Electromen

I use APC.  I have a 1500VA on each computer and a smaller 600VA on the modem and network.

They are very reliable

Look at the VAH (volt amp hours) on the batteries, that will determine how long each one will last.

Comparing CyberPower to APC, you'll find APC has the larger battery even though both are rated 1500VA

4 hours ago, robdyck said:

Change the lite count.

 

Thanks for your help,  entering a high number of lites like 8 & 14 fixes it.

In X14, I don't see a difference between normal and Prairie

If you want to get serious about Monitor, and Printer Calibration, I can help.

It can be as simple as changing your monitor color profile.  Windows 11 > Settings > System > Display > Color Profile.  Try Adobe RGB or sRGB to start out, try others.

It can be a very involved subject with plenty to learn.  One subject is ICC Profiles, ICC (International Color Consortium).  The ICC sets international standards for color.

You can purchased gear to create custom  ICC Profiles for your monitor and printer.  If you do, your equipment will match everyone else in the world, who also has calibrated devices.

X-Rite i1Display Pro is the professional standard.  You may be able to find an older model cheap, the XRite Color Monkey.

If you want to learn more, just ask.

You can, but why do it with the low cost of a second drive ?

11 minutes ago, Kbird1 said:

I don't think that is a supported method, but should work if Chief is open and a plan open.........

 

Use the Library > Import Library Option, off the Menu Bar ( Top above Toolbars) I've never had an Issue and it allows you to select multiple Libraries at the same time.....which are imported one after another if needed.

 

On a side note there are about 430 additional libraries currently............

 

 

In all these years of using Chief, I've never done it from the Library.  I tried your method and it worked well.

Thank You.

I'll do that, thanks again

58 minutes ago, rgardner said:

Seems like I remember something about a glitch like this that it wasn’t working to just open it but works by dragging it into Chief with a plan file open.  
 

Probably best to report it either way.

Dragging didn't work.  However, having a plan open and the Library showing, opening the download worked

Thanks for your help.

I downloaded two cabinet manufacturers from the CA 3D Library, Quality cabinets and Sorento cabinets. I made sure each was the X14 version.

Windows 11 is up to date and so is CA X14.

From File Explorer I opened Downloads > Quality Cabinets

CA X14 opens but I get the following message: The File Quality Cabinets.calibz cannot be imported in the current view window.  Try importing it into a different type of view.

In Properties for the file, it is associated with X14 and is not blocked

Any ideas why?

Details:

GlobalActionUtilities.cpp (133): Warning #272001021

"The file "QualityCabinets (1).calibz" cannot be imported into the current view window. Try importing it into a different type of view."

05/08/2022 09:42:48 AM

Build: 24.0.3.48 Windows 64-bit

I don't have experience with the 3060 or 3070. I have a 3080 Ti and I'm very happy with it.

Extremely fast with CA.

I can run Microsoft Flight Simulator at the highest levels of detail without hesitation. 

Same speed here

Read THIS

Mac vs PC.  After 18 years with Mac,  I switched to PC several months ago.  Tool Bars have been solid ever since.

CHEIF BLOG ?  Misspelled 

April ! 

Good One.

17 hours ago, Kbird1 said:

(3) x 32" BENQ (Flat) 2560 x 1440p CAD/CAM monitors (BL3200) for me , the newer models have built-in KVM etc which would be nice .......

 

Tried the Dell 32" 1440p curved last year and was sent 2 Bad units and it took 4 1/2 months to get my money back... never again ...

 

All on a custom 30" x 84" Desk I built......

 

I did try 4K monitors before the BenQs but found everything including text "too small" with my eyesight and the need for Glasses, for both Computers and Reading now and no doubt driving sooner or later

  

I have dual 27" BENQ 2560x1440, I'm very happy with them.  I agree, 4K at that size causes the text to be too small 

I don't delete it,  I do as Eric mentioned and create a new layer for it, then turn it off/on

Downloaded and installed.  I quick test had no problems.

2 hours ago, kwhitt said:

 Greg - thanks for the reply.  I downloaded the drivers from NVidia.  I tried two that tech support recommended - one for desktop and one for notebook.  Not sure of the difference as the series number was the same.  Neither worked too well.

 

I'm not sure I know enough to answer your second question.  The specs of the laptop are in my signature below.  If this doesn't answer the question, what do I look for?

 

Kevin

 

In the Notes for the NVIDIA Driver for your laptop, the  NVIDIA official site states:

1.  "Notebooks supporting Hybrid Power technology are not supported (NVIDIA Optimus technology is supported)."

I looked up you computer and it looks like it does have Hybrid Power,  This uses both the onboard video and the NIVIDIA at the same time when the battery has enough charge or the computer is plugged in.  This can be enabled or disabled.  When using Chief, it should be disabled.  Since I don't have an X17 R2, I'm not sure how that's done.

2. "Although GeForce Game Ready Drivers and NVIDIA Studio Drivers can be installed on supported notebook GPUs, the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) provides certified drivers for your specific notebook on their website. NVIDIA recommends that you check with your notebook OEM for recommended software updates for your notebook."

The Alienware X17 R2 Driver supplied by Dell is HERE.  Since the Dell's download size is larger than NVIDIA's, maybe they added something to the driver or maybe  it's a different version????

Try that.  I would do one at a time, so that troubleshooting steps are isolated.

Questions:

1. Did you update the Drivers through NVIDIA or Dell?

2. Is your Alienware Notebook using Hybrid Power?

I always limit CPU renders to 10 passes but even with a fast computer it usually took about 50 min.

Now that I bought a new computer with NVIDIA 3080 TI 12GB, with GPU renders, the first view is immediate, realistic results take about 10 sec.

1000 samples for a high quality takes about 1 min. 20 sec.

Of course this is X13 Premier

I bought a MSI desktop about six weeks ago.  I'm very happy with it.

Look at these

My 3080 Ti is liquid cooled.  I'm not sure if that is a requirement but I'd look into it.

5 hours ago, Renerabbitt said:

What are you trying to accomplish with this action? I did not quite follow.

After reading the rest if this thread, The Action wouldn't work as I thought.

28 minutes ago, Renerabbitt said:

Just thought I would chime in with a couple of thoughts. If people finding this thread really want to improve their renderings it would be a good idea to learn a photo editing software and replace the backdrop altogether. Yes the backdrop will cast light into your scene, so why not do away with it and export as a .png with transparent background. From there you simply drop in a new backdrop. Takes all of 2 minutes and then you aren't dealing with color casting. I still use the backdrop in some scenes but its important to manually rotate your sun. 
I never turn down my sun settings, but when you rotate the sun, you will find that it stops illuminating your backdrop depending on the angle of rotation. 
The only setting then that I change is the suns angle and backdrop intensity. It takes me nearly no time, just a few minutes

I don't have my Adobe Photoshop account active right now.  I can activate for a month or so if this works.  The Backdrops default folder is: Documents > Chief Architect Premier X13 Data > Referenced Files > Bonus Backdrops.

Would it be possible to create an Action in Photoshop to convert the .jpg backdrops to .png with transparent backgrounds?  Batch covert them using the Action?  Then open the backdrop specification in CA and choose the new ,png location?

I'm new to PBR RT or RTRT but I've been working on it.  Try this:

Edit > Default Settings > 3D Defaults > Rendering Techniques > Edit > Physically Base (Ray Trace)

Camera Exposure =  0.4 > Check - Use Backdrop > Check -  Use Ray Trace > Check Refraction > Number of Export Samples = 2500 > Check Cap Live Samples > Daylight Backdrop Intensity = 100 > OK > Sunlight > Check Use Generic Sun > Intensity = 1,000 > Check Sun Follows Camera > OK  > Done

Use the Full Camera to create a 3D View > Right click the camera in 2d  > Open Object

This brings up Full Camera Specification.

There is a second way to open this is. In 3D, use an Icon on the Tool Bar > Edit Active View

Rendering Technique > Physically Based > If you hit Define, you should see the Defaults we set earlier

Check Show Color > Uncheck Show Watermarks > Check Show Shadows > Check Ray Casted Sun Shadows > Check Reflections > Uncheck Bloom > Check Edge Smoothing > Ambient Occlusion = 50% > Lighting > Automatic > Maximum lights =100

OK

Let me know if this helps