Chief Architecht Users HELP???

16 years ago

Mnhockeymom talked me into (ok I was two steps from purchase and she pushed me over the edge) purchasing this design software. I used the trail version and I'm afraid I just had to have it.

I did have a few little issues with the trial and I'm wondering if it's just the "trial" of if I now need a new computer LOL The renderings were a bit choppy coming together and often included bits and bobs from the previous screen. Was that because it's a trial version?

I know with the BH&G software it's a very smooth process, even on final renderings (which the trial didn't do).

And...do you use any additional software with CA? I was playing with the trail version and couldn't quite draw my kitchen brickwork. (Training will help) but had thought of inserting a picture of the arch if necessary, so I picked up a version of Adobe Acrobat to edit the photo's and use them. Do you end up using any add on pieces like this for final detail items?

I'm 24 hours away from being crazy psyco designer chic :oP and just wanted to see if I need anything else to really get going!

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Comments (10)

mnhockeymom
16 years ago
CRAZY PSYCHO DESIGNER CHIC (AKA igloochic) - oh, sure, blame me ... you know you were going to dive off that cliff without any nudge from me!!

That being said ;-), I would definitely make sure you have a fast enough processor (I did find that things could get a little locked up because so many things are going on "in the background") - also, make sure your graphics card is a really good one. Other than that, yes, Adobe is a great "partner" to have but I can't think of any others.

I think I completely and totally neglected my family for a good 48 hours (house could have burned down around me and my PC) while I figured things out but once you do, and I KNOW that YOU will, you will be too dangerous for words!!
mnhockeymom
16 years ago
p.s. - what's up w/ DUH-Luth?
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igloochic
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks : My computer is pretty new...let's hope the processor can "hang" :) I guess I'll see.

We just talked about Duh land yesterday actually. She hasn't listed the place yet, but we did find out that she still plans on asking $500,000 OVER appraised value (so around $1.3MM) We want that damn house...and we want that danged community! So we're going to wait it out and see how it goes. I doubt that it's going to sell (most people who fall for a house will pay some over the value if they really love it...but not half a million, which would have to come out of pocket if it's over appraised value with any bank financing, plus the down). DH is toying with Port Townsend WA as well (Starrett house...google it) and last night in a particularly goofy mood (but for him this often become reality) he was talking about both of them, Duluth for summer, Wa for winter.

Fingers crossed we're buying the balance of our business by the 15th of April, so we can't do anything else before then, but after that...we'll see how these two properties go :) Both would be fun :oP My heart is in Duluth...but I grew up in Port Townsend so it's not a stretch to be in love with that place as well...it's just not the same house as we'd have in Duluth, even if it's an amazingly cool house.
rhome410
16 years ago
Renderings can definitely take awhile on a slower processor or a full computer. You can try 'refresh' if the something in the rendering looks weird. Sometimes things happen like my moldings on top of my cabinets disappear, and either clicking on the particular cabinet or refreshing sets it right. As far as brickwork, can't you just pick the material and apply it to the surface? If you just want it in a particular place and it's trying to go everywhere, you can create a surface using a partition or soffit (both under cabinet creating tools) and make them thin and the size you need.

Chief Architect should do better for you than BH&G, which is a smaller version of the same stuff. The only issue might be that it has more graphics, so it might be the computer.

It sounds like you have mnhockeymom to help you, but you can always email me through 'my page' if you want any other input. (But I'll be away from the computer until Sat night, and will be busy with Easter on Sunday...so any time after that!) It's fun...you'll get it.
mnhockeymom
16 years ago
Who in God's name is her realtor? The real estate market in MN SUCKS in every way and has been one of the hardest hit (second, I think, only after Michigan) - we were SO lucky to get a buyer for ours when we did and yet we sold for $380,000 less than what we'd PAID for it just 18 mos prior (custom build, carried the costs for TWO years). Today, almost two years since, homes on Lake Mtka that started out around $6MM are getting bids at $1MM and UNDER. It's a brutal market so for someone to list above appraisal is just plain dumb and poorly informed.

As for the Starrett house - wow, very cool Victorian - it appears to be an "inn", yes? I'm assuming you would privatize it...?

I agree w/ rhome - until she said it, I forgot that I do frequently have to hit refresh to get things to load properly. Also, I assumed you wanted to put in your own pics - if not, the graphics included should draw you everything even YOUR (big) little heart could desire ;-P
mindimoo
16 years ago
Hi Igloochic,

Which version of Chief Architect are you using? I use version 10 for my business on a daily basis. It takes a lot of getting used to and there are different hangups with each version.

Does your version have POV for the final rendering?

If you have a specific question, I would recommend you try www.chieftalk.com and do a search there. There is tons and tons of information for all different versions and users of Chief. If they don't specifically address an issue I have, there are usually ideas to try. I'm guessing it has something to do with your graphics card. Do you think there might be new drivers available online for your graphics card? It's worth a try...

The only other thing that sometimes works for me is to close any other graphics heavy applications while I'm doing a rendering. Also, I seem to have an issue with Vista and some really large files locking up when they render.

Pt. Townsend is great and not far from me here, and, at least it's in the "rain shadow" (somewhat ;-) )!

Good luck with Chief!
igloochic
Original Author
16 years ago
Min...it will be CA 1x (newest version) and I picked up the training video's so perhaps I'll get through them during a couple nap times and become an expert LOL

rhome, I hope to have it in a day or two (fed ex overnight isn't always overnight to Alaska) but probably won't get to play enough (DH won't quit working LOL) I may have to pull an overnighter and play after everyone goes to bed heh heh

Mn, Here's the funny thing...she can't get a realtor to list it (which is why it's not listed yet). Our realtor was supposed to be the realtor, but she won't list at that price (it's not worth her time or efforts to advertise a home so overpriced). So she's trying to find others, but she hasn't even found a green agent willing to list it. That should be an eye opener, but apparently it's not yet. Which is OK with us because we'd like to hold off for a few months anyhoo.

You know, if I could get my hands on the joint, it would be worth $1.3, but it needs money into it first. The painting alone would be a fortune (I'd do a lot of it) because there is so much detail in the place (lots of high relief plaster work, scrolls etc). In addition you'd need to get rid of the 1950's wallpaper, and sadly she "re-did" the kitchen...to well how to say...not to the standards of this magnificant home :( Then there's the carriage house which needs a great deal of work.

All of that completed, then the house entirely decorated to the hilt...and maybe it would make the $1.3 mark..but she's just too far away right now for that to happen.

We'd definately privatize Starrett. I'd allow it to be used on occasion for private parties (charity events etc) but other than that, just our parties :) Which means that we'd remove the tubs from the rooms (where they sit in the room), put some closets out, etc. It's showing the market distress as well...starting it's listing at $1.7MM and now it's down below a mill and still not selling. Many many many years ago a 2nd cousin or some such thing (mom knows the details) owned the Starrett house...so it would be kind of like bringing it back in the family LOL even if we don't really know that family!

So many houses...so little time! (ok and not enough money to buy them all LOL) One day one of them will be mine ;oP (and DH and DS and D? perhaps)
igloochic
Original Author
16 years ago
Ok so I get my lovely big CA in the mail and instantly put DS down for a nap (who cares if it's 9:30 am and he got up at 9?) and designed a house....(Ok I uploaded a current plan I did on BH&G Home designer to play with).

Dagnabbit!!! The rendering issue is still a problem! I posted on the CA board last night and basically I need to upgrade my computer to run CA for renderings. So off I hop to the computer store today...only to find that to come even close on a laptop (by upgrading my laptop) I need to spend only ummm $1,900 (new mother board, ram, video card, etc). ::eyes rolling:: Who's idea was this???? Huhhh????

I left with a new computer being put together with a high end video card (I'm a "gamer" now) ram up the ying yang and a faster something to work the video card, oh and wireless adapter....only $1000 verses $1,900...now how do I explain this "bargain" to DH? Heh heh

He actually dosen't care, but sheesh I sometimes feel guilty when I find a great "thing" at a "bargain" (CA was on sale) and have to spend a grand to make it work. For instance the sofa that I purchased for our family room...we had to remove a picture window to get it in, but umm it was on sale.....

Anyhoo, I guess CA will be working when I pick up the new computer. I wonder if DS will be sleepy again after his nap is over....
alku05
16 years ago
LOL, igloochic! I love that you had to get the "gamer" package to play with layouts. We all have our toys, don't we?

Hey, I'm super cheap and I still see the new computer as a deal! There's do way you could hire a designer to draw that stuff up for you for less than $1000. Also this way you'll get a better end product (b/c designers never do as good a job as the TKO) and when all's said and done, you'll still have a new computer. So like I said, that's a dood deal ;)
mnhockeymom
16 years ago
Totally agree w/ alku....you know that if you hired an architect you'd spend something like at least 10-20 times what those computer upgrades are costing, so hand DH a big glass of wine and remind him how much he loves you for saving him all that dough!

Now, I won't be able to sleep wondering what your awesome renderings are going to look like!!!!

Chief Architecht Users HELP???

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