SCI_Design

Yep, I use live elevations and cross sections. This has really sped up my production and accuracy. As was mentioned, use the update feature sparingly, since it can take some time to update larger elevations. I usually avoid building out all the framing (joists, trusses, walls etc) and save 3D framing members for critical structural elements or when I need to make sure my load paths through the building work. Having the entire model build out all the framing will slow down the plan a lot.

Dshall, Naw, just a working man like the rest of the bunch here. Had to learn some of this stuff the hard way, but I've also been given my fair share of chances. If my two cents worth of advice can help somebody else, then that's great. Designsyko is a jumble of what I do and who I am, kinda like a Bridge Troll or a Drawzilla. Drawzilla's.... didn't they have those in Jurassic Park? Well, back to basking in front of the two 40" 4K's to crank out the next epic plan. Draw on my friends!

Put together a package - both examples of your work, references, your design process nicely laid out, helpful info for clients etc. Then go meet with builders face to face and leave them with copies of your package to hand off to new clients. Most clients want an easy program to follow, so make it easy to sign up, easy to get a hold of you, easy to pay, and easy access to what you are creating for them. Don't just e-mail two dozen local builders and say you are offering services. Make a point to go meet with builders you would like to work with and talk to them on how you can help them gain clients and make their job easier by offering good plans / specs. Show them how they can make money off of you. Again, make it easy for them to work with you. A good website, Houzz account, or other social media is helpful too - although bear in mind that most builders (in my experience anyway) are just barely getting into social media themselves and are probably doing it to advertise their services - not doing it to find a designer. To gain trust, you need to go shake their hand, visit their jobs, and build a relationship so they will trust you with their clients. It takes time and determination to build a reputation from the ground up. Undersell and over deliver. Be organized and responsive. Usually anyone willing to apply themselves can find a good degree of success. Best of luck!

Yeah, this is a real problem - especially when you try to clean up any random lines on the elevations via the layout line edit tool. You can delete the line, but the shadow remains. Hope it gets fixed soon.

I have had this issue as well. It is related to using a poly line box with a transparent fill. The box does not even need to be of a similar size as the whited out area in the PDF - it just has to exist somewhere on the page. I have used several PDF printing programs (even the "Chief save as PDF" ) and sometimes it clears it up, but sometimes it does not. This has made me simply stop using the useful tool of transparent fill, since it can easily ruin a final print set of drawings as Chopsaw mentioned. I am now in the habit of print previewing (as big as I can) each page before I print to try and catch the problem.

Ditto what Joey said. I usually just start over and re-draw the plan.

Using (2) 40" Samsung TV's - one is 4K and one is 1080p. I am blown away by the clarity of the 4K. In the past I've used (4) 27" LCD monitors, but the 40" 4K TV is even better. I still like additional monitors for bringing up webpages or e-mail on the side, but for my main drawing screen I can't see going back to anything less than a 40" 4K TV. Make sure the your graphics card can handle 4K output if you plan to go that route.

Yes, I would say you are in the range. The midwest is a tougher market, but depending on your skill you might see a starting income of around $40K and perhaps if you're good, it will get to $80K in 4-5 years. Six figures is possible, but the market has to be strong. Once you reach a point where builders want your plans, and clients are calling you because of what you produce, then target the more qualified jobs and base some of your fees on a fixed price or percentage of construction cost. It is tough to make it on an hourly basis - even if you charge $60 or more an hour. Do all you can to build relationships with local builders. If they like your plans, they will recommend you to new clients.

Thanks guys! Some great input here.

I'd like to gauge all the CA gurus on this forum to learn how I might speed up my drafting process. For two years now, my schedule has been really busy, and production has become critical to fulfilling commitments. The single biggest draw on my time has continued to be drafting blueprints. Maybe I'm a stickler for detail, but I like a complete set of blueprints that are specific to the project and clearly portray details of the project. I often end up with 16 plan pages of content for an average custom home. I know this slows me down some and I'm willing to sacrifice the time to keep up the quality. But, I also think there must be some ways to speed things up. I suppose what I'm more interested in is finding out from others what are some of the key steps you employ in CA to streamline your blueprint drafting process. Here are a few I already use: CAD blocks for everything. Someone told me once regarding CAD drafting "If you are drawing it twice, you are doing it wrong". I absolutely keep a library of foundation details, framing details, hardware details, and so on. Copy and paste is king. Templates for Plans and layouts. Layer sets or annotation sets help a lot. Creating "live" cross sections. This is a fairly new practice for me, but it works well - especially when changes happen to the plan. It updates the whole blueprint quickly. Drawing an extremely accurate 3D model. Even custom brackets, or specialty details - draw them as they will be built - exactly. This slows down the concept design, but really helps the blueprint drafting. What about you? What do you do to speed up your drafting process? I'd like to draft a plan in 2 days, instead of spending 2 weeks. How fast can you produce a permit ready blueprint? I know blueprint content varies by location, but feel free to share.

Glass house is great for seeing through a structure and identifying issues or seeing how parts of the structure correlate. How much room is there under the enclosed stairway for example. There are other ways to in Chief to show clients this information, but a 3D Glass house option still maintains the helpful 3D aspect while offering a see through benefit. Some of the other render options are helpful during interior walk throughs. Sometimes the Standard render can be hard to see because of lighting issues. Duo-Tone or Technical illustration can help define wall and ceiling lines more clearly without distracting shadows etc. Other render types are just for more artistic presentations. I have often used them to capture the clients imagination and get them excited about a project.

3D model done in Chief, then rendered with affects in Lumion. The combination of Chief and Lumion is incredible. All the lanscaping was done in Lumion - adding plans, rocks, mulch beds is a breeze. Time to get all this done in Lumion was about an hour.

Just another fun day of design work.

Adjust the Field of View setting. Version X8 had a default setting of 60 degrees and makes everything look stretched out. I usually view everything with it set at 40 - 45 degrees. Double click on the Full Camera icon and you should be able to set the camera defaults.

Buzzsaw, Yes, I suppose you are right - making this big of a shift in the standards of industry will take time. Then again, it was not so long ago that we drew everything by hand. In the progression of drafting/ design industry standards, what I'm envisioning seems like a natural transition.

Richard, Yes! BIMx Pro is getting closer! I suppose over time more of these platforms will be available with even more functions. Thanks for the suggestion.

With the way technology is going these days, it would seem we would be able to interface with our designs in a much more interactive way than using 2D blueprints. One of my bigger frustrations with using high powered 3D software is how much detail is lost when I have to "covert" all the information to a 2D Blueprint and hand it off to a builder. Of all of the people who need the detail gained from 3D design, the builders would really benefit from having a much more visual way to access a designs information. I know we can always give them pictures and renderings and even sit down and walk through a 3D model, but still the main thing that guides them and their subcontractors during construction is the trusty, coffee stained, tattered, rolled up paper blueprints - which have about 30% of the information that could otherwise be available to them via a more advanced interface. The old saying "A picture is worth a thousand words" rings true here. A 2D blueprint is sort of a picture, but a 3D model is so, so much more. I guess I imagine a highly glorified 3D viewer that could upload a 3D model and have every bit of information available with a few clicks. Maybe its holographic, most likely its on a ipad, computer, or similar screen. Some features could be: The ability to set layers, so instantly a framing plan is converted to 3D and all framing members are easily seen and quantifiable. Hardware connections are seen and identified. Maybe there are layers to isolate trusses, windows, doors, structural elements etc. Maybe a foundation wall can be clicked on and up pops a CAD section. A slab could be selected and instantly measured for rebar and concrete quantity. Foundation walls could be measured and quantified. An interface that allows a measurement to be pulled with a finger from any part of the design. Imagine a walk through feature where a builder could pull a dimension on any part of the design -with his finger. The ability to select any entity of the design (windows, doors, appliances, millwork, cabinets, plumbing fixtures, electrical components) and access or modify its information. Schedules could be created and e-mailed or texted to suppliers and vendors. Costs could be assigned and accurate cost estimates could develop. Ability to select a material (siding, roof, sheathing, flooring, etc) and it instantly gives a quantity take off. Again, unit cost could be applied and accurate estimates easily developed. Engineering information would be visible - shearwalls, beams, connections, and nailing patterns all view-able. Code compliance and current applicable codes could be embedded and easily accessible for site inspections or code clarifications. I guess it really boils down to making it possible to share a super detailed and accurate 3D model in a way that allows the information to be accessible. It would take all the information typically found on a blueprint and puts it into a 3D, electronic format and then adds so much more information and clarity. When we build our designs in 3D we would have the ability to input all the information much like we do now with CA. So all the information is being amassed, its just finding a easier way to get it in front of the people who need it. Anyone know of a system like this currently available?

ChiefCzar, I'm not necessarily looking to change gears with my work situation at this point, but one never knows the extent of an opportunity until it is explored. I am an experienced Chief user. In the last 12 years I have designed hundreds of custom homes in the Pacific Northwest - everything from small entry homes to the million(s) dollar dream homes. I have coordinated all phases of design from site feasibility, client interaction, cost analysis, preliminary design, blueprint drafting, engineering, permitting, and on site construction support. I am currently a Certified Professional Building Designer and have held that certification for 9 years now. I have worked for several custom builders in the past and managed their in house design departments. I currently work for a custom builder and work out of my home office as self employed. I have used Chief for every phase of design. The power of its 3D capabilities works well in capturing the imagination of the client and solidifying their dreams. I also have some experience with Lumion, which can further supplement the visualization aspect of 3D design. I have trained others to use Chief and I feel very comfortable with the software. Again, I do not know if there are any mutually beneficial opportunities until details are discussed. If you are interested, please contact me at jim@sykorahomedesign.com.