Video: Chief Architect Overview

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View Features by:

Chief Architect Premier X5
New Features

Expand All/Collapse All

3D Rendering & Visualization

  • Display Lower Levels with the Floor Overview camera
    A 3D display option allows lower floors to be viewed under a current floor, such as open below rooms used for stairways or lofts
  • Isometric View Tools
    View designs from any of the eight standard Isometric viewing angles
  • Improved Walkthrough Tools
    Create detailed walkthrough recordings along paths. Add key frames at any point on the spline to control view direction and speed; walk up or down stairs and to span walkthrough between floors
  • Progressive Ray Tracing
    Preview ray trace renders as they refine and iterate image quality; export the image at any time or define the amount of time for the ray trace from 1 minute to 24 hours or an unlimited time
  • Specify Ray Trace Size in Inches or Millimeters
    Set the number of pixels per inch to specify High or Low Resolution
  • Generated Sky Model
    Create a realistic sky that updates with time of day; control the level of haze
  • Improved Camera Control
    Cameras no longer ‘save’ automatically. Modify a 3D view angle or orientation and close the view without saving to retain the original settings
  • Enhanced Labels for Cameras
    Label tab for cameras allow more control over the display of the labels
  • Watercolor Rendering Line Color
    Control the color of lines generated in Watercolor Renderings with Line Drawing on Top turned On
  • Save Cross-Section Slider with Camera
    Adjustments to views using the Cross-Section Slider are saved with the view when the camera is saved
  • Cross Section Slider Control
    Control the cut distance of the Cross-Section Slider with an input value in the dialog

Cross Sections & Elevations

  • Back-Clip Cross Section Distance Control
    Control the cut distance of Back-Clipped Cross Sections with an input value in the dialog
  • Clip Cross-Section Views at Sides
    Turn on clipping for sides of cross-sections views
  • Automatic Labels in Elevations
    Generate schedule callouts and labels for windows, doors, cabinets, and other items in Cross-Section and Elevation views.
  • Show Cameras as Callouts
    Easily set up view callouts directly from the camera object. Show Elevation, Section, and Cross-Section cameras as Callouts in Plan Views. Add callout labels and descriptions; callout remain when sent to layout

Walls

  • Shoe Control for Railings
    Control the height off of floor for the bottom rail (shoe) for Railings and Ramp Railings.
  • Rail Controls on Railings
    Specify size, shape, and custom profiles for top rail, middle rail, bottom rail and beam.
  • Control Railing Beam Materials
    Set the material assigned to beams above railings separately from other railing components.
  • Auto Place and Delete Corner Boards and Quoins
    Automatically add trim details to wall corners. Option to delete all corner boards and quoins on a per floor or per plan basis through the Delete Objects dialog

Cabinets

  • Place Multiple Appliances in a cabinet
    Add an oven and a warming drawer to the same cabinet; adjust or replace the appliance type by editing it in the Cabinet Specification dialog.
  • Multiple Door and Drawer styles per cabinet
    Assign different door or drawer styles to a single cabinet; wall cabinets with glass doors on top; base drawer bases with slab and panel drawers.
  • Double False Drawer item type
    Show double-false drawers for sink base cabinets

Doors & Windows

  • Adjust the Hinge/Swing Amount for Bi-fold doors.
  • Window and Door Casings Display in Plan View
    Display or hide interior and exterior casings using the “Casings, Interior” and “Casings, Exterior” layers
  • Improved Window Display in Plan View
    More accurate display of window sill, frame size, and mullions in Plan view. Better representation of multi-pane windows in Plan view.
  • Automatic Frame Depth
    Set window frame depth to automatically fit into wall.
  • Lintel and Sill Control
    Separately display Lintels or Sills for windows.
  • Improved smoothing of arched Windows, Doors, and Doorways

Roofs & Ceilings

  • Actual and Projected Area of Roof Planes
    Find macros and references to both the Actual and the Projected square footage of Roof Planes in the roof dialog’s Polyline tab
  • Control Rafter Spacing per Roof Plane
    Specify rafter spacing values for individual roof planes in a design.
  • Shadow Boards
    Apply Shadow Boards to the fascia of roof planes automatically. Specify molding profiles and stack moldings to create the desired molding build-up.
  • Ridge Caps
    Automatically generate Ridge Caps on roofs; turn ridge caps on/off on a per roof basis; assign custom ridge cap profiles.
  • Dormer Overhang Controls
    Separately control the eave and gable overhang distance for automatic dormers

Foundations

  • Display cutout indicators for Garage Doors in foundation stem walls and curbing
    Choose to show or hide foundation cutouts in Plan view through the window or door’s dialog
  • Treated Bottom Plates
    Any wall over concrete foundation or flooring automatically generates a treated bottom plate.
  • Slab Footing Offset Default
    Specify a default offset distances for footings under slab foundations

CAD Tools

  • Solid Pyramid Object
    Pyramid can also be truncated to form a pedestal shape.

Layers

  • Control Placing Objects on Hidden and Locked Layers
    Ability to override the placement of objects on layers that are turned Off or that are hidden.

Dimensions

  • Running Dimension Tool
    Draw dimension with cumulative values from base item to each dimensioned object in a single dimension string.
  • Input Accurate Dimensions using a DISTO™ or other Laser Distance Meter
    Use a Bluetooth or Wireless compatible device to automatically measure a space then input the distances directly into dimension strings.
  • National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) Automatic Dimensions
    Automatically dimension interior rooms and elevations to the National Kitchen and Bath Association dimensioning standards.
  • Automatic Interior Dimensions
    Automatically dimension interior rooms. Set defaults for locating objects.
  • Automatic Elevation Dimensions
    Use the Auto Elevation Dimension tool to add dimensions to Elevation and Cross Section views.
  • Automatic Dimension Parent Tool
    All Automatic dimensioning features are located together under the Automatic Dimension parent tool.
  • Delete Automatic Dimensions
    Use the Delete Objects tool to delete Automatic Dimensions from a Floor or the Entire Plan. Manually edited or modified dimensions will remain.
  • Dimension Location Snaps for Furniture Items
    Set dimensions to snap to the centers and/or sides of furniture objects for Manual and Automatic Dimensions.

Library / Catalog

  • Catalog Migration
    Core, Bonus, Manufacturer and User Catalogs from previous installs automatically migrate and update to latest version at install time; User Catalog automatically migrates from previous installs. Use the catalog migration dialog to specify which catalogs to bring forward.
  • Automatic Catalog Updates
    Check for updates for catalogs distributed by Chief Architect and automatically update to the latest version.

Text / Annotation / Scripting

  • Rotate Labels
    Select and rotate labels independently in Plan view. Set default label rotation and offset; set label rotation to be relative or absolute to the rotation of the object.

Import / Export

  • Import Defaults
    Share default settings between plans for a variety of objects, including: Windows, Doors, Cabinets, Schedules, Stairs.
  • Import PDF files
    Import Adobe® PDF file formats into plans, layouts, and CAD Details; retain print resolution and quality when printing final documents with embedded PDF files.