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Chief Architect Interiors X4 Upgrade Windows Download
Chief Architect Interiors is specifically for interior design professionals. Using Smart Cabinet technology, you can design with custom or manufacturer cabinets. Communicate projects to clients with 3D visualization tools, estimate costs with a Materials List, and produce Construction Drawings for your design projects. Realistically design every detail of your plan in 3D, elevation, and floor plan views. Select from a Library Catalog with thousands of cabinets, appliances, fixtures, millwork, furnishings and textures. Extend your Catalog with additional manufacturers using import tools or by creating your own personal Catalog portfolio. Chief Architect Interiors includes design tools for photo-realistic Renderings, Artistic Renderings and Virtual Tours to help clients visualize your designs.
Summary Features
Kitchen & Bath Design Tools
Create any style of custom cabinet including shaped, framed- and frame-less with the Smart Cabinet Designer™ tools
Use specific manufacturer catalogs for your cabinets
Select from a library of thousands of custom door and drawer styles, cabinet feet, pilasters, hardware, wood species and colors
Extensive Catalog of appliances, fixtures, millwork and furnishings – import tools to extend the Catalog to additional manufacturers
Group cabinets, fixtures, appliances & accessories to create architectural blocks for items such as a kitchen island or even an entire kitchen. Save to the Library for future use – a great time saving feature!
Access custom or name brand colors, materials and textures from the Library Catalog
Material Painter and Color Chooser tools allow you to import specific materials and customize for limitless design combinations
CAD tools to design custom shapes such as tub platforms and add Section and Wall Elevation details
3D Design and Modeling Tools
Seamless and simultaneous editing in 3D perspective, 2D plan and elevation views
Artistic Rendering – watercolor, painting, line drawing, technical illustration, vector, duotone and Glass House™
Photo-Realistic 3D Ray Trace Rendering
Ray Trace Wizard with predefined settings for indoor and outdoor scenes
3D views for elevations, overviews, cross-sections, perspectives and Doll House™ overview
Material Painter™ – apply colors, materials, and textures from any image or website
Color Chooser™ – Choose manufacturer colors, materials or textures from the Library or pull from a digital photo
Record 3D views for virtual tours
Powerful Building & Design Tools
Schedules: Windows, Doors, Cabinets, Rooms, Fixtures and Furniture
Elevation and Cross-Section tools
Define room heights, moldings, platform heights and ceiling styles
Dimensions for One-Click Auto Dimensioning™, End-to-End, Interior, Point-to-Point, Baseline, Angular and Centerline
Advanced Stair & Ramp tools for curved, flared, split and straight
Electrical and HVAC tools
Smart Objects (BIM) windows, cabinets, doors, rooms have properties and behave intelligently in the design
Materials Lists for cost estimating and bidding
Power CAD tools for details and custom shapes
Powerful CAD Tools
CAD Solids –produce slabs, moldings and shapes. Draw molding profiles, custom countertops, backsplashes, beams and other architectural objects or CAD details.
CAD Drawing tools for lines, polylines, splines, arcs, and shapes
Align, Distribute, Copy, Replicate, Reflect, Extend, Fillet, make Parallel and several other CAD tools for precision and productivity
Convert CAD objects to architectural objects – draw a molding profile and save as a stacked crown molding for a room or cabinet
Draw custom CAD details, import DXF or DWG CAD files
CAD tools to detail Cross Sections & Elevations
CAD-to-Walls tool imports an AutoCAD® file and provides a mapping for layers – a great tool to interchange files with AutoCAD users
Construction Drawings
Create construction documents with the Layout tool. Send any view to the Layout. Define the scale and link to the drawing to update as your design changes.
Multiple Layers and Layer Sets – mask layers to create the view you need
Create Detailed Plan Sets: Floor Plans, Elevations and 3D Perspectives, Electrical/ HVAC Plans, Section Details
All views are linked from the Plans, Elevations and Construction documents and dynamically updated to be sure your model is current
Use a PDF print driver to print to any size paper
Time Tracker™ to monitor time spent on specific projects
New Features
3D Rendering & Visualization
Perspective & Orthographic 3D Camera tools
Orthographic is ideal for cross section and elevation views. Perspective is ideal for Full Overview, Floor Overview (Doll House), Floor Camera, Full Camera , and Framing Views. Camera views can be named, edited, and saved. Use 3D Settings Controls to adjust the display options and settings.
3D Navigation tools & Virtual Tours
Create 3D views and navigate, spin, rotate, pan, orbit, tilt, and move forward or backward. Use the View Direction Tools to quickly set the view to top down, left side, right side or bottom angles. Record virtual walk-through tours while navigating in 3D views. Pause the recording or save frames as desired. Draw a line or spline and record along that designated path. Define the frame rate for recording an .AVI file.
Photo Realistic Rendering
New Chief Architect Ray Trace Rendering Engine (replacing the previous POV-Ray ray trace engine). The new Chief Ray Tracer offers significant performance improvement with its ability to use multiple core processors. Lighting and materials now have specific properties that can be set for very photo realistic rendering.
Reflective material type
Create material definitions to represent reflective surfaces for ray trace views.
Ray Trace Wizard
A New Ray Trace Wizard with predefined settings for indoor and outdoor scenes to jump start your photo realistic ray trace renderings. The wizard applies predefined settings which can then be edited to your specific rendering needs.
Improved lighting through windows in Ray Trace views
Generate scenes with both natural and man made lighting.
Enhanced feedback accuracy for time estimates when generating Ray Trace views
Rendered Views now more closely represent Ray Trace Views
Artistic Rendering – Watercolor, Line Drawing….
Artistic Rendering techniques include, 3D Standard Render, Watercolor, Squiggle Line Drawing, Technical Illustration, Painting, Vector View, Glass House, and DuoTone.
Advanced Render Technique Defaults
Use Pre-set attributes or customize your own for the different Render Technique styles. For example, set the squiggle amount for Line Drawing or the colors for Technical Illustration.
Cross Section Render Technique controls
Access the render techniques for Cross Section views through the camera specification dialog.
3D Focal Blur & Enhanced control of ambient light
Use depth of field in Ray Traced views, just like a real camera. Create renderings that exhibit similar detail as real photography. Enhanced control of ambient light within Ray Tracing.
3D Views are optimized for multiple core processors and enhanced memory usage in 3D views
Significantly enhanced memory usage, faster 3D views, and Send To Layout with multi-core processors. Adjust render settings for optimal processing speed and quality results.
Cross Section Slider™
Show views being cut from the top, bottom, front, back, left or right side. Adjust the amount cut away from the model.
Delete / Remove Surface tool
Temporarily remove surfaces in 3D views to expose and visualize the underlying model.
Panoramic or spherical backdrops
Cross Sections & Elevations
Cross Sections, Back-Clipped Cross Sections & Elevations
Use the orthographic camera to create an elevation or cross section view. Back-Clipped Cross Section views control the cut distance generated for a cross section.
Dimension, Annotate and Detail Cross Sections & Elevation Views
Use the text, arrow, dimension, and CAD tools to add complete details to your Cross Section and Elevation views. Select and edit, delete, resize, or move objects. Add notes and dimensions or insert CAD details.
Opening Indicators – Doors, Windows & Cabinets
Show or hide opening indicators for hinge side of doors, windows and cabinet using Layers in Elevation, Cross Section, and Plan views.
Plans & Layouts
Layout tool – for construction documents
Layout sheets are used to organize plans, elevations, CAD details, schedules, site plans, and other items for construction documents. The drawings can be scaled and printed at any size. All views are dynamically linked to the original model reflecting any update you make. Reorder the Layout pages for construction documents. Create templates for Layouts with borders and title blocks.
Set up multiple Pages per Layout File
- 200 Pages
Advanced Layout Editing
Edit line views sent to the layout, rescale views sent to layout, re-link views on the layout to reference different files.
Enhanced “Send to Layout” and “CAD Detail From View”
Experience faster response times and improved line generation
- Excludes CAD Details
Library / Catalog Browser
Choose from thousands of items. Download new content from Chief Architect or from third party sources. The Library includes generic and manufacturer brands.
Design Structures with multiple Floors
Excludes attic and basement or foundation.
- 10 Floors
Unlimited number of Opened Files
Reference as many plans or views during a single session. Limited to your computer’s resources.
Plan Templates
Choose pre-defined Plan Templates or create your own.
Time Tracker™ tool
Measure working time per project, per client, or per task. Start and stop the Time Tracker. View, edit, and export a time log, and add notes for each project.
Plan Database tool
Create a plan database to organizing your plan portfolio.
Plan Check tool
Provides a review for basic room egress, roof, wall layout, and more.
Rotate & Flip Plan tools
Flip or create a mirror image. Rotate the orientation of the floor plan view on your screen.
House Wizard™
Drag-and-drop room bubbles and arrange them before converting them to walls. Provides a quick way to lay out rooms that adjoin the project to illustrate how the completed project would look.
Loan Calculator tool
Calculate mortgage payments.
Home Designer® Plan Share
Share Chief Architect® plans with the consumer / DIY Home Designer® products. Your clients can use this for floor/space planning and change colors, materials and textures. Features a Plan Lock to prevent Home Designer from editing the Plan file.
Chief Architect Interiors files compatible with Chief Architect Viewer
Share your Chief Architect Premier and Interior design files with clients using the free Chief Architect Viewer software
Rooms
Room Defaults – ceiling height, style, moldings, wall covering, floor materials
Control the initial behavior by specifying default values. Define room attributes by room type.
Enhanced interface for Room Specification dialog
Specify when a room is calculated in the Living Area
For example, specify the garage or attic to be included or excluded in the living area calculation.
Name individual Rooms
Name individual rooms from a defined list of types or create new names. Custom Room Label controls - assign room types as well as custom room labels. Rooms display dimensions with interior area measurements. Multiple Room Select to group edit the Room attributes.
Custom Room Label controls
Assign room types as well as custom room labels.
Control over new Room specifications when additional floors are added
Use the Floor Defaults dialog to set up a new floor’s attributes.
Display any combination of Room Label Size Layers
Display the Dimensional Size and the Square Footage labels for a room at one time.
Automatic Room Connections
Island rooms (rooms within rooms) automatically connect to outer rooms via an invisible wall to ensure proper room definitions
Define floor coverings, finishes, and sub-layers
Molding display control by Room
Specify height, width, and orientation of moldings from floor or ceiling. Control the display of moldings in any room type.
Room Molding Polyline & 3D Molding Polylines tool
Automatically generate a molding polyline derived from the room's perimeter. Reshape the polyline as desired and attach multiple molding profiles. Designate sizes for each profile and specify its height off the floor. 3D Molding Polylines create horizontal and vertical moldings.
Room Polyline
Automatically generate a polyline derived from the room's perimeter. Use the polyline tools to generate a Materials List, view the area, or convert to a molding, slab, and other custom options.
Room Polygon tool
Create a Room automatically with pre-specified dimensions.
Walls
Wall tools
Wall Styles include interior, exterior, railing, pony, half wall, curved, angled, raked, stepped. All styles are customizable with unique layers. Wall Types include structural wood, stucco steel, concrete ICF, SIPS, glass block, railings.
Draw and edit Walls in 2D and 3D
Create custom Wall styles with multiple layers
All the Wall layers calculate into the Materials List.
Curved Wall controls for radius, center, and ends
Half-Wall tool
Draw half walls and specify their default values (also known as solid railings).
Solid Railing & Half-Wall material options
Include wall assembly layers and control them just as you would a standard wall.
Improved railings clip to ceiling surface
Railings that intersect roofs and ceilings are automatically clipped to fit the slope.
Pony Walls
For a two section Wall, define materials for each section. Control window and door display, dimensions, alignment between floors.
Pony Wall height controls
Adjust the height of individual Pony Walls by typing the lower wall’s height into the dialog
Create Raked & Stepped Walls
Control heights of walls, add breaks and adjust in Cross Section and Elevation views. Define stepped foundations with vertical footing control.
Wall Align tool
Align walls on another floor (individually or group selected). Toggle the floor reference to see through to the floor above or below.
Set up designs for Remodeling
Place New, Existing, Demolition and Remodeling Walls on unique layers
Enhanced Wall Editing
Adjust wall lengths by selecting dimensions or temporary dimensions that run parallel to the wall.
Invisible Wall Defaults
Invisible Walls are typically used for room definition when a regular wall is not appropriate. Define the default attributes.
Defaults for Corner Trim
Set their size and material attributes.
Cabinets
Convert Automatic Countertops to Custom Countertops
Change the automatically generated countertop to a custom countertop that can be edited and resized independently from the cabinet.
Countertop Edge Molding
Control the display of edge molding applied to custom countertops
Rounded Cabinet Corners
Specify rounded or chamfered corners on a cabinet box.
Rounded Countertop Corners for Automatic Countertops
Cabinet Moldings
Add crown moldings, light rails, dentil and rope molding details to Cabinets
Easily create Stacked Molding
Add multiple moldings to objects and specify vertical and horizontal offset distances with different Molding Profiles to create stacked moldings.
Cabinet Millwork & End Panels
Pilasters, feet, legs, and moldings. All resize automatically as the cabinet changes. Attach End Panels to the sides and back of cabinets. Panels can be set to be automatically generated when an end or back is exposed, or they can be manually turned on or off. Control materials by specifying finished, unfinished, or automatic sides. The automatic feature can determine if the cabinet is exposed or against another cabinet.
Cabinet Fillers
Create cabinet fillers automatically between cabinets, or add them manually.
Frameless Cabinet settings
Change the cabinet style in one click with the new Frameless and Full Overlay options for cabinets.
Blind Corner Cabinet Controls
Turn On or Off Automatic Blind Corner Cabinet behavior.
Architectural Blocks, save customized Cabinets to the Library
Save any Cabinet, group of Cabinets, or an entire room of Cabinets as an Architectural Block and store in the Library for future use. Unblock the cabinet grouping and modify as needed. For example, store kitchen islands or an entire kitchen in your library for future designs.
Regular & Sloped Soffits
Generate sloped soffits that automatically match roof or ceiling pitch, or manually adjust slope. Control the initial behavior by specifying default values.
Define Cabinets to sub-floor or finish floor height
Define elevation for cabinets, furniture, fixtures and stairs relative to finished floor or sub-floor.
- Excludes Floor Layers
Cabinet Designer™ tools
Create any style of Cabinet using the Smart Parametric tools including Framed, Frameless, Curved, Angled and Bow. Adjust drawers, face frames, doors, styles, shapes, shelves, moldings, backsplashes, appliances, countertops and several other items.
Manufacturer Catalogs & Smart Parametric Cabinets
Manufacturer Catalogs - doors, windows, cabinets and several others
Manufacturer's cabinet catalogs include door and drawer styles, cabinet boxes, colors, and wood species.
Define Cabinet defaults
Control the initial behavior by specifying default values - define, colors, sizes, doors and drawer styles, moldings, materials, countertops, hardware, and several other attributes for the cabinets as you begin a new design.
Cabinet Specification dialog
Use a specification dialog to define and customize your Cabinets.
Place Cabinet Doors, Drawers, and End Panels on Cabinets or as stand-alone objects
Improved Corner Cabinet Hardware
Single knob hardware for pie-cut corner cabinets.
NKBA standardized
Cabinet display options conform to NKBA standards including countertops, line styles, labels and more.
NKBA approved software for professional certification testing
Display Countertop lines in Plan View and control the display with a Layer
Custom Countertop tool creates countertops of any shape or size
Draw and edit countertops manually. Add countertop holes, edge profiles, adjust the thickness and height off the floor.
Doors & Windows
Custom Door & Window tools
Create any style of Door, Doorway, and Window including Arched, Shaped and Mulled. Use the Smart Parametric tools. Doors styles include interior, exterior, sliding, pocket, bi-fold, atrium, double-swing, and garage. Hardware Library - Hinges, Handles and Locks. Windows styles include interior, exterior, single/double hung, sliding, casement, corner, recessed, bay, and box
Manufacturer Catalogs and Smart Parametric Doors & Windows
Catalog Doors have interior and exterior material settings. Define colors and wood species.
Door Defaults by Door Type
Set unique door defaults for different types of doors: hinged, pocket, bifold, sliding, and garage.
Pass-Thru tool
Create an opening between two rooms.
Visual Door Placement feedback
Visualize door placement prior to actually placing the door with intuitive control of the hinge and swing.
3D Door Display options
New edit tools “Show Door Open in 3D” and “Show Door Closed in 3D” make it fast and easy to control the state of doors in 3D views.
Atrium Door options
Create Center Swing Double-Doors, also known as atrium patio doors. Define a variety of other ways to open the doors
Adjustable Louver Sizes
New louver attribute allows you to control their size in windows and doors.
Improved representation of doors recessed into masonry walls
Mulled Units, save customized Doors & Windows to the Library
Create custom Mulled door and window blocks. Move, dimension, and label them as single units and add them to the Library. Mulled Units that contain Doors are automatically recognized as Door objects for Schedules and Schedule Labels.
Double Walls/Window/Door Control for marriage walls and multi-family units
Unlimited Divided Lites for glass
Create Windows and Glass Doors with an unlimited number of lites.
Custom Muntins
Design your own muntins using the CAD tools and attach them to windows.
Window Treatments & Shutters
Adjust curtains by the height off floor and height above casing. Specify shutters on either side of a window. Blinds fit inside casing when attached to Windows.
Door & Window Capitals
Place capitals above Window or Door casing and set the height and width.
Sills & Lintels
Specify sills for windows and set the height and width. Lintels - control window and door trim sizes.
Bay or Bow Windows Multiple Select
Select then edit a group of bay, box or bow windows.
Stairs & Ramps
Stair tool
Specify tread width, length, tread number, overhang, and thickness. Set riser height, top and bottom height. Specify details about stringers, open underneath, runners, railing details, baluster and newel styles and shapes, brackets, handrails on walls next to stairs, around corners, and hand rail profile.
One-Click™ Stairs & Ramps
Auto place stairs from platform to platform. Platform to terrain Stairs and Ramps automatically connect to the terrain when drawn from the ground to the structure.
- Excludes Terrain
Advanced Stair tools
Customize curved sections, flared treads, starter treads, winders, definable walk line, maintainable tread width, and landings.
Wrap Around Stairs, connect treads around corners
Auto Stairwell™
Creates stairwell and the platform to match the staircase.
Enhanced interface for Stair Specification dialog
Dialog diagram and access to change more attributes about stairs.
Enhanced Stairs editing options
Options for riser heights, tread width, start height, and bottom height.
Define Stair starting elevation
Specify whether stairs and ramps are located at the sub-floor or the finished floor elevation.
Ramp tool
Default Ramp is ADA compliant. Specify length, slope rise and run. Specify overhangs, railings, tread surface, open underneath, baluster and newel styles, shapes, and hand rail profile.
Landing tool
Create Custom Landings to auto-connect Stair sections or Ramp sections together. Choose auto adjust features for the height and thickness based on stair or ramp connection. Turn railings on or off per Landing edge.
Custom Newels & Balusters
Choose from newels and balusters in the Library Catalog or import your own.
Automatic Handrail width on Wall width
Define the Handrail width based on the width of the Wall.
Independent Railings
Create custom railing styles such as glass, cable, or panels.
Railing Opening & Wall surface offset
Control whether an automatic opening is created when attaching a Stair or Ramp to a wall or railing. Control the offset of the automatic wall surface under a Stair.
- Excludes Wall surface offset
Multiple Stair Select
Group edit the Stair attributes.
Enhanced materials controls for Landings & Stairs
Individually control the material assignments for stair and landing components.
CAD Tools
CAD tools
Comprehensive CAD objects and editing tools: Points, Lines, Polylines, Splines, Arcs, Circles, Ovals, Boxes, Arrows, Solids, Primitives, Fence, Trim Extend, Parallel, Perpendicular, Reflect, Replicate, Transform, Fillet, Chamfer, and several others.
3D Primitive, Advanced Polyline & Face tools
Create custom solids with a variety of shapes. Edit polylines using Polyline Subtract, Polyline Union, and Polyline Intersection. Create solid faces, extrude and revolve them to create custom objects.
Polyline Solid tools
Create 3D shapes using the Polyline Solid tool. Create custom countertop shapes, backsplashes, tub platforms, etc.
Polygon CAD tool
Creates regularly-shaped polylines of pre-specified dimensions. Specify the number of sides and specify the polygon size by length of sides or overall radius.
Convert 2D CAD lines and polylines to other Chief objects
Quickly convert CAD to Polyline Solids, Molding Polylines, Countertops, Slabs, Landings, Holes in Roofs and Platforms. Convert Arcs and Circles to Polylines. Convert polylines to Revision Clouds and Material List Areas. Convert to Elevation and Terrain data, Sprinklers, Roads, Road Markings, and Sidewalks.
- Excludes Elevation and Terrain Objects
CAD-to-Walls™
Import CAD files, such as AutoCAD®, and convert CAD lines to fully configured 3D walls, windows, and doors.
Over 500 Architectural CAD Details
Details for residential structural elements. Detailed assemblies for floors, roofs, decks, walls and foundations.
- Includes a subset of CAD Details
Align / Distribute Objects tool
Define distribution and automatic alignment of CAD objects.
Create and manage CAD Details & Blocks
Draw customized details and diagrams, print them to scale, and save for reuse in the Library.
Auto Purge CAD Blocks option
Unused CAD Blocks can be automatically purged from plans when the program is closed.
Specify Insertion Points for CAD Blocks
Define an exact location for inserting and placing CAD Blocks.
Close Polyline tool, Filleted Polylines radius
Select any polyline and choose Close Polyline to automatically connect the start and end points. Editing of filleted polylines retains fillet radius.
Arc Creation Modes
Choose from a number of methods to precisely draw arcs.
Current CAD Layer & CAD Points saved with plans and layouts
When a plan is closed and re-opened, the CAD Layer used in the previous session is active.
Preference control for Roof Intersection CAD Points
Control the display of the auto-generated CAD points.
Visual CAD Snaps™
Snap indicators – center, end point, tangent, and several others. Snap to objects or a grid. Snap to Reference Floor layer (a floor above or below the current floor).
Angle Snap preview while drawing
Multiple Copy tool
Replicate objects at pre-defined increments. Set default increments for different types of framing objects, as well as general objects.
Paste Hold Position tool
Copy an item between layers, plans or floors while maintaining orientation and exact position.
Point-to-Point Move tool
Accurately move or copy objects.
Layers
Layer Sets
Set up unique layer groupings for display and printing. Create separate Layer sets for Electrical Plans, Framing Views, or Space Planning. Use the Layer Set toolbar to quickly swap active Layer Sets. Swap Layer Sets using Annotation Sets.
User-Defined Layers
In addition to the default Layers, add, change and delete new Layers.
Assign objects to Layers for Display & Materials List
Choose which objects display in 2D and 3D and if they are to be used in Material List. Change the default layer used for individual objects and assign them as necessary.
Layer Eyedropper & Layer Painter tool
Select a layer assigned to an object using the Layer Eyedropper tool, then apply that layer to a different object with Layer Painter.
Layer Hider tool
Click on an object in plan view to turn off its layer display
Control display attributes by Layer
Set color, weight, and line style on a per layer basis. Lock layers as necessary to prevent editing.
Object Layer Properties edit tool
Quickly and easily modify the layer properties for any object
Layer Set Defaults dialog & Management dialog
Assign 2D and 3D views to Layer Sets. For example, assign the Cross Section camera to a “Wall Cabinets” only view. Manage Layer Sets - import, export, copy, edit, delete, and create new layer sets from one dialog. Set the currently active set and the reference set.
Assign Cameras to Layers
Layer Set Defaults for Camera Types
Specify unique layer sets for each camera type; Full Camera, Floor Camera, Full Overview, Floor Overview, Cross Section, Back-Clipped Cross Section, and Wall Elevation. Control the layers displayed for any of these cameras when they are initially created by assigning layer sets in the Layer Set Defaults dialog.
Stair and Ramp Up/Down Arrow layer control
New layer for stair and ramp arrow allows you to control the display separately.
New “Footings, Step Markers” layer
Control the step markers display, line style, color, line weight, and text style.
Layer and Line Style Information are stored with cabinets, CAD blocks, and other objects stored in the Library
Reference Layer Sets
Reference Layer Sets are retained for each view sent to Layout pages.
Dimensions
Dimensioning tools
Baseline, Centerline, Angular, End-to-End, Interior, Point-to-Point, and Temporary dimensions. Use One-Click Auto Dimensions™ for exteriors.
- Excludes Baseline
Specify Dimension Units, Accuracy, & Display
Use Imperial and Metric systems. Control the units displayed for dimensions, number height and font, arrow size and style, accuracy in decimals or fractions to 1/128" or 0.0078125.
Dimension Label Fill option
Specify solid or transparent fill for dimensions' text.
Define where Dimensions locate
Locate to centers, rough openings, casing, interior layer, main framing layer, sides, and several other locations.
Multiple Dimension Defaults
Define multiple dimension styles and attributes for your specific needs, such as defaults for floor plans, cabinet elevations and site plans. For each Default, define the attributes for number height, unit of measure, arrow, fonts and more.
Precisely position objects by entering a dimension
Select any object, and enter a corresponding dimension number to move the object a set distance.
Enhanced Wall Editing with Dimensions
Adjust wall lengths by selecting dimensions or temporary dimensions that run parallel to the wall.
Display Wall length as you draw – press TAB to input an exact dimension
Tape Measure tool
Use the Tape Measure Tool to find the measurements of any item.
Dimensions snap to objects
Snap to the Center of Cabinets, sides of Appliances and Fixtures, Framing, and Callouts and Markers.
Box and Bumpout Extension Snaps
Snap to projected 90° intersections
Dimension locations for wall tops, bottoms and cross sections
Wall Elevation Views include dimension locations and extension for wall tops and bottoms. Cross Section Views include dimension locations and extension lines for finished floor and ceilings.
Enhanced Auto Exterior Dimensions
Define the default behavior of Automatic Exterior Dimensions.
Define or convert any dimension extension to a Centerline Extension
Open the specification for any dimension and select an extension number to change its values or change it to a centerline.
Enhanced feedback while drawing dimensions
Show or hide firebox dimensions for free standing fireplaces
Lighting / Electrical / HVAC
Electrical & HVAC tools
Create Electrical, Plumbing and Heating / Ventilation plans. Electrical – place lights, switches, outlets, low voltage, and structured wiring. Circuit Connection tools draw the connections and circuits for your electrical layout. Connect electrical components together to create circuits. Adjust the lines and arcs of the circuit design. Connections will automatically change switches for 3-way and 4-way. Specify Electrical, Fixture, and Furniture items to attach to ceilings and roofs and auto-rotate to match the pitch of roofs or vaulted ceilings.
Electrical Defaults
Control the initial behavior by specifying default values. Set up default objects to be placed when adding lights and outlets to a room, set the height for outlets and switches off the floor or countertops.
Auto Place Outlets tool
Places outlets at regular intervals based on room type.
Electrical Lighting & Lighting Sources
Use Light Sources in addition to light fixture symbols to enhance the lighting in a scene. Light Fixtures have light sources for Render and Ray Trace Views.
Define custom lighting with shadows, attenuation and intensity
Turn lighting on or off per object. Control whether a light is used for a 3D scene.
Improved Lighting Units
Choose from common wattage/lumens values for lights or specify custom values.
Edit Lighting properties of electrical objects directly from the Library
Easily control lighting
New edit controls for lighting allow you to turn lights on or off with a single click.
Enhanced Adjust Lighting Dialog
Added information in dialog makes it easy to locate lights by label name or room location
Automatic GFCI outlets in Kitchens
Use the Auto Place Outlet tool to add GFCI outlets to your kitchen rooms.
Continuous draw mode for Electrical Connections
Quickly generate electrical connections for each circuit in your design.
Photo-realistic lighting effects with the Ray trace rendering
See the Rendering section for additional detail.
3D Design & Materials
3D & 2D Editing of Architectural Objects - Walls, Windows, Cabinets, Roofs, Stairs, …
Place and edit objects directly in 3D and 2D Plan View or Elevation View. Design simultaneously in 2D and 3D for any of the views.
Center Objects tool – center objects in 2D & 3D
Center cabinets under windows, windows in walls, dormers on a roof, and several other items 3D and 2D.
Material Painter™ & Default Painter
Apply colors, materials and textures to objects or components of the object. Apply colors as solid or stain. Use the Default Painter tool restore items to their default material.
Material Eyedropper™ & Color Chooser™
Material Eyedropper: copy a material from one object and apply to another. Color Chooser capture colors and materials from a photo or website, such as tile for a custom backsplash or a wood stain color for a floor.
Material Properties Settings
Make rendered and ray traced views more photo realistic with Pre-Defined Metals. Specify attributes for these Pre-Defined Metals: Aluminum, Brass, Bronze, Chromium, Copper, Gold, Iron, Nickel, Sliver, Stainless Steel, Tin Titanium Tungsten, and Zinc.
Material Class Definitions
Use class definitions to define your materials: General, Plastic, Brushed Metal, Shiny Metal, Pre-Defined Metal, Matte, Mirror, Polished, Transparent, and Translucent. Preview the Material classes for standard rendering or ray trace. Ray trace preview includes the option to choose a sphere, cube, or teapot shape to help visualize the attributes of materials.
Screen Capture tool - create custom materials
Screen capture an image and apply in the design, such as a photo of tile for a custom backsplash.
Toggle Patterns on or off in Vector View™
Assign Custom Patterns to Materials or Object Fill
Manage Plan Materials
Manage all the materials used in the design. Replace materials used in a plan with a material from the Library Catalog. Select a group of materials to merge.
Define the Rotation Angle for Custom Patterns
Create Symbol Wizard™
Create custom symbols or import from manufacturers.
Create Custom Moldings
Draw your own molding profile. The software will extrude the molding in 3D.
Library / Catalog
Library (Catalog) Browser
Access thousands of Objects / Items, both Manufacturer and generic. Download, import and create new objects. Search for objects in the Library or use the advanced search features to filter the results. Number of Library Items is displayed in the status bar.
Library Search & Instant Search bar integrated into the Library
Search for Library items by keyword, object type or style. Instant Search bar is integrated into the Library, just start typing in the search bar to find objects in the Library. Customize Library Search Attributes, view or modify key words for searching on Library objects.
Faster and more reliable catalog downloads
Downloaded content automatically installs (no pre-subscription required).
Enhanced feedback for Library Catalog downloads status
Options to Continue or Cancel downloads when Chief Architect closes. Catalog Downloads automatically restart if Chief Architect is closed then re-launched.
Replace From Library tool
Select objects in the plan and replace with an object in the Library. Replace single items or all identical items in a plan.
Library Browser filtered views
Choose to show or hide entire library catalogs in the Library Browser tree. Improved library load times as hidden items are not loaded into the Library Browser.
Library Tree Reorganization
Manufacturer, User, Chief Architect Core, and Chief Architect Bonus catalogs are now grouped into separate categories for easier navigation.
Library Object Shortcuts
Create shortcut items to any object in the Library Browser to customize your organization.
Multiple Select Library Items
Use the Shift or Ctrl keys to copy, move, and edit groups of objects.
Improved speed of deleting objects from the Library Browser
Preview Objects / Items in the Library before they are placed in a design
Visual feedback for the size and orientation of objects being placed from the library and edited in plan and 3D views. Rotate, Spin and Zoom the Library preview.
Convert Plan Materials to Library Materials
Materials that are in use in the plan can automatically be added to the Library.
Materials List & Cost Estimating
Automatically generate Materials Lists
Automatic Materials List with columns for equipment, unit costs, percent markup, and labor costs. Change order of the columns. Generate a list for the entire plan, single room, or defined area using a polyline.
Master Materials List
The Master Materials List stores master data, such as price. When a new project is started, the Master List data is applied. Save and load multiple Master Materials Lists.
Specify Layers when calculating a Materials List
Use Layers to control what is included in the Materials List.
Materials List Components
Add detailed information to objects– such as glazing to a cabinet finish. Components information is then posted to the materials list. Choose which details to show or hide on the final Materials List using Components.
Material Schedules
Create Schedules for Doors, Windows, Cabinets, Fixtures, Appliances, Furniture, Electrical HVAC, Plumbing, Plants and Room Finish. Exclude specific items from Schedules such as cabinet hardware. Automatically Customize the information contained in the Schedule and label controls for Schedules.
Materials List include soffits under roof eaves
Text / Annotation / Scripting
Fully editable Text tools
Control font, size, weight, color, position, justification, and more.
Advanced Rich Text tools
Format text with varying colors, font, and more. Convert plain text to rich text.
Text Style tools
Create unlimited Text Styles and assign them per layer, per default, or per object to control the appearance of labels, dimensions and other text in your design.
Specify Line Style and Fill Style for Schedules
Change schedule grid color and overall background color on a per schedule basis.
Improved control over multiple schedules
Manage multiple schedules of the same type and independently control their display of labels. Improved schedule updating when items in the plan are added to or removed from the schedule display.
Text Leader Line tool quickly creates callouts and notes
Create Leader Lines using Rich Text or Plain Text types
Architectural fonts: City Blueprint, Country Blueprint, Chief Blueprint
Use any built-in font included with your operating system.
Spell Checker
Uses a built-in or custom dictionary.
Enhanced Text control
Font control, font defaults, and text macros for page number, date, and others.
Customizable Text Arrows
More control over arrowhead style
Specify the arrowhead type used for Joist Directions, Sun Angles, Roof Labels, and Stairs and Ramps.
- Excludes Joist Direction
Custom Door, Window, & Cabinet Labels
Type your own customized labels for any Door, Window, or Cabinet object. Control cabinet label size and orientation.
Callouts & Markers
Place Callouts and Markers in Plan, Elevation, Layout, and Detail views. Adjust fill color, line style, line weight, and double-headed Callouts. Callouts and Markers have unique layers. Use multiple default styles for Arrows, Markers, and Callouts.
Layer for Camera Labels
Label display for cameras is now independent from the camera display.
Automatic Roof Labels
Display labels for roofs, skylights and holes. Label includes pitch direction arrow and the roof angle in pitch or degrees. Modify the arrow style and text style of the roof labels
Labels for Layout Boxes
Automatic labels for layout views will display the camera name for elevation and section views or the floor plan name for plan views. Create custom labels that will move with the views and you set up you layout .
Specify labels for Light Source or “added light” objects
Uniquely name light sources in your scenes for easy recognition.
Soffit, Shelf, and Partition Labels
Assign custom labels through the new Label Tab for soffits, shelves, and partitions
Labels for Bay, Box, and Bow Windows
Customize labels through the Label Tab of the Bay, Box, and Bow Window dialogs.
Room Label background fill
Specify background fill color or solid or transparent fill for room labels
Control the location of Labels
New X and Y offsets for labels allow you to control the orientation of labels in relationship to the object.
Embed Hyperlinks in Text
Add links to website or other files using the text tools.
Text Macros & User Defined Text Macros
Insert macros into text objects. Add Contact Info, File Info, Plan Info, Special Characters, and Time and Date macros. Create custom Macros, such as macros for Contractor, Supplier, or Revision Number.
- Excludes User Defined Text Macros
Window Macros
Use macros to include Window Type, Top Elevation, Bottom Elevation, and Floor to Header height in window labels.
Label macros for Electrical Lights, Stairs & Ramps, Roof Pitch / Slope, and Layout Boxes
Printing
Printed Paper sizes
Specify printed paper sizes to fit your design scale.
PDF print
Print to a PDF file for outsourcing a print job – great when you do not have a large format printer.
Print Preview
Displays printable area, paper edges, and line weights. Outline printing is visible in Print Preview mode.
Scale-to-Page or Paper Size
Page Setup
Determine plan sheet size and specify how it prints to different paper size.
Span printing across multiple pages
Print a large format sheet on a smaller paper size and tape together to make the larger sheet.
Control line style begin and end size
For example, for a dashed line define the start and end dash size.
Import / Export
Import & Export Chief Objects
Import/Export Annotation Sets, Layer Sets, Hot Keys, Wall Types, Line Styles, Macros, and Ruby Scripts. Share with other users or transfer them from plan to plan.
- Excludes Wall Types, Ruby Scripts, and Line Styles
Transfer Layers between Plan files
Layer names can be transferred between plans.
Export Materials List to Microsoft Excel, CSV, TXT, or HTML
Import & Export 2D DXF
Advanced Layer Mapping to assist with importing.
AutoCAD 2012 Compatibility. Import or Export DXF and DWG files
Import & Export 3D files
Import 3D DXF, DWG, OBJ, 3DS, SKP. Export 3D DXF, DWG, 3DS, VRML
SketchUp 8 object import (32-bit version only)
Import image files: BMP, JPG, GIF, PCS, TIFF, PCX, PNG, Metafiles, TGA
Image import - specify transparency color and add plant data or image information for materials and backdrops. Display Metafile on plan, elevation, and layout views. Specify fill style to show through and transparency on the image.
DWG compatibility with AutoCAD® 2012 & prior
Import and Export 2D and 3D files in DWG format.
3D Mass Import
Group import 3D DWG, DXF, 3DS, OBJ, SKP files and convert them to Library Objects.
Create Materials from Textures
Group import texture image files and convert them to materials automatically.
Export .AVI files for Virtual Tours & 3D VRML, 3DS
Export PNG & TGA from Ray Traced Renderings
Convert 3D View to Symbol
Create a custom object using Chief Architect's design tools and then round-trip covert a view to a unified library item.
System Requirements
PC Minimum*
Windows 7 / Vista / XP**
2.4 GHz processor
2 GB of Memory (32 bit)
4 GB of Memory (64 bit)
5 GB of available hard disk space
256 MB dedicated video card
Monitor resolution 1024 x 768
OpenGL: 2.1 or higher
Internet: High speed for Registration, Video access, and Library downloads
**Chief Architect Premier X4 (64-bit) is not supported on Windows XP
PC Recommended
Windows 7 64 bit
Multi-Core CPU (e.g., Intel i5, i7)
6 GB of Memory
50 GB of available hard disk space
1 GB high performance video card (e.g., NVIDIA or ATI)
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