Linking Plants in the Landscaping Tool
Posted by Jack on March 23rd, 2009 filed in ArchiCAD 11, ArchiCAD 12, Landscaping Tools, Tip of the WeekWhen placing plants using the Landscaping Tool, each plant has its own label. After placing a number of single plants, the plan can start look untidy. You can use Cadimage -> Landscaping Tool - > Link Plant to link single plants together.
The plants will then be grouped together and the total number of chains will be displayed in the label. Only groups of identical plants will be grouped.
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Creating Plant Cutouts
Posted by Andrew on March 16th, 2009 filed in ArchiCAD 11, ArchiCAD 12, Landscaping Tools, Tip of the WeekThe first step in creating a cutout plant is to place the image onto the floor plan. Use the Figure tool to do this. Make sure that the image you use is in a currently loaded library.
Place the image onto the floor plan.
Draw a line around the image to provide a reference edge, and lock the layers.
The next step is to use a fill polygon to trace around the plant image. Use a 25 % fill with a transparent background pen, so that you can see the image at all times.
Its no good placing either too few or too many vertices around the plant. Ideally you should use around 200 – 300 vertices. This will ensure that the plant 3D model generates quickly, while the outline clearly represents the plant.
To ensure that you include no more than 3oo vertices, use a system.
1. First place vertices at 30 key points on the plant’s outline. Keep the points evenly spaced if possible. Points may be spaced more closely in areas of intense detail or further apart in areas of less outline detail (eg. a smooth, straight trunk of a tree).
Ensure that at least one vertex is touching each edge of the image (left, right, bottom, top) and that no vertices extend beyond the image.
2. Now zoom in to view each pair of adjacent vertices in turn. Between each pair of vertices, add 5 to 10 vertices as required to allow for the extra detail.
It should take no more than 30 minutes to trace a fill polygon around a plant.
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Custom Revision Clouds
Posted by Josh on March 2nd, 2009 filed in ArchiCAD 11, ArchiCAD 12, Revision Manager, Tip of the WeekWhen you change the cloud shape to a custom cloud, you get a bunch of adjustable hotspots. The number and position of the hotspots depends on the original shape of the cloud.
If you started with a rectangular cloud, you’ll get 4 editable edges.
If you started with an L-shape cloud, you’ll get 6 editable edges.
The exception to the rule is the elliptical cloud shape. If you choose an elliptical cloud, then change directly to a custom cloud shape, a large number of editable edges is generated.
Normally this number will be more than you need, so first change the cloud to a rectangular shape. Then when you change the cloud to a custom shape it will have only 4 editable edges.
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Creating Foundation profiles without the slab separating line
Posted by Josh on February 23rd, 2009 filed in Accessory Tools, ArchiCAD 11, ArchiCAD 12, Tip of the WeekYou can use the Cadimage Tools Foundation Builder to create a simple foundation profile that prevents the bottom slab edge appearing in elevations. Following the dialog box below you can use any profile option to effectively create a skin up the face of a set-back slab (in this example we have set our slab back 90mm, or the thickness of our exterior framing) – voila, no more lines.
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Wall Builder Settings Transfer
Posted by Josh on February 9th, 2009 filed in Accessory Tools, ArchiCAD 11, ArchiCAD 12, Tip of the WeekUsers will hopefully be familiar with the ArchiCAD Alt Click (Windows & OSX) and Alt-Ctrl Click (Windows) or Alt-Command Click (OSX) methodology to pick up and apply attributes. However, anyone who has tried this with a Wall Accessory may have experienced some weird results. The reason is that the Wall Builder Object contains the geometric description for the wall it ‘belongs’ to, applying these settings to another Wall Builder Object overrides the existing geometric description.
To combat this, you need to use the Pick Up and Inject buttons from within the Wall Builder Settings. The settings that are exported and imported are all the attributes except the geometric description.
To use these functions:
1. Select a Wall Accessory that has all the required attributes set the way you want
2. Open its Selection Settings (Ctrl+T Windows or Command+T OSX) and click the Pick Up button, within the General tab, then click OK to close the dialog
3. Select the Wall Accessories you wish to apply these settings to and open their Selection Settings
4. Click the Inject button and click OK
All the Wall Builder Objects will now have the same settings applied.
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Creating a winder segment with the new StairBuilder 12
Posted by Josh on February 2nd, 2009 filed in ArchiCAD 11, ArchiCAD 12, Stair Builder, Tip of the WeekUsing the Cadimage Tools StairBuilder 12 we can easily create winder flights. Simply place a standard stair element at a short length e.g. 25mm (nosing length). Grab the dynamic hotspot1 and curve the stair as shown then using the live node2 in the centre of the stair you can adjust the finishing angle of the winder flight. Lastly with the winder segment selected, simply change the flight type to finish.
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Extending Downpipes
Posted by Josh on January 26th, 2009 filed in Accessory Tools, ArchiCAD 11, ArchiCAD 12, Tip of the WeekWhen using Cadimage Tools Roof Builder Downpipes, you can stretch them to reach the ground.
In your elevation or 3D view, select the Roof Accessory; you will notice a pink Hotspot at the bottom of the downpipe, select this and drag the downpipe, or input the new length into the tracker.
In 3D the other Hotspot at the base of the downpipe controls the Downpipe Toe length.
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Window ID’s in Elevation
Posted by Josh on January 19th, 2009 filed in ArchiCAD 11, ArchiCAD 12, Door and Window Builder, Tip of the WeekIf you are using Cadimage Tools Door and Window Builder you can Label your Windows and Doors in Elevation, as well as plan.
Open the Label Tool, select Window Tool and set it to use the Cadimage ID Label.
Now in your elevation, select the windows, open their settings and within the Listing and Labeling section tick Label Window.
NOTE: Be sure to set your Model View Options to Show Markers
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Revision Manager 11.4 Released
Posted by Campbell on April 18th, 2008 filed in ArchiCAD 11, Product News, Revision Manager, SupportWe have just uploaded Revision Manager 11.4.
This release fixes an issue that resulted in ArchiCAD crashing intermittently on start-up.
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Landscaping 11.2 Released
Posted by Campbell on April 18th, 2008 filed in ArchiCAD 11, Landscaping Tools, Product NewsAn updated version of our Lanscaping Tool has been released.
LS Fixes/Enhancements:
- Easier
to use the plants databases, save and create plants due to simpler
database selection - Smart linking of plants – no overlapping link lines
- Extra view mode ‘bubbles’ that merges plant symbols (circles)
together to form an outline - Center mark options – none, dot, cross
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