jeffroyer

J Lucas. That is sweet! Thanks for the tip. And thanks Robert for making it available!

I cannot remember how to automatically update the window numbering system. Inserted a new window on the plan and want all other window numbers to be revised accordingly. Seems I learned this on a tutorial 4 years ago...getting old.

Hoskins - thanks for this step by step.

M5d - You can use Photoshop (yeah, a lot more expensive if you don't already have it) to do a very good job of creating seamless textures. I have not looked very closely at Pixplant software - they may have created a more "automated" product as you do have to do a bit of work with Photoshop. If you own Photoshop and need some tips, let me know.

Hans, that would be fabulous. Ask away!

Bill, I think the views I set up for this room took about an hour each. They were pretty good size though - 9 x 12 or so at 300dpi. Now if I also used custom renderworks with final gather all bets are off. I use the 72 dpi trick to make sure I have EVERYTHING right (too many times I have not succeeded at that) and then set up the final renders before I leave for the day.

I am a little late to this party but... We have been resolving this issue using hdri's to help bounce the light around more. We usually use the custom renderworks settings with final gather but occasionally we can get away with FQRW when the hdri is present. The attached view was done in FQRW with only two point lights and a sun outside along with the hdri. The sheet layer dpi is set to 300.

I have just started using the kitchen cabinet pio's after always making my own. I don't really understand the choices for mapping textures that VW made when creating these. The rails and stiles are mapped with "cylinder" giving very weird veneer patterns when assigning a wood texture to these. I am ungrouping these objects anyways to tweak them a bit but it would nice if there weren't so many extra steps to take. Is there a setting I am missing somewhere? Another annoyance is that the rails and stiles were created with "multiple extrude" instead of a simple extrude. You are limited to a "plane" mapping which does not give the option of flipping the direction of the wood grain 90 degrees. Any input would be appreciated.

Thanks Matt. So many options! Back in the day I only had ink and mylar and a bit of chipboard. Also, glad to see your plug-in. I had heard about it a while back but had not been able to track it down. I do a lot of additions and renovations and that tool would be perfect. Too much trial and error right now (and using google earth to measure my camera point)

Matt and Peter - thanks for the input. Horst - I think that is precisely what my client is dreaming about. Now, is he willing to pay for it? Guess that is the next step. thanks for the links. I will check this out.

Hi Peter, Wouldn't the program be constantly re-rendering? I am thinking he will need something in the quality of FQRW with an hdri outside to help with shadow production.

I have a client that would like to create the ability to do real-time walk-throughs of his "model homes" for clients to see the spaces. Basically, he is doing this as a lower cost model vs building the whole house. I know I can give him pre-made Quicktime walk throughs that he would have no control over. It sounds as if he wants something more like a video game. I want to tell him that is not an option but don't want to be uninformed about my advice (I guess it is an option if he wants to hire Lucasarts to build it for him). Any feedback from you pros? Cost is certainly a consideration for him which makes the controlled walk through seem even more unattainable. thanks

Thanks for the input. Had not considered that those solid subtractions would add to the file size. The last thing I need is even bigger files. Pat - I don't know if I understand your question. But then again, I have been up late working on this project. My 2d polylines looked great before extruding them - if that is what you are asking. here is the improved version

Thanks Peter. After I posted this, I went back and did just that to see if the results would be better - and viola! they are. Guess I am still learning that some objects render well and others don't. The solid subtraction was great for the design process of being able to adjust and manipulate the forms to our liking. Now I have removed them and replaced with the simple extrudes. Funny that one would render well and the other would not. thanks again jeff

Having difficulty getting these curves to render well. The curves in question are part of a solid subtraction. The item being subtracted is a polyline that includes part of an ellipse. The 3d res is set to "very high" in my preferences. The "good" curve in this view - next to the bad curve - is also an extruded polyline like the other - but it is not part of the subtraction and it has a filleted edge. Any suggestions? thanks

Thanks Guy. Not as easy as before but not the end of the world either!

This is annoying. Forgive me if there have already been posts on this one. There used to be a mapping function in the oip in previous versions of VW which was a great way to tweak textures without rendering an entire scene. Now that function has been elimimated (WHY??!) As a fall back, I have tried going to "Active Only" in my class setting to isolate the object I want to tweak. But in doing so, the object only renders in grey tones - not in the actual texture. Have I missed something? Is there still a way to refine textures easily without rendering an entire scene? thanks

thanks. I kept looking at 2d graphics for a toggle!

is there a way to get rid of it? Seems like most other options are given for 2d graphic content in the stair tool but that line remains no matter what. I guess I will just create another 2d stair over it if it can't be eliminated.

Same problem here. Zoom in to do some wall joins, zoom out and discover that some random wall has moved. REALLY causes problems when you are dealing with existing conditions and those walls need to stay put!

Thanks Pat. I now have a vague memory of learning about those hidden row headers some time ago. Thanks for the fix!! Jeff

Thanks for the quick reply Pat. When I choose the row header, the "Edit Criteria" is grey. There is a checkmark next to "Spreadsheet". If I choose "Database" I go to a different dialogue box. What next Obe Wan?

One door in my project has been turned into a symbol. All the others remain as door objects. Once turned into a symbol it no longer appears in my schedule. It still has the "include on schedule" button turned on. I am considering dropping a duplicate in the file out of the print area (that remains a door - not a symbol) just to get it on the schedule although this is not an ideal situation.

Just did - yipee!! Wow, my day is complete. I can go home now.

Doesn't work for me either. I tried on my Macbook Pro as well as my iMac. Both with Snow Leopard. Did notice, however, that it worked on a rotated plan.