DavidJPotter

Regular "fence" can be made to look like the fence shown in your first image. The second image would have to be custom modeled in Sketch Up and then imported as a symbol or panel. The retaining wall tool would not natively produce fence-like structures anyway. DJP

There is a marked difference between "trying" and completely understanding and then doing what the article says, always. The easiest way to do what you want is to use two "Elevation Regions", one in the front yard that matches the garage door height and then another "Elevation Region" at the back door and yard that matches the grade level of the walk-out basement floor. The only way to not get a modulated terrain is to use only one value for change. the terrain plane is predicated to work with "two differing" elevation datums or objects, not just one. Read the article carefully again and carefully follow each step and when you do, you will get the expected outcome. DJP

Here is my contact information, I know of no one who specializes in teaching-tutoring Home Designer products except me. DJP

I just finished upgrading to Windows 10 Pro and Chief X7 - X2 run just fine on it. I did manually have to download the newest NVIDIA driver, didn't take long, I like it! DJP

The word you are looking for is "sense" and I have a healthy sense of humor, I am as guilty as the next person of being insensitive at times but I try for better and urge others to do so as well.Try standing in another's shoes first before holding someone up to ridicule is all I am asking. Try to help first and joke last. DJP

Once you zip it, you should also send a copy and explanation to Tech Support for analysis. They will let you know what they found and it may help us all. Part of your license fee buys you Tech Support and they are quite good. DJP

This sort of thing is perhaps fun at the expense of someone merely asking for help. Making fun of others is cheap humor, helping others is more positive and prosurvival. DJP

Here is my take on the imponderables of wall behavior in Premier: https://youtu.be/yqykKHOi3Zk DJP

The number one cause of extended ray trace time is unnecessary light sources that do not directly contribute to the scene being rendered. In ray tracing ALL light sources that are turned "on" in a plan file will be parsed by the render engine, each unnecessary light source adds a factor of 10 times to the overall time it takes to fully render a scene. Turn off all lights that do not illuminate the scene of address; doing so will then cut render time to its possible minimum. DJP

A temporary solution for roofs at least is to set the sheathing to the same material as the roof surface. That action then eliminates the "Z" fighting for the roof, call it a work-round if you like, it does work. DJP

After creating the second (or more) stair sections, you zoom in and carefully align and locate one stair section to the next. Zooming in so you can see well is the key with stairs on any kind. When the stair sections are properly located, one to another, they will "snap" together (close does NOT count). Only preciseness will serve with stairs. DJP

There have been many past threads posted here about "Z Fighting", please do a "Search" for that term where this question has been answered well and thoroughly in the past, multiple times. DJP

Take a look at "Shapes - Pedestals" in the LIbrary Browser. If those are not suitable, consider downloading and learning Trimble Sketch Up and make your own, Sketch Up is free software and very useful for making custom symbols and shapes. Symbols made in Sketch Up can then be imported into Chief Premier. DJP

Roz, your attached is so tiny, it is worthless in terms of communicating your exact problem, I am sorry to say. Since I cannot see your image, I can offer nothing of any use to you until I and others can see what is what. DJP

I downloaded your plan and then did a You Tube video of my looking around and editing: http://youtu.be/oNKD2WK1QBk DJP

Often I will shift to the "All off Set" and then turn on just "Moldings" so I can edit them or delete them. DJP

Here is my take on a solution via You Tube: http://youtu.be/cNZ65RKvn_Q DJP

Open the dialog box of the deck (I assume you named the room "Deck"), then on the Structure Tab - Floor Structure - Floor Finish set to "zero" inches and just below is "planks-joists" where you can alter the surface material of the deck planks. DJP

Curved walls, especially those drawn in a circle, need to be drawn with at least two segments of curve to work properly. This is not particularly "fair" or "Just", it is merely the difference between what works and what does not work. DJP

I find that when that occurs, I solve that usually by manually placing something there to dimension to (a CAD line, or point) and then move on to something else. I have never complained of it for years because it is so easy to solve. DJP

Call it what you will but each individual makes their own "luck" by living and operating viably or not. If a guy treats people right, advertises, promotes and delivers more than what was promised on an ongoing basis, he then survives well. If, on the other had he watches TV and waits for the phone to ring, doesn't treat his clients with respect so they feel special, then that kind of person "doesn't do as well" and wonders "why"? I am not a Hindu or Buddhist but I have observed that something like "Karma" does exist and is made or unmade by each of us based upon how alive we act and how morally we do so. DJP

With "Object Snaps" turned "ON" you "left-click-drag" break points to another, near by break point. This requires zooming in so your cursor movements are then precise, per action. DJP

Reinstall or repair-reinstall and try again. DJP

All the above suggestions are generally good but I would add that the common denominator of really good looking ray traces is really taking the time to SEE what tweaking certain settings does to the image. It takes time and patience but that buys you judgement and greater control of the look and feel of the image. Be your own critic and do not hope for results but methodically work towards achieving them. The images will represent you and your work, so they should be the absolute best you can do. DJP

No, when it is done, it is done manually. DJP