How Can I Make the 3D Images Look Better?

There is so much to like in Chief Architect. But I would really like to improve the look of the 3D renderings. SketchUp is so good at this. Is there something I can do to get the 3D images in Chief to look like the kind I draw in SketchUp? I would like the line edges to show and I would like the model to be brightly illuminated on all sides. Right now, all I get is two sides with reasonable lighting and the other two sides seem to be in the dark. SketchUp does not have this problem.

And I would like to be able to have these better images come up quickly. Am I asking for the impossible?

all I get is two sides with reasonable lighting and the other two sides seem to be in the dark

Bill:

I agree

for years and years and years I have asked for a "four suns" option
or the ability to have the sun angle default to the camera angle

It can be a real PITA to try and get some quick renders only to have to stop
and fuss with sun angles etc

Lew

I assume you've tried using vector view for a look that's a little closer to Sketchup?

How about Technical illustration....or B&W watercolour/line drawing...or....

The vector view takes care of the lines, sort of. But how do I add the materials and shadows like I can do easily in SketchUp?

You may use the watercolor render technique with "Line Drawing on Top" turned on. Click Camera View Options for shadows. see attached.

Attachment 62523

That's a really good use of the watercolor with line drawing Jintu. I use it myself quite a bit, but never with those settings. Nicely done!

Thank you. X6's quick shadows made me use the technique quite often now as well.

Thanks, Jintu. Your rendering looks good. I am using X5 right now and I have been reluctant to download X6 until I gain some more experience with Chief. I don't suppose you can do this kind of rendering in X5, can you? Plus I have a new computer with an NVIDEA graphics card I am going t use. But I want to swap out the hard drive for an SSD drive, first. One question for you. Does X6 regenerate the 3D image quickly with the settings you use?

Hi Bill,

You can do the same technique in X5, the only difference is the shadow, it's much faster now.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Chiefer

You may use the watercolor render technique with "Line Drawing on Top" turned on. Click Camera View Options for shadows. see attached.

Attachment 62523

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This is what I do too, mostly for marketing images.

Attachment 62600