rlackore

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Everything posted by rlackore

  1. rlackore
    You can change the stud spacing in a framed wall by modifying the Main Layer Material Definition to use framing at a different spacing, then rebuild the wall's framing.
  2. rlackore
    Have you built the framing for those walls? Select the walls, then:
  3. rlackore
    Chief only has three types of lights: spot, point, and parallel. Chief's default "fluorescent" fixtures are nothing more than a single point light - the fluorescence is simulated by an emmissive material that doesn't actually cast any light. Chief doesn't have a decent method for simulating strip lights. Many suggestions have been made to provide better lights and light control.
  4. rlackore
    Those windows aren't very deep (high?) so the cut plane is slicing through the cripple studs below the rough sill, which is why they are showing in the plan view. I don't think we can change the height of the cut plane.
  5. rlackore
    Just to be clear the maximum lights isn't only a Chief Architect issue. Chief renders using OpenGL which by default allows only 8 lights in it's fixed pipeline. There are ways to get around this, but none are implemented in Chief.
  6. rlackore
    Joe's excellent point is the other piece to the puzzle. It's important to distinguish between the "maximum lights" that your video card can "render" to the your screen display, and the number of lights are "turned on" to compute the Ray Trace solution (which doesn't depend on your video card).
  7. rlackore
    I agree with Michael. Check here to see how many lights your card can handle: Regardless of how many lights are toggled on, only the maximum number that your card can handle will be displayed.
  8. rlackore
    Turn on Ignore Casing... As you move the window close the the adjacent wall this setting comes into play.
  9. rlackore
    If all you're planning to do is build shelves with hanging rods, then 24" minimum on each side of the aisle; make the aisle width what is comfortable for you, but 24" would again be my suggested minimum. If you are planning a more complex project, this PDF guide from Canyon Creek explains almost everything you need to know: Closet Design Guidelines.pdf
  10. rlackore
    Shoot an elevation, create a CAD Detail from View, and draw the shape using the CAD tools. Then copy/paste-hold to the elevation, convert the polyline to a Polyline Solid, and use a plan view to position it correctly.
  11. rlackore
    This is very weird. I've always thought of a CAD block as purely CAD objects - no smart objects like a countertop hole. It makes me wonder what other smart objects I can embed into a CAD block, and will they behave as expected if they aren't assigned to a symbol?
  12. rlackore
    Where are you trying to draw the walls? Which roof plane? Knee walls are explained on page 290 of the Reference Manual - this explains the error message better than I can.
  13. rlackore
    I can't help you with your email without knowing what email program you use, but simply adding the saved raytrace as an attachment should work fine. Same for the PDFs, or almost any other file for that matter.
  14. rlackore
    After the Raytrace is complete: File>Export Picture
  15. rlackore
    File>Print>Print>Save as PDF You can select the A4 sheet size assuming your Layout is set up for A4.
  16. rlackore
    If it's just for decoration you can use Soffits - they can be set up to follow the slope of the ceiling plane. Check out page 779 of the X7 Reference Manual.
  17. rlackore
    You can extract the image used in the SketchUp file and import into Chief using Build>Image>Create Image. Then it will have the proper "face me" behavior. EDIT: Or better yet, use Terrain>Plant>Create Plant Image. Then you can add all sorts of plant data if you want.
  18. rlackore
    What we need is Chief to give us area lights, volume lights, dark lights, etc. These have been requested before, but the more people that post in the Suggestion Forum the better.
  19. rlackore
    The symbol is just parts built from primitives - took about 1 minute. I created the Material texture image in Genetica (by Spiral Graphics), but it could just as easily be created in Gimp or Photoshop using the Selection tool to select areas to make transparent; then save the image as PNG file to preserve the transparency and use it in the Chief Material.
  20. rlackore
    You can make a Symbol by creating a Face and assigning it a Material that uses the plant image as the Texture - BUT it's a pointless exercise because the Symbol won't behave like the plant Image - in other words it won't automatically turn to face the camera. Chief hasn't given us the ability to assign that kind of behavior to a Symbol - only to an Image.
  21. rlackore
    You can also use a material with transparency to achieve this: It saves you some polygons.
  22. rlackore
    Yeah, I understand that technology budgets are never given the priority they deserve. The nice thing about assets like the Xfrog plants and trees is that they never expire - no annual licensing fees - you buy it, you own it. I also understand that the boss usually expects more than a most employees can deliver within a reasonable time frame and budget. All you can do is explain to your boss that if he wants pretty flowers and trees, he needs to pay for them.
  23. rlackore
    I don't believe there is an option to display to the main layer. There is nothing that allows this in Preferences, Defaults, or the Plan Footprint dbx.
  24. rlackore
    Xfrog is a company. It's employees expect a paycheck. Most of their assets are used by professionals for commercial work that generates income. Have you EVER tried to model a flower or a tree? Not easy - though you could use Xfrog's excellent software for windows, only US $190, and create your own. If you monitor Xfrog's site they will periodically offer even more free stuff. Get on their mailing list if you want to be emailed offers. And I would assert that if you can invest US $2700 in Chief Premier, then you can afford US $169 for a flower bundle.
  25. rlackore
    The faucet in your first post was created, and the material was mapped, in SketchUp. SketchUp has tools that allow mapping a photographic image to objects, including positioning the image, wrapping it around cylinders and corners, etc. Chief doesn't have these tools.