Beautiful Chief Architect Rendering using an Image instead of the Backdrop X15 & X16

[HardWorkingBee]

Hi @Steve_Nyhof! First of all huge thanks for this incredible thread. I learned so much and everything you've provided encouraged me to take the plunge and start working on my own renderings directly in CA.

 

Please see the attached screenshot. The rendering is not complete but that doesn't change the outcome. I'm getting those light stripes and the dark horizontal band on the background image. I tried changing the sun position, the image position and the image orientation to no avail. It doesn't happen with the spherical backdrop. Applying the backdrop has no effect on the stripes. I'd greatly appreciate any pointers any of you could provide please.

 

Best,

Onur 

[Steve_Nyhof]

12 hours ago, HardWorkingBee said:

I'm getting those light stripes and the dark horizontal band on the background image.

I am getting these light stripes also. Not as bad as you are. I have tried a number of things, including adding a large solid behind the image and that also does not work for me. I do believe the lighting for the background plays a role so you might mess with that.

 

But, one thing that is about this thread, is that it has progressed over time, and ended with me using HDRi backgrounds when introduced with X16. I did not hear anything about the image background issues from anyone else, so thought it was just me. I might have even eluded to this issue in this thread. I don't remember.

 

Try moving your sun around a little also and see what you get.

[Steve_Nyhof]

Download this rendering file and see what my settings are 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1I2ZwzEyGUJHPKaD5RQ6J2S5B-f7iW8Mt/view?usp=sharing

 

[ACVNarch]

I've been trying to use this technique with a subdivision model (that has multiple houses brought in as symbols) and the background image object keeps clipping. I feel like I've seen it do this before when my camera was on the wrong side of the image object, but I only have one camera in this plan file. 

Any suggestions? 

[Steve_Nyhof]

3 hours ago, ACVNarch said:

I've been trying to use this technique with a subdivision model (that has multiple houses brought in as symbols) and the background image object keeps clipping. I feel like I've seen it do this before when my camera was on the wrong side of the image object, but I only have one camera in this plan file. 

Any suggestions? 

Seems this is a problem. You are the second one to note this. Because we are in X17 now, I would use HDRi backgrounds as chief uses them. I do like my backgrounds because they are more congruent with the 3D imagery of the model, and I can often rotate the scene or sun a bit to hide the lines, but what I am seeing here in your image would work nicely with HDRi backgrounds...

Check a number of them out here...

 

[basketballman]

On 7/27/2025 at 9:54 PM, HardWorkingBee said:

Hi @Steve_Nyhof! First of all huge thanks for this incredible thread. I learned so much and everything you've provided encouraged me to take the plunge and start working on my own renderings directly in CA.

 

Please see the attached screenshot. The rendering is not complete but that doesn't change the outcome. I'm getting those light stripes and the dark horizontal band on the background image. I tried changing the sun position, the image position and the image orientation to no avail. It doesn't happen with the spherical backdrop. Applying the backdrop has no effect on the stripes. I'd greatly appreciate any pointers any of you could provide please.

 

Best,

Onur 

 

Pretty easy fix .. AI enhanced ..

 

[Steve_Nyhof]

35 minutes ago, basketballman said:

 

Pretty easy fix .. AI enhanced ..

 

Looks great! Thank you for showing a solution to my backgrounds.
So a little more context to help others. Did you upload this picture and ask AI to clean it up?
And would you like to share what AI you used. I personally like Midjourney, but there are many now.


 

[basketballman]

Yes, I uploaded your image into one of the A.I. programs that I use.  ( There are several )

Not only were streaks removed, but image was also enhanced ( upscaled ) significantly at the same time.

 Grass now looks real and lighting is greatly improved.

  Chief should really consider incorporating A.I. capabilities into the program, since it's here to stay and gets better every day.

Not doing so may start to hurt future CA sales since less expensive and even free cad programs can replace it and beautiful renderings can be done via A.I.

  I no longer spend all the time and effort necessary to do a decent render in Chief.

       Interior design and rendering is where A.I really shines.

I offer a training course in A.I. that covers the use of prompts, negative prompts, techniques and which free programs to use and when.

 

 

[ACVNarch]

 

Quote

Because we are in X17 now, I would use HDRi backgrounds as chief uses them. I do like my backgrounds because they are more congruent with the 3D imagery of the model, and I can often rotate the scene or sun a bit to hide the lines, but what I am seeing here in your image would work nicely with HDRi backgrounds...

 

Thanks Steve!! I'll give it a shot and provide an update. 

[Steve_Nyhof]

Just now, ACVNarch said:

 

 

Thanks Steve!! I'll give it a shot and provide an update. 

Thank you, I would love to see it!