really groups) of all sorts of library items. In fact, here is an example of an elevation I did using elements of the above drawing. I was able to do this for the client as a concept in about 20-30 min. Notice the elements I reused.
  9. I really dont know what you are asking - but is this drawing similar to what you want?
  10. Aren't you talking about finish trim? Otherwise, yes as Alan says, that can come from the manufacture - - but i've never in my life been asked by an HOA for the window frame details - say apart from the general type (wood/clad/vinyl etc).
  11. Joe, I would love to see screenshots or something of your process. Perhaps you have a good system I dont know about. Personally - I really have no idea how people design thru 3D modeling in CA and end up with well thought out projects, in a reasonable amount of time. I feel I could model a home with no concept work, but it wouldn't come out like a project where I took the added step of 2D drawings. I'd even suggest the 2D concept workflow can be faster than trying to design-3d-model. (edit) I changed my example to a residential project, since that is mostly what you guys are taking about here. So below is an example where I could produce this for a client in 1-3 hrs to make sure (a) the floor plan would generally meet the clients need, and ( elevation concept was in line with the motif/style the client wanted, and © rough shot estimates could be made for the estimated budget. What can you do in 1-3 hrs in CA to give such a rough overview of a project in concept stage?
  12. Making the area a balcony doesn't solve the issue on my end.....odd.
  13. Can someone link to this older discussion - i would like to see it. Thanks
  14. Good question on adding more windows than 3. I will try when I am at the office tomorrow, but I found this video if you want to see how to edit the windows that are there. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spoHkzjOQS4
  15. There is a nice little button on the side (toolbar) you can toggle color/b&w....
  16. If you use the box window tool that does seem to work... You need to add your freeze board detail but that should be easy. Inside the visual is a nice clean line.
  17. I have these types of issues often with CA. CA is trying to save us time and auto-heal finish layers like this, and I find anything out of out-norm can result in needing some kind of work-around. I personally feel that it would actually save me time if I set the connections manually and not have CA try and automate this process. ...that said, there are ticks that many on the forums know in cleaning this up.
  18. Yeah I have issues sometimes posting CA files - zipping it has helped me before...
  19. This link may help you... http://www.chiefarchitect.com/support/article/KB-00547/creating-stairs-in-sloping-terrain.html However, this is more for visual and layout planning. If you are looking for actual concrete steps that can be detailed and sectioned from your plan and actually have a back-slope to the risers it may be best creating a profile of the stairs and then extruding. Im in no way a chief expert, but that is how i've done it. Also - found this video from David.
  20. Wow - that seems like a big deal. Some of those numbers are used to charge clients, and often aren't hand-checked - etc.
  21. Are you wanting visual decorative truss or just typical structural web truss in the attic space?
  22. I use Outlook a lot - a lot. I will email myself meeting and schedules etc, and then use Dropbox for file coordination. I've worked for larger companies in the past that have complicated and sophisticated project management software, but what you see on these forums is mainly small business or sole proprietor type operations. I've had a project manager before (pre-down-turn years when we had 32 employees) use a notebook of paper and he just kept making non-stop lists and notes...and he was the most organized person i've been around, and his method was basic. I guess in the end its not what you use, but the constancy of its use. If you choose something more complex, you may end up skipping it all too often and the tool doesn't work. If paper notes is easy and you use it all the time, that may be the best bet.
  23. Here is a quick concept I did in CA to demonstrate where I think you want to go with the model - maybe I am wrong. I just show a line drawing render since I didn't want to mess with textures etc. The slight error in the picture house is the fact I think they were trying to have the "wrap" come around and then at the porch the wall "notch" be as if that portion of roof was twisted/flipped up to form that roof section - but the size of that cutout doesn't match the area of roof they show (its much larger). I think that could be fixed.... but I may be too picky.
  24. Are you saying the wall there is a roof?....its a wall with treatment to look like the roof extends over the edge (ie battens), but its not a roof in "design" or real life. The fascia board is being used as an edge detail for the roof down the side of that wall is making an illusion/representation of sorts. Its hard to tell from the pic, but the other side may be the face/edge of a gamble roof if that is what you are talking about? Again, its hard to tell from the pic, if there is an angle to that other wall - but it doesn't look like there is an angle to the foreground wall. Anyway, they have cleverly designed the elements of the home to appear as if the roof wraps the house, but its more a detailed illusion than actual roof that wraps around the home.
  25. Can I ask a question - why doesn't the wall i set to balloon past ceiling height not do exactly that when I place a manual ceiling plane?...isn't that the point?