8 replies to this topic

[Dennis Hilborn]

Why would anyone draw elevations from scratch in SP2018?  I saw a video on youtube and the poster was doing just that.  Maybe just to show that it can be done?

Here's a link.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lakR3XUFikI&spfreload=10

[Yvon Gonthier]

Some people have the CAD mentality and can't get away from it. We've hired companies in the past and I was amazed and frustrated that they wouldn't take advantage of any of Softplan's strengths. Even for a simple design, they had no floors drawn. Even if you don't want an exact layout, take 5 seconds to draw a floor system so your walls adjust and you have something to start with for your sections.

[Sam Morgan]

You can ask the original Youtube poster.  I think Brian is a regular here.

[Joseph Smith]

I couldn't do it....to each his own I say.

 

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[Brian Berzinskis]

So yes that is the way that I still do it. Main reason why is because it is much faster for me to create all of the details that I want than it is to build it in 3D. Typically I would say that I spend less than 45 minutes creating all of the elevations and details that I need on the exterior. By the time I go through all of the floor plans editing the wall heights and materials and exterior elements that I want to include, I just have not had it at a point where I can do it as quickly. Maybe if I continued to work in the 3D model more often it would come faster over time but that has not been the case for me to get the looks that I have wanted at a fast pace. I am always open to suggestions and changing but this has just been much more efficient for me over time. 

[Kevin Rabenaldt]

Setting wall heights and beam heights is very simple and not time consuming.  From there you can generate many other things, most notably the roof.  The accuracy is what is important to me in generating elevations.  I also use the model to make sure there are not problems for construction.  I also have to provide "full" framing plans, with proper and actual joists, and rafters, not just call outs..  But if other methods work for getting to the same place, then use the method best for you.

[Dennis Hilborn]

So yes that is the way that I still do it. Main reason why is because it is much faster for me to create all of the details that I want than it is to build it in 3D. Typically I would say that I spend less than 45 minutes creating all of the elevations and details that I need on the exterior. By the time I go through all of the floor plans editing the wall heights and materials and exterior elements that I want to include, I just have not had it at a point where I can do it as quickly. Maybe if I continued to work in the 3D model more often it would come faster over time but that has not been the case for me to get the looks that I have wanted at a fast pace. I am always open to suggestions and changing but this has just been much more efficient for me over time. 

I see your point. 

[Brian Berzinskis]

Setting wall heights and beam heights is very simple and not time consuming.  From there you can generate many other things, most notably the roof.  The accuracy is what is important to me in generating elevations.  I also use the model to make sure there are not problems for construction.  I also have to provide "full" framing plans, with proper and actual joists, and rafters, not just call outs..  But if other methods work for getting to the same place, then use the method best for you.

 

I do make the framing plans for the roof and all of the floor plans as well so I would think that it would be easy for me to translate over to the generated elevations but it just has never come out the way that I want and became too time consuming.

 

Out of curiosity, can you share how you do your framing plans? I have been using ceiling mode with labeled joist sets and single joists for the beam design because I can carry over all of the labels like C1, C2 into TrusJoist Forte in order to do all of the sizing. I never understood why we can label beams B1, B2 etc.

[Jeffrey Elliott]

Always draw it correctly the first time and from the start.  If drawn properly everything falls into place with Softplan.