DavidJPotter

I agree with Dennis but also I would point out that the internal render engine is very fast compared to Pov-Ray, you can watch it develop on your screen and cut it off when you have a decent render view. Most of my interior renders take about ten minutes each for very nice products. It takes some practice to adjust material and lighting properties but within a few minutes I can see whether I need to stop and make adjustments and then start a new render view using the ray-tracer. How long it takes depends mainly upon how you set material and light properties, only secondary is the speed of your PC. Only use just the right number of lights per view (all light sources in the entire plan-all floors are "on" unless you edit them and their intensity per view) and each unnecessary light source (one that does not directly contribute to the view being rendered) makes the render time multiples longer, so minimum number is best per render. DJP

Michael, I own and use all Home Designer named titles, versions 6-2015. I own and use actively, versions of Chief 7-X6. In terms of the stair tool there is not enough difference between Home Designer Essentials (their least expensive title) and X6 in terms of function and features (Home Designer Pro and Chief Permier Lite, Interiors and Full version have a few more check boxes and inputs but otherwise they are identically programmed whether on a Mac or PC). I know what I am talking about since I make it part of my business to know so. I was not expressing an opinion but rather a fact. DJP

if they are available from Autodesk then they are probably available in AutoCAD native 3D dwg format which can be directly imported, a symbol at a time using the "Symbol Wizard" in Chief and then added to your LB. DJP

I just download the libraries I need and want and every so often, hit the "Update Libraries" button found under "Library". No need to make it more complicated than that. DJP

sarahemeline, The stair tool draws stairs from the level (floor) you draw them on to the next level or floor above. The stair tool works the same in Home Designer Architectural on a PC or Mac precesely the same, it is identical in function and action in Chief Premier (no difference at all what so ever). Just try again with that first datum in mind and you will get them to work. DJP

I have used this software since the mid nineties and taught it to others since 2000. I do remodeling and custom homes. Back in 2005 I had several large home builders as clients which made up over half of my business per year who have since gone on to sell insurance or cars. I remain because of my skill with and love for this software and what it enables me to create and do. Your own love of what you do is more important than what you use to do it with but Chief Architect, its creators and those that use it on a daily basis are a positive, creative group dedicated to helping others to see their dreams come to reality and that is a good group to be associated with. DJP

Carefully study and then play with (change settings and then view the results of having done so) the Cabinet Specification Dialog and its tabs and settings. There is a lot of choices and functionality built into that tool for you to use as you wish, once you find out how it works. DJP

When I need to make a stair object with exactitude, I commonly do a "View to CAD" of the stair cross section camera view that I can then micro-manage as a 2D CAD Detail. This allows me to show exact reser dimensions, Tread depth, rise angle and being a 2D CAD detail, it stays put as such (I can control each line and closed poly-line as I choose). Where I am not required to do this, I just use a dynamic saved camera view (cross section) and add text and dimensions as necessary. Both ways work. one is a little more trouble when total exactness is required. DJP

Commonly I just make a series of "open Below" rooms that line up, floor to floor. On each floor I place a sliding door with appropriate trim. This serves fine in plan views. If you require a cross section then you can carefully add the cab as 2D CAD overlays on the cross section. I have never been asked to model an elevatior with the doors open and I suppose the quality of rendering would dictate how much detai needed to be added as poly-line solids, molding poly-lines etc. One can get quite fancy and detailed at need. DJP

Framing, especially in this case Deck planking are individual 3D objects on their own named layer as opposed to a texturized material merely being applied to a flat surface, you build deck planking and apply a texture to those individual plank objects or do not build deck planking and apply a material to that flat surface). When you do both it looks a little confused, so choose one method or the other but not both is my advice. DJP

Dear Scott, I only post when I have something to say and there are many competent voices here with room for all of them to be heard. Shared Wisdom and fun is the best goal of this forum and no one has that market cornered, nor should anyone be haloed above others as well. Thank you but just keep doing what you do, that is enough for me and for many others. DJP

One can wish for things but if you are in business and intend to continue to be in business, then change is a must. As has been mentioned, security is a constant problem, the competition is another, Governments and taxes are another. Company's that did not change with the times, no longer exist for better or worse. The same is true with Human Beings, we change, we age. The only constant in Life is Change. DJP

You can create custom layer sets (Electric plan set, LIghting set etc) as well as custom layers for layer sets. You get then to the right layer manually by controlling what you do as you do it and object at a time. DJP

Jason, the key to any viable bussiness is promotion (making yourseld positively known to potential clients). I have been self-employed since 1979 with its ups and downs. But promotion is a constant task: I maintain ads on Craigslist, Angies' list, a website, a You Tube Channel, Facebook page, Houzz and other communication venues. I really love doing this kind of work and I make sure that as many persons as I can know that. You are a talented, experienced, long-time Chief Architect user so you have valuable talents that others can use. You should not consider that just because others also do what you do and use what you use somehow lessons your own importance, it does not. There is a Universal Law of LIfe which is "Outflow equals in-flow" by that it is meant that the more positive promotion (communication) of your creative services and products others can see and know of will tend to correlate with how much requests for paid work you receive over time. So in order to achieve and maintain an abundance, you promote like Mad always. Your only limiting factor as to income is your willingness to have it and ask for it, so ask for it. DJP

I use Cute PDF out of a habbit (before they added their own). It serves me alright. The main thing is correct settings whatever you use. DJP

If you are auto-generating roofs, select the window you want a gable roof above, in the "Edit Toolbar" for that selected Window check "Gable over this Window" and then regenerate roofs. That setting will flag the roof generator that a gable roof is to be built over that window. Or, learn how to manually draw and edit roofs using the provided tools and then do whatever you want, wherever you want at will. DJP

The key is patience and a methodical approach, making sure that each stair object fully connects to each landing edge. If the landings are wider than the stairs where you intend for them to connect to, be sure and add a manual break at the edge of each side of the stair object where it contacts its landing. For additional data please view the video tutorials offered by Chief Inc at their website under "Tutorials - Stairs" DJP

When I do (infrequently) I just copy it again and it works. I just consider it a some-time quirk relative to Windows. It happens so seldom I have never felt the need to persue an "answer" other than do it again until I get a "done". DJP

The more light sources that are turned "on" in a plan each additional unnecessary light source adds time (Ten times for each unnecessary light source per render per light) to obtain a decent end result. Turn on only those light sources that are necessary to light your render scene. Once you reduce the light sources the quicker you will have a good looking image. If the lighting is set properly, you should get a good render view in about 5 to ten passes in ray tracing (on my PC that is about five minutes). The overall quality of your PC is another factor relative to speed. Chief Premier has several render camera types, some better than others. You should study and practice with each type until you begin to obtain some judgement as to how and how long it takes to suit yourself. Great Ray Traced images take time, to mainly learn how to adjust lighting and material properties to get good to great results. Blurry is unacceptable for anyone. DJP

a "random pattern" is an oxymoron by default (in order to be a pattern there must be a regular pattern there which would then not make it "random"). That said, I think that one would have to take a large digital photograph to minimize the apparent pattern of that texture when applied to a 3D face. In terms of a vector line pattern I think that would be difficult to achieve (some repitition would have to occur in a .pat file). I suppose one could manually draw such a thing with 2D CAD but that is intensive work indeed. I have not written a .pat file in some years and what I did once know, I have forgotten. Perhaps some bright person will hopefully make me in the wrong which I would welcome. DJP

My opinion about such things is to do what is required. Work-around is a concept that many use to decry having to work for a living. Chief usually offers more than one way to get something done (a deffinite plus point). I like that, work-rounds I will leave to those who must complain to and about living Life. DJP

I have versions 7-16 active on my PC, let me know if you still require help. DJP

Because you are worthy of vexation as are we all. DJP

Check to see what unit measure is set as default for both plans (Like Glenn said-imperial or metric), that could explain the aparent paradox due to two different measureing units. Check and see please. DJP

You have not looked "everywhere" yet since they are there. Now look under "Architectural - Lighting - Wall Mounted - Spotlights" DJP