Chief Architect helps educators focus on teaching concepts and less on teaching software. Chief Architect includes a complete curriculum with a digital reference manual and tutorial guide as well as access to interactive training videos making it easy to learn and teach your architectural or interior design classes.
"I teach Chief Architect to high school students and have never seen them more excited about any other program."
–Jon Jones, Teacher
Along with a User Guide and Reference Manual, Chief Architect also provides web-based knowledge base articles and training videos, as well as contextual, searchable help to get you started.
Project File
N/A
Learn about Chief Architect files and file structure as well as recommended saving practices.
Project File
N/A
Become familiar with the User Interface so you can quickly find tools and navigate your plan.
Project File
N/A
Preferences are global settings you can customize to set up your preferred working conditions.
Project File
N/A
Review these particular defaults before starting any plan to avoid frustration later.
Project File
N/A
Drawing and editing CAD based objects is an essential skill to learn as the edit tools and methods are used for virtually all objects in Chief Architect.
Project File
N/A
Draw walls and rooms then use dimensions to move the walls into place.
Project File
6121-exterior-walls-rooms-dims
Specify which walls are bearing walls and use the Build Foundation dialog to create a variety of foundations.
Project File
6122-foundation-bearing-walls
Create a pitched hip roof using the Build Roof dialog.
Project File
6123-6128-automatic-roofs
Create a gable roof by choosing the Gable Wall setting within the Wall Specification and then building the roof.
Project File
6123-6128-automatic-roofs
Use the High Shed Gable Wall setting in addition to Full Gable Walls to create a stand alone shed roof or just the Full Gable Wall setting to create a lean-to style shed roof.
Project File
6123-6128-automatic-roofs
Use the Upper pitch setting in the Wall Specification to set upper and lower pitch options to create a gambrel style roof.
Project File
6123-6128-automatic-roofs
Use the Dutch Gable Roof setting in the wall specification to create this kind of roof automatically.
Project File
N/A
Use the Upper pitch setting in the Wall Specification with the pitches opposite that of a gambrel roof to create a gull wing roof.
Project File
6123-6128-automatic-roofs
Using the Upper Pitch setting on a gable wall allows you to create a half hip or clipped gable style.
Project File
6123-6128-automatic-roofs
Generate a roof on the top of the second floor as well as over the single level garage.
Project File
6129-multiple-levels
Use the Ignore Top Floor setting in the Build Roof dialog to have the roof sit down on the first story walls.
Project File
6130-story-and-a-half
The Auto Dormer tool has different requirements than the Auto Floating Dormer tool.
Project File
6131-automatic-dormers
Draw in walls and then use dimensions to move them into place.
Project File
6132-interior-walls-dims
Add doors, windows, pass-throughs, and niches to your plan.
Project File
6133-doors-and-windows
An introduction to placing and modifying cabinets and becoming familiar with the Cabinet Specification dialog.
Project File
6134-cabinets
Appliances and Fixtures can be placed into cabinets or external to cabinets. Learn how to place and position Appliances and Fixtures precisely inside cabinets
Project File
6135-appliances-and-fixtures
Custom countertops, backsplashes and material regions are all polyline based objects and basic cad tools can be used on them.
Project File
6136-custom-countertops-backsplashes
Place items in your plan and customize them, turn them into architectural blocks and add them back to the library.
Project File
6137-library-objects
Use the Material panel in the Specification or use the Material Painter to apply textures and colors to the objects in your plan.
Project File
6138-materials
Use the different stair tools to create stair cases in a variety of shapes.
Project File
6139-stairs
Add electrical fixtures using the Electrical tools or by selecting them from the library.
Project File
6140-outlets-switches-lighting
Bearing walls, beams and joist direction lines help you control the automatic generation floor framing.
Project File
6141-floor-framing
Automatically generate studs, trimmers, headers and other wall framing using the Build Framing dialog.
Project File
6142-wall-framing
Use the Build Framing dialog or the Build Roof dialog to generate your Roof Framing.
Project File
6143-roof-framing
When you use the Deck Railing tool your deck framing will generate automatically.
Project File
6144-deck-framing
Import the Site plan image and trace over it or use the Input Line tool to input lines according to their quadrant bearing data and lengths.
Project File
6145-site-plan
Insert elevation data, terrain features and plants to add interest to your plan.
Project File
6146-landscaping
Use the Orthographic View tools to create exterior and interior elevations, cross sections and details.
Project File
6147-orthographic-views
Use these tools to create quick views of your project.
Project File
6148-perspective-views
Use the different render techniques to create marketing materials.
Project File
6150-rendering-techniques
Take views of your 3d model and organize them on a layout sheet to create your construction documents.
Project File
6149-working-drawings
There are 3 main parts to a ray trace, the ray trace settings, the materials and the lighting.
Project File
6151-ray-trace-basics
