robdyck

You don't need to use a different software, just use the Record Walkthrough tool and press 'ctrl-s' to generate the spin. Set the camera rotation angle to a low value, 2 degrees or less. The quality won't be as good but it may be good enough depending on your use. what's this_.mp4

We're on the same page here Doug. Those types of details are usually at a larger scale and not part of the model, so a CAD detail is quite normal. For a section camera, I'm referring to a building section view, usually at 1/4" scale (or similar scale to the floor plan); a more general drawing, not overly detailed. I never have any issues dimensioning in those views and I don't think I've used a cad section drawing in probably around 15- 20 years. Gotta love it when you start referring to time in decades...

The wall framing will be continuous, however if you auto-detail a section view, you will see 2 separate insulation boxes. Pony walls would be my preferred method as well, and for better board and batten appearance, I would use material regions for the battens. Generally speaking though, a board & batten material will be 'good enough' (shudder).

Not with a wall covering, but with a Wall Material Region.

Is there any way to automatically access and report critical roof plane elevation data, like Baseline Height or Ridge Top Height? Many of my designs are more complex than I'd like and I need to report this information on most plans.

Without getting too long-winded here I'll provide some basic observations. For almost every 'plan' view drawing, you should use a Saved Plan View that is accompanied by a coordinating Layer Set and Default Set. For almost every Elevation and Section View, you should use a saved Cross Section camera and add any CAD work, dimensions and text to these camera views. These would be located where you currently have section callouts. CAD Details should then be reserved for supplementary informational drawings that are not necessarily part of the 3d model and for your own sketching / planning work.

This is correct. A bit of investigation into this file reveals that you don't need assistance with design (the house looks great) but you could use major improvements to your workflow within Chief. Altering your working methods to suit how Chief is designed to function would drastically improve your computer performance and probably cut your time in half, conservatively speaking.

If you zoom in closely in a section view, you will see that Chief's door produce a gap between the door and the jamb. Manufacturer library doors do not produce that gap.

For mm, space. For example: 12 345 Unit indicators only if there are multiple dimension formats.

This is what I do. You have to pick your poison!

Plans and Renderings

Hi Angela, you'll probably need to post the plan for help with this issue.

I recommend that your note schedule cad detail is set to the scale of the largest note. The note schedule text style should be set to the style for the largest note. Place all notes in the note schedule cad detail beside the note schedule. Set all of these to use the text style for the largest note. You can then copy these notes to different views and then change their text style. Otherwise, the note schedule will show the text size of the original note (if there are more than one in the plan).

Try the Balcony room type.

@OrinCrowder It would be helpful to others if you could mark Glenn's post as the solution.

I can't tell you why this is programmed this way, but what's happening in the scenario is sort of logical. The mulled window has casing around it's perimeter. The "mullion" has 'trim' that covers the mullion only and is not subject to the reveal settings. The depth of the mullion can be changed. This helps to identify what Chief is building, not why, or how to change it. Mulled windows or mulled doors have always had casing issues that could be considered minor flaws for elevation drawings on con docs, but are major issues for high quality renderings. Improvements to all aspects of window / door trim would be welcome, as well as to the modelling of the window units themselves. But I digress. In the pic below, I adjusted the outside mullion depth to -1". This illustrates that the shape of the mullion is indeed separate of the frame / casing. The only way to get a 'perfect' central trim is to place the windows so the exterior casing is exactly butted between units. In Gene's plan example, that is 5.75" apart. This doesn't behave the same way for all casing widths!

@scottharris Thanks for the update Scott. I'm looking forward to it!

I had one customer this spring ask for a lumber material list. He was especially concerned about budgeting due to the out of control lumber prices! So I produced a list to his exact specifications, which I know quite well because I subcontract framed for him for 10 years. I summarized the list and excluded certain board lengths to reduce the number of line items. If the list is too long, most people's eyes will glaze over before they've reviewed the first screen. I added in all the prices from his supplier for him and then sent him the materials list. Client response: "I'm not very impressed, I don't want to pay for this." I'm attaching the list and the 3d model viewer. A note, in some places there appears to be a single board or hanger sitting by itself randomly. They are actually stacks of multiple items that have been replicated in the same location the correct # of times. The trusses were not built to be part of the materials list, but in this home I actually needed to model trusses so I could figure out the major bearing components and also produce the correct type of additional roof framing lumber. The model isn't perfect, I only cleanup what is necessary. https://3d-viewer.chiefarchitect.com/go?share=371420518625556 Sample Framing Material List.pdf

The 2 lower items are clearly shall corbels with an applique and the upper portion is a panel with an applique. You can find almost identical items in the Hardware Resources catalog. Image below: I stretched the applique to a similar size as the corbel. I reduced the depth of the corbel to 1.5"

Layer assignment and modeling becomes especially important in this scenario. A brief example: Will a polyline materials list include an existing wall if the polyline runs partially through it? This requires that existing walls be on their own layer, not include in materials and preferably, without any framing. Or be prepared to weed that garden, over and over.

Yes, I have, but not as much as some others. The program is perfectly accurate to the model you create. It is strictly an input-output equation. A somewhat useless material list is easy to create. A complex and accurate materials list is quite time-consuming and, in my experience, few customers have the foresight to pay for this information. If you offer it for free or next to free, then you may have some takers! The definition of a complex and accurate materials list could be debated, but all of my builder clients will not settle for the omission of all the items that Chief doesn't automatically produce. This means you either spend time putting more items in your model, or devising other methods to account for the components that don't automatically get produced. Real efficiency in materials lists could be achieved through volume when working with a large home builder. But if you have multiple builders in multiple regions, there are so many variables to factor in that it becomes time consuming. Not impossible, at least if you could get paid for the same amount of time that their estimators would spend compiling the same information, but good luck with that. Perhaps in regions other than western Canada, builders are more interested.

That looks great Scott! I sent an email awhile back but haven't had a reply yet. Is there a time frame for when new beta participants will be added?

I'm not an interior designer, but I could offer some suggestions that would improve this particular rendering and the same principles would apply to other designs. You clearly have at least 2 light sources in the plan that are reflecting on the feature wall. Consider replacing the light sources with recessed lights. This will improve realism. Reduce the thickness of the area rug and change its material to something that complements the floor tile and feature wall...and is a bit more current in its style (not casino flooring) 4 different side / coffee tables. That's too many different styles and too many different material types. The lamp between the yellow chairs is too tall and the lampshade material needs to be adjusted (reduce the texture size, blend to a lighter color) Upholstery: You have mayo, ketchup and mustard. Start with the mustard...blend to a medium dark neutral tone and add a bump map from the texture file. Possibly reduce the texture size. Similar for the ketchup chair. Add some pillows to the sofa...so many that you could never sit on it! Or maybe just 2:) Realistic upholstery textures will transform this image drastically. Add a sill to the exterior door and change the camera backdrop to something more realistic. A blank sky backdrop and a few 3d plants would do. Change the material of the green book. This just screams Chief Library item. A bit more polish on that floor tile would be logical. Thinner battens on the feature wall would look a bit more stylish. Lastly, absolutely no red wine near my white sofa! Everything I mentioned is meant to improve the image / scene and not intended as negative criticism!

That is the solution.