The information in this article applies to:
QUESTION
I need to record a video tour of my plan. How can I do this using Chief Architect?
ANSWER
The Create Walkthrough Path tool allows you to record a video going through your structure slowing and panning at key points to create that perfect presentation for your clients. In this tutorial we cover making the path and setting key frames. You can watch a sample walkthrough video here: Walk Through Video
To create a basic walkthrough path
- From a Floor Plan view, click 3D> Walkthroughs> Create Walkthrough Path
.
- Decide which direction you want your walkthrough to move along. Click and drag to draw the walkthrough path in your floor plan view in the direction you have chosen.
- If you would like to create more segments to your walkthrough, this can be done by moving the mouse cursor over the camera symbol on the end of the line segment, then click and drag the camera again and again. This will continue adding segments to your spline.
- The line between two segments will convert into a spline when the mouse button is released.
When a walkthrough path stops at the bottom of a set of stairs, it will automatically extend the path up, or down the stairs to the next floor where you can continue the path through the next floor's rooms.
To modify the path
Notice the edit handles of the segments drawn when the path is selected. To get more control over the shape of the path, or to smooth out the curves use the Break Line 
Edit tool to add additional edit handles.
Using key frames
- Using the Select Objects
tool select your walkthrough path and click the Add Key Frame 
edit button.
- Click on the walkthrough path where you would like to place the key frame, and with the edit handles you can modify the key frame however you'd like.
- You can click the Open Object
edit button while the path is selected to modify the different key frames as well.
To record the walkthrough
- With the walkthrough path selected, click the Record Walkthrough Along Path
edit button.
- Specify your walkthrough recording options.
- Choose how many Frames Per Second.
The recommended value is 30. Values between 1-100 can be used, however the more frames per second, the larger the video file will be.
- Choose the Duration Along Path.
-
Total Frames to Record shows for reference and equals the Frames per Second multiplied by the Duration Along Path.
- Set the desired Compression percentage.
75% is recommended. A lower compression rate will result in higher quality video but also increases the size of the video file.
- Choose the Resolution, either using the drop-down or by specifying the width and height values.
- Choose the Rendering Technique to and specify if you want Shadows and Bloom to be enabled/disabled for the video.
- Lastly, set the Video Codec to be used to record the walkthrough.
For more information on codecs, please see the Related Articles section below.
- Once all options are setup to you liking, click OK.
For more information on the various options in this dialog, please click the Help button.
Walkthroughs can also be recorded without using a walkthrough path. This is done by opening a 3D Camera view, navigating to 3D> Walkthroughs> Record Walkthrough, and then moving the camera in the desired direction to record a video.
Hotkeys that are assigned as keyboard shortcuts for camera navigation tools are highly recommended when using this method for recording walkthroughs.
- In the Save Video As dialog that opens next, specify a location where you want the video file to be saved to along with a File name.
- Click OK to start the recording process.
To play a walkthrough
- Select 3D> Walkthroughs> Play Walkthrough
to open the Select Video File dialog.
- Browse to the walkthrough movie file saved on your computer and click Open. Your default video application will open and play the walkthrough video.
