jtcapa1

It was the OP's suggestion. Would have thought that was clear. Are you saying that it changed in X17? I've not checked.

I'll upvote that suggestion on single lines versus double lines for framing. I think there is a real good need for this option.

It is not that you are "dumb", trust me we all feel that way as CA continues to improve and suddenly we need to learn a new tool. It is no easy task to grasp the power and nuances of some of these cool tools unless you've got time to just play around, or your a savant like our beloved Rabbitt. Once you figure it out, you'll be amazed at what you can do to improve the visual quality of your 3d models.

I played around with using a double roof system. Like Rene, it was 'very very easy'...▼

Some clever work-arounds, but instead of a distributed region, couldn't the roof be created using a skylight tool?

Peals before swine. These are very subtle nuanced and another black hole of time. Most of my clients are not as interested in that level of detail. Looks like fun though.

Which image is which? Can you elaborate a bit more on your experience using D5 to finish your renderings?

I have some random crashes of X17 recently that gave and error message about disk space! Really! I have CA running on its on 1 TB SD drive. Nothing else. And now it has filled up? Crap. X17 has a lot of redundant bloat. Library files, backup files, archive files and duplicates of same. Sure, I got lazy and sloppy when it comes to managing all these folders and backups thinking I had plenty of space. I was wrong. Anybody else have this issue?

Like many of you, I've been taking advantage of CA's growing ability to accurately display building elements in 3d, and have moved away from Textures when I need that extra detail in a 3d rendering. I'm wondering if there are any simpler ways to achieve this look of a standing seam roof without inserting 3d models from sketchup, stretch them, rotate, space, rinse and repeat. This looks great, but takes far to much time.

That is very interesting Michael, I didn't think anybody was actually doing that. I've been offering 3d framing models to all my GC's or their guys in the field, but very few have used it. Partly because of the poorly written CA cloud viewer. I understand it evolved from a different idea, but if you have the right kind of viewing software and a powerful enough notepad, then it would be a great tool in the field. There is so much more information I've crammed into my models that never gets into the "clean" 2d documents. I'm convinced that as portable VR merges with AI very soon that is the only way they will be viewing our drawings and models. It is not quite there yet, but I'd love to see CA at the front of that technology line.

It depends on what your background is. I came from an old school Architectural office where all the documents were tightly controlled and scripted, back in the days of hand drafting ink on mylar. It was very tedious and often frustrating. Many old architects are rolling over in their graves at the sight of COLOR in permit and construction documents! *gasp* It took me a few years of working in Autocad once it started using color as a visual tool to distinguish line weights, when I started to wonder 'why not use color in my documents'? might help the permit reviewer's and contractors see things more clearly. It worked well and I never looked back. I really don't give a damn if someone thinks my drawings are cartoonish. Color brings a lot more information to the documents when combined with textures and materials. I stopped designing on paper and switched to designing using 3d models, as CA is fast and easy when it comes to playing around with ideas. Companies like CA and ACAD have worked hard to force the computer to look less like a computer rendered and more human, but I don't really think that is necessary. We need to evolve with the technology, and I honestly believe that the future of our work will not be ported down into 'dumb' 2d documents. Those will soon become a thing of the past. Keep an open mind and look forward, not backward. Cheers, -=JT=-

Rendr just put out another promo, that makes it sound great, even for clients to walk around the house. This came out today:

Dang, I did explode the blocks, but not all of them exploded. Not sure why. But I group selected them and exploded all the unexploded ones. Presto Chango. Magically I finally pulled that Rabbitt out of your hat. Thank buddy.

Joe can you elaborate a bit more on how you made a Wall Type with "extreme exterior Layer"... what the heck is that? and your width x thickness methodology? Sounds almost like you are drawing another wall right next to the existing, Whereas Rene's secret, magic, version is an actual wall type with the upper trim and lower trim.

Rene, I have been using your material region batten method from your video. Thank you. Works great at first. After massaging the plan, it will act up in that the material regions keep vanishing. I have to turn off, then on, the material region for it to reappear again. I have to do this every time I make any change, or open or close any dialog while in 3d. Is that just me?