Intermediate Skill Level

Scope

This seminar content is comprehensive in that the entire process of developing a design is covered. Other trainings may offer specialized content, covering certain aspects of the program, such as roofs or rendering.

This training covers the overall program, attempting to fit the complete puzzle together. This is done in introductory classes with very large pieces. Intermediate classes use smaller pieces and skip parts of the puzzle already understood, focusing on the more difficult elements. The advanced classes jump all over the place, never losing track of the big picture, focusing on the program aspects attendees choose.

Requirements

Basic computer literacy, and an introductory knowledge of Chief Architect – obtainable by review of the Introductory Training Video product – which includes familiarity with the interface; ability to draw a straightforward floor plan; place and edit windows, doors and cabinets; build additional floors and simple roofs.

Familiarity with the videos on the Classroom Design Project Training Video product is recommended. Persons who feel proficient with the material on the Classroom Design Project Training Video product and are well practiced with use of the program for design work should consider an advanced training.

Content

The following items are typically included in a comprehensive intermediate seminar, underlined items are usually emphasized:

Brief general overview.

Initial orientation to the program interface.
The menus, icons and help tools.
How Chief is organized on your computer.

Set-up for a specific design.

Setting defaults and preferences for the design.
Storing defaults for other jobs: default profiles and templates.
File storage strategies.

Build the shell.

Drawing floor plans and decks for each floor.
Dimensioning walls and other objects.
Setting platform depths and ceiling heights.
Build roofs manually: hips, gables, dormers, multiple pitches.
Build roofs automatically: gable lines, 2nd pitches, ceiling heights.
Foundations: crawlspaces, stepped foundations, garage slabs.
Stairs: sections, landings and openings; curved stairs and winders.

Detail the shell.

Complete wall, door and window placement.
Place and edit cabinets and appliances.
Frame and edit: floor platforms, walls and roofs.
Draw electrical.

Develop working drawings.

Draw and edit cross sections.
Draw and save details with text.
Store sections and details for other plans.
Create drawings with the layout facility.
Create drawing layout masters for other plans.

Create presentation views.

Build simple as well as contoured site terrains.
Render photo realistic images of the design.
Record walkthrough movies.

Many additional items are included and presented as appropriate in the course of the trainings. These include:

Use of the camera tools.
Use of the zoom tools.
Using the library to both retrieve and store objects.
Use layers and layer sets to control drawing and layout display.
Assignment of materials and textures.
Use of an array of cad tools, converting CAD to 3D.
Multiple selection, copy and replication of objects.

Finally, items requested by those attending the class are included when at all possible. Usually the class is polled at the beginning of each day, the desired items are written on the board and organized into an efficient presentation sequence.

Any Questions?

Please call Training Services at 1-800-482-4433 (ext.3339) or email if you have any questions, comments, or suggestions.