First Chief Architect Drawing.... - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

orson · 09-19-2008, 04:26 PM

Ok, I like messing around with SketchUp but I finaly sprang for a real design program.

Here is a rendering of my first drawing, a small kitchen remodel:

Couple of questions:

1. The ceiling is painted white white but looks really dark in the rendering. Is there any way to alleviate this? It seems like an unrealistic shading effect.

2. Seems like the libraries of fixtures are really limited. I downloaded all the extras from the Chief website already. I spent 20 minutes looking for dininig table chairs but could not find ANY in the library. Also crappy selection of faucets and sinks etc. Any way to rectify this without spending a ton of cash on libraries?

3. How do I make the countertop on that island overhang the cabinets on 1 side by 12"?

4. I can't seem to get a 3D framing set to work. It opens the window but it remains blank and never renders. Any thoughts?

5. Did I ask too many questions yet?

rbsremodeling · 09-19-2008, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by orson

Ok, I like messing around with SketchUp but I finaly sprang for a real design program.

Here is a rendering of my first drawing, a small kitchen remodel:

Couple of questions:

1. The ceiling is painted white white but looks really dark in the rendering. Is there any way to alleviate this? It seems like an unrealistic shading effect.

If you click on the ceiling you can change the color with the paint can to a brighter white or change the lighting shade thingy

2. Seems like the libraries of fixtures are really limited. I downloaded all the extras from the Chief website already. I spent 20 minutes looking for kitchen chairs but could not find ANY in the library. Also crappy selection of faucets and sinks etc. Any way to rectify this without spending a ton of cash on libraries?

There are couple of guys/websites who sell models and a few manufactures who sell compatible cds to up load

3. How do I make the countertop on that island overhang the cabinets on 1 side by 12"?

You have to draw a box and color it the same color as the countertop to click and replicate the surface/color

4. I can't seem to get a 3D framing set to work. It opens the window but it remains blank and never renders. Any thoughts?

You probably used the default concrete walls instead of wood frame walls so knowing showed up

5. Did I ask too many questions yet?

Not yet but I had 2 vodka's so you are probably good for a few more

ScipioAfricanus · 09-19-2008, 06:51 PM

Most of your questions can be answered by other Chief users on ChiefTalk.com Look at DMDesignz.net website for some free symbols, Dave is a great guy and you may find what you need there.

Andy.

ScipioAfricanus · 09-19-2008, 06:53 PM

For the counter-top just make a custom one from a standard poly-line that you make to size and the framing not showing is probably because you do not have that layer turned on in the render view.

Andy.

orson · 09-19-2008, 07:10 PM

Thanks for the info, I'll post on ChiefTalk if needed but I know there are plenty of savvy users here to ask.

Edit: Andy, that website seems to be password protected.

ScipioAfricanus · 09-19-2008, 07:23 PM

www(dot)davidmichaeldesigns(dot)com,This might be better.

Sorry I can't post the link until I have 15 or more posts.

Andy.

ScipioAfricanus · 09-19-2008, 07:31 PM

Chief is great for renders and raytracing, this model isn't done yet but is starting to look like something.

Andy.

Oops, that's embarrassing, wrong picture and I don't know how to delete this one.

rbsremodeling · 09-19-2008, 07:34 PM

i charge extra for the 3-d drawings for customers. I have to remember to post the last 3-d drawing and a picture of the actual kitchen remodel. The finish product looks exactly like the 3-d drawing.

ScipioAfricanus · 09-19-2008, 07:36 PM

Hmm... I will have to figure this out.

Andy.

hatchet · 09-20-2008, 05:35 PM

You have to create the framing first. Build > Framing > Build Framing then go through the tabs and select what you want to build - floor, walls, roof, etc. Once you build it it will ask if you want that layer on if it isn't on.

Build > Cabinets > Custom Countertop

Add more lights for general illumination and then perform a raytrace - takes longer but gives more realistic shading.

Dining type chairs can be found at Library Browser > Furnishings (Interior) > Seating > Chairs > Side Chairs

For more fixtures go to the manufacturer you want and should be able to download a dwg that can be imported to make a symbol. I've done it for several Kohler fixtures. http://www.us.kohler.com/tech/cadsym...1&nitem=link10

rbsremodeling · 09-20-2008, 05:41 PM

Owen

When you get some cash put up join Chief experts website. You have to pay for a membership but the best training and tips money can buy

http://www.chiefexperts.com/

Mike Finley · 09-20-2008, 09:03 PM

Okay, dat looksa pretty good from here!

How much time would somebody pretty good at that program take to do a kitchen like that from start to finish?

1 hour? 3 hours? all day?

rbsremodeling · 09-20-2008, 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Finley

Okay, dat looksa pretty good from here!

How much time would somebody pretty good at that program take to do a kitchen like that from start to finish?

1 hour? 3 hours? all day?

3-4 hours four all the bells and whistle

1-2 hours for a pretty picture that would still wow a client

orson · 09-21-2008, 08:57 AM

Thanks for all the feedback and help guys.

I also discovered that you can extend the countertop with the "slab" tool, although I didn't figure out how to round the corners yet.

Mike,
My goal is to be able to a basic kitchen or bath design at the initial consultation with the customer. On a kitchen or bath consultation I figure I will have to allow an extra hour to hour and a half(once I'm proficient) to do this but I'm banking on increased closing ratio more than making up for the time spent.

**framerman** · 09-21-2008, 09:41 AM

I have been resistant to reply to this thread for fear I may sound critical to your product. I do not want to come off that way since I think what you have done is good as far as the program is concerned.

I would like to try to steer you a little if you don't mind. I feel Chief Architect does some wonderful things as does most programs. However, most of these programs are not set up for rendering properly. Many of your clients will look at those renderings and be wowed by it.

However, there will be some you will show those to and they will think that you are an amateur at best and may not even hire you for the simple reason of you showing them this rendering and being proud of it. They may think this is what they are going to expect on the construction side and find someone else who they feel more comfortable with.

You need a rendering program. I am assuming that you can export your model as a dxf or similar since just about every program will do this. just about every rendering program will import the dxf also.

This is what a rendering program can do for you. Just imagine the wow factor when you would send something like this over.

Take a look at Kerkythea at least. It is a free rendering program. It is by no means a fantastic program, but it is a serious upgrade from what you have there. There is no time trial, there is no disabled functions. It is free. Take a look at the gallery and realize what you can accomplish. The site is a little slow for some reason. I think it's because they changed servers.

This is a sample of what a rendering program can do for you. This is a 3d model, this is not a real vehicle. It is entirely computer generated.

Also, others to look at for eye popping realism, look at VRay(which has a plugin for SketchUp), blender (kind of difficult to learn, but another free, open source program) or maxwel render, which I have heard gets awesome renders with little experience (not free though, but also not a plugin)

Mike Finley · 09-21-2008, 10:25 AM

Are these rendering programs you are speaking of the main program to use or are they something to run your finished design through to enhance it?

Seems to me the program most valuable isn't just the maker of a pretty picture, but one that allows you to enter in real dimension of the project, allows you to move walls, reframe and whatever else you need for your remodel, allows you to plug in products (cabinets come to mind), find out what fits and what doesn't in the dimensions you are working with so that you don't end up with any surprises that you can't actually build once the project starts, out puts if not a complete material list, at least a partial one such as all the cabinets and trim pieces, allows finish surface renderings and designs such as tile layouts, helps you create blue prints or at least usable drawings for framing, electrical schedules, plumbing schedules and mech schedules, then as one component allows you to make a pretty picture for the customer.

Can you do that with Chief Architect?

**framerman** · 09-21-2008, 11:41 AM

You design in Chief Architect, then it's as simple as exporting a dxf file to the rendering program and pushing the rendering button. It's one or two steps to get there, mere minutes if that. You need to set up a template file for your program so you don't have to go over things every time you open the program, this will be the learning part.

You CAN design in the rendering program, but it's not user friendly to get accurate "parts"

beyond that, simple. Many of these programs like Chief Architect take a lot longer to render than a program set up specifically to render, like Maxwell.

The programs I use it's automatic. I don't even spend one minute exporting, then rendering and it's done.

orson · 09-21-2008, 03:03 PM

framerman,

Chief seems to use some type of rendering module that ties in with the program, every time it starts to render a startup screen flashes up, the name of the rendering software hasn't sunk in yet.

The rendering in Chief is quite slow. The one in my example is rendered on low quality settings for the sake of speed.

Thanx for the info and the links.

rbsremodeling · 09-21-2008, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by orson

Thanks for all the feedback and help guys.

I also discovered that you can extend the countertop with the "slab" tool, although I didn't figure out how to round the corners yet.

Mike,
My goal is to be able to a basic kitchen or bath design at the initial consultation with the customer. On a kitchen or bath consultation I figure I will have to allow an extra hour to hour and a half(once I'm proficient) to do this but I'm banking on increased closing ratio more than making up for the time spent.

Be careful with doing the drawings and or presentations in front of the customer.

If you charge for designs, layouts, drawing etc, if too much work is done in front of the customer and it looks to easy you might have a hard time getting fees for you design work.

You want 500 bucks for your design and it only took you 30 minutes to draw it????

hatchet · 09-22-2008, 07:57 AM

Chief comes standard with PovRay, which in many opinions (mine included) is archaic. Kerky is a good one, as framerman mentioned above.

Mike Finley - Chief can do all those things. With that said and like most software programs you have to set it up ahead of time to be efficient later. I've created most of the cabinets my supplier has as stock items in the library. From there a kitchen remodel is pretty fast to create.

The materials list needs some massaging to get accurate results but if you know how the program figures it you can get a pretty accurate count. I was actually pretty impressed with the framing modules - some minor inconsistencies with the way I frame but it's pretty close. You can customize header sizes ahead of time - so when you create a 4' window it automatically places the correct header size. Then with layers you can place existing walls on a layer and not include that in the materials list - then have new walls included in the materials list.