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A Rendering I Did Yesterday For A Client.

getting familiar with the new SP directX 12 engine with EXTERIOR...

 

different than previous versions.. but seems like a WINNER !!.. just need to get accustomed to new ways to tweak things

I think I'd put up our tech support team against just about any other software company out there!  We really have a great group of guys there helping us make money with this awesome software.  My latest ticket blew me away.  I've used the same title sheets for about 15 years...with some updates each year to code references, details, and other improvements.  I've tried to use these title sheets to learn how to use plan sets and always end up frustrated and stick with multi drawings.  Part of the problem is that some of the sheets don't show up centered on the page when creating a pdf.  There would always be a space across the bottom of some sheets...as if there was something below the border.  I can't count how many times I have tried to block erase things in all drawing modes to try to fix that with no luck.  I finally thought to send in a ticket to see if we could get this figured out.  It turns out that some of my sheet numbers on certain pages had an enter after the number so there was a blank line below the numbers.  WHO IN THE HECK WOULD THINK TO CHECK THAT???  Our tech support guys...that's who!  I'm blown away tonight as I've gotten them all fixed and looking great.  Maybe now I can learn how to use plansets

IN a day or two the "BoneYard" subsitute will be up and going. Thanks to Mark Petri for his patience and help with getting most of the bugs worked out. I will have detailed instruction that should be forth coming as well. One thing to keep in mind is that to be able to signup for the access, everyone will have to be a member here 1st as I will be checking to make sure no Chief A 's etc try and slip in and borrow YOUR work, ideas etc....

Thiis my way of helping and saying many many thanks to all who have participate on this great forum and have saved me untold hours of frustration ....Thanks again and let's work together to make the Bone Yard subsitute a good tool to exchange ideas etc..

Thanks again

Everybody needs another detail to add to construction drawings

Well, after reviewing the details of the 2024 update, Again I am hooked and more than ever a thankful customer ….SoftPlan is a true leader in the Residential Design Software….by continuing to develop and improve the product, my Marketing remains fresh with the new features….another World Class Grand Slam out of the Park release…

Dean,  I have investigated your statements and while everyone is entitled to their opinion and 2012 was a good program, I don't think your claims bear out.

 

As far as stability goes, I see that you crashed about 6 times in 2021 on version 2014.  Unfortunately I can't compare 2012 crashes as it wasn't sophisticated enough to communicate its issues well.   We have absolutely zero crashes from you in version 2022 which you have been using very regularly since November 2021.  The indications we have are that version 2022 has been extremely stable for you.

 

As far as speed of 3d goes, none of the performance testing reflects what you suggest.    The 3D zoom and pan speed in version 2012 was chunky at best.  The 3D zoom and pan speed in 2022 is smooth, although the zoom advances at a similar distance per second as 2012.  You can hold down the alt key and the up cursor to advance quickly.  These tests of course are not done in our "Rendered" mode which is our cpu based ray traced engine, but rather our textured mode which leverages your GPU.   Our GPU render engine has improved significantly over the past 10 years evolving from a DirectX9 engine in version 2012 to DirectX12 in version 2022.    Reflections in textured mode 2022 using DX12 are near instant.   Reflections in textured mode 2012 use a highbred CPU/GPU method which take a significant amount of time.     The Software CPU "Rendered Mode"  takes the same amount of time in both 2022 and 2012.   Luckily we introduced a DX12 GPU path tracing engine which adds indirect light to your scenes in a small fraction of the time it would take to do a similar scene in CPU software.  

 

As far as speed of updating a 3d model goes, again version 2022 vastly outperforms 2012.  On the test system to open and display the "2 story 7 model" textured model in 2012 took 31 seconds.  To open and display the same model in 2022 took 6 seconds on the test system.    Opening additional views of the 3d textured model in 2022 are near instant, where as in 2012 it took an additional 20 seconds.   Similarly 3d updates instantly in 2022 as you draw.  If you flip 3d tab or even keep it open, the 3d model updates as you draw.  This works across multiple 3d tabs and views.    In 2012 the you must switch to the tab and hit regenerate to update the render of the model.

 

It may be that for you the fonts may be the only thing you are leveraging since 2012 however many people have enjoyed the new features in everything from Planset management to stepped walls to nesting.   To get a refresher on the different features added since 2012 please look at the upgrade brochures of past versions https://ww2.softplan.com/?page_id=471and the upgrade brochure from the current version.  These may help you utilize our improvements better.

 

If you don't find that your experience mirrors what I described, please contact our technical support department so that they can help you figure out what hardware or configuration setting may be reducing the quality of your experience.  

Funny you should ask.  10+ years of SoftPlan, my home designs and exterior and interior decorative arched trusses....forgot how many different ones I've actually designed.  whew!  i've started to fabricate them in my shop in my spare time.

 

 

I either create them in sketchup or softplan as solids then export them to .dwg then re-import them as symbols in the symbol wizard...works pretty slick!

 

Joe

 

 

This statement is on every sheet of my plans

 

Are you aware that you can make the top chord disappear (essentially eliminating the tails) by simply removing  the checkmark in the "Top Chord" box?

I just finished up two sets for a builder and sent them to the printer.  Picked them up and unrolled them on his desk.  Nice full first sheet.  It's funny how a small house can fill up a sheet.  But something's wrong here, the lettering seems a little large and a 1500 sq. ft. house should not be filling the sheet like that.  OH CRAP.  The floor plans inserted at 3/8 scale not 1/4 and I didn't notice.  My fault for not checking but,

COME ON SP CAN WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO SET THE DEFAULT THAT DRAWINGS COME INTO PLAN SETS?  99% of the time I want them at 1/4 but they just come in to fit the page.  That's not the best way.

The longest time, is the time between you going to the designer, and him/her starting on your plans.

 

No designer is sitting around waiting for you to come through the door. You go on the pile ... just because plans can be done in a week, doesn't mean this week!

I'm sure the time right after a new release is frustrating for everyone...users and support while we all find little glitches or new things that we don't know how to use yet.  I've probably sent in 10 support tickets since upgrading to 2020 and have had prompt responses (usually same day) to all my questions.  I'm sure we'll get another patch over the coming weeks or months that will solve most small issues anyone is experiencing.  Everyone needs to give those support and development guys a hand!!!  Great work guys! 

To the programmers (who probably need a vacation) and the the SP+ answers.  We've seen a BUNCH of problems found in the beta version and I'm amazed how quickly they were fixed, and no excuses given.

Again, thank you all.  You've proven that I made the right choice in dumping my old software.  Should have done it sooner.

Back in the office from the show last week.  I just want to say that even as Architects, designers or whatever your status is with building industry, the International Builders Show is a tremendous experience.  I like to go and see the new software or computer equipment etc.  But the information on the building products is just tremendous.

As for SoftPlan 2020 I sat in on the whats new and it was an abbreviated session and ran through things quick.  But there was a lot of new things that are going to be big time savers.  I also sat in on the SoftPlan development forum.  That was a good session, we got to voice our opinions on a number of topics and how to make things better.  I personally hope they do those more often maybe do a webinar every 6 months or so.  I also talked to the president of SoftPlan, he was demonstrating a 3D printer and printing a house that was drawn in SoftPlan.  Really cool!

I have the SoftPlan 2020 brochure they were handing out and was going to scan it and attached it to this, but not sure if SoftPlan would like that since they havnt put anything on their website yet.  They did say that the Plus subscribers will be getting their email this week to do the upgrade.

 

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I've had a few folks ask me about my b/w renders, these are from illustrated mode with simple adjustments.  I've attached the .mro file zip file.

 

Basically move the file to your SoftPlan/3d/3d render options folder.  Then load it while in a 3d mode.  file/render options/load

 

 

 

 

Hidden walls and beams for referencing the lollipops can save a complicated roof, ceiling or floor system.

 

Setting the top reference point on walls set out away from your model can work better than using them on your model at times.

 

If you use a paint line for a border on your drawings set to match the border on your plan set sheets you can get the drawings to always center in the plan set page. The 2022 upgrade seems to negate that need, but it still is a good habit for knowing what paper space you have to draw in and where your borders are.

 

Paint lines or shade lines also work when the way SP crops a detail or other drawing is not favorable. You can set them to create buffer space around your detail so things do not get cut off when added to a plan set page.

 

Solid polygons are very useful for all sorts of objects - learning the "in and out" method of keeping a polygon as a single entity can be helpful with a lot of situations.

 

Using base sheets, notes sheets and separate sheets much like you would in a multi-drawing can really help with the layout and organization of plan set pages.

 

You do not have to use the preset labels for elevations, sections, drawings, etc. It may take a little extra time to set up, but one of the greatest features of SP is you can decide how you want your drawings to look and what you include or do not on plan set pages.

 

Site objects such as patios, planting beds, sidewalks, driveways, etc. can be used for other things in your drawings when needed. Just because it is labeled one way doesn't mean you can't assign a totally different texture and label it use it another way in a model. Just remember that you used if for whatever you did and assigned what texture you chose for that use. It will be that same texture for the same object no matter what you use it for in your model stack.

 

Profiles can be powerful when used with wall definitions, beam definitions and other model objects. Beams do not have to just be used as beams. Walls do not have to just be walls. They each have qualities that can be exploited for other uses in your model. Getting used to how SP orients and models profiles can open up opportunities to add extra detail when you want it.

 

Interior object can be used on the exterior too. Including wall covering. If you have 1 siding type on a model, but want two different paint colors, you can use a wall covering and set the coverage for where you want the second color. It doesn't work with every situation, but does with a lot of them.

 

Railings can be used to represent other objects in your model too. Think foundation drain, ductwork, tubing, tie-rod, etc.

Did you know that you can create your own profiles within SoftPlan? This video covers how to create a new board and batten profile library item and assign it through the Wall Definition. This, in turn, can then be viewed in Elevation as well as 3D.

 

YouTube Link:  https://youtu.be/nYj3lyB4QTg

Softplan 3d is a great tool for clients, builders, framers and us.  This is one of my latest using a modified form of the illustrated 3d mode.  The only 3rd party effect i used is the whiteout vignette