Pretty amazing, isn't it!.
I now use Lumen RT models with all my contractors. I make it a part of there bid package and we use them in the field as often as the drawings! It is remarkable how fast it is and provides a file that still keeps your model secure!
Thanks Nicholas and David for an amazing product. Once I dig my head out of my current projects, I'll runs some videos and stills.
@pbacot said:
Note follow up to the above: I had to get a new computer and what a difference! SU still can crash and it still needs to be able handle nominally larger files but my SU-LO experience is SO much improved. I think the SSD drive is big part of that... and rendering forget it! I don't even feel tempted to network my old computer for rendering--I probably wouldn't notice those two cores.
Agreed, but I'll bet it is your video card that made the difference. Mine is amazingly fast now.
I still don't see why they are incapable of printing pdf? Back when I used ACAD, everything was printed from PDF - never used .Tif due to the potential scaling issues. I don't live in a large town either - around 15000 population and our printer gets it right every time. If you get really frustrated, I just bought an in house printer for $2800 that works incredibly well. It can print the pdf's generated from LO in 1 minute full color. It's an HP T790. It's been great so far!
Dave is correct. Always make your settings after you have selected the tool and before you use the tool. This works the same for all graphics in LO. Once they are set in a given file, they become the default. Now make that file a template and your set for all future drawings.
Smarque: For items that will never change such as property lines, setbacks easements and existing contours, simply group each item such as all property lines and set them on a layer you can isolate, Then copy them from SU onto a layer in LO labeled "property line". Just make sure you are on the top view in parallel projection before you copy. Then you simply vector render the line work to scale in LO. For items that will change as a project progresses, always create scenes in SU. Always set Line work that you want to differentiate on different layers in LO. So for a site plan, I have separate layers for contours, setbacks, easements, property lines.
Go to a different printer - both of you. Converting a .pdf to .tif can cause many more problems - like scale. They should be printing the pdf's as you send them, no different.
I for one do not want them to change the layer arrangement. Typically if you are grouping something, you want it to be visible together on a given page. In that case it should be on the same layer. I really like the feature of selecting the layer first, then copy and the item ends up on that specific layer you have pre-selected. This is extremely handy when you are overlaying multiple SU Scenes on top of each other. It makes control very easy.
@dave r said:
Mine was packed in a very large cardboard box with foam inside. I looked over the box when it arrived and it was in excellent condition.
That's what was also inside the wood box, and when I say foam inside, I mean literally inside the machine. The first instruction is to open the tower and remove the foam insert. This kept everything in its place.
Ouch - those parts are pretty stout though. I'm sure all is good. I'm sure they'll do something for you.
That is one thing I do have to say about Origin. They pack the crap out of the machine. The inside is packed with a form fitting piece of plastic wrapped foam and they ship it in a bomber wooden crate........of course I paid $900 more.
Dave is correct. You either have a "modified" scene in LO or your scenes in SU are set with Hidden Geometry shown and Section Cuts not.
Ashcott - this should happen automatically when you update the scene. The only reason it wouldn't would be a result of the LO scene being "modified".
@baz said:
With a scale set at 1:20, measurements in layout are wrong.
The amount changes depending on the length of the entity.
IE: a 1000mm line will read as 1001, 2000 as 2003, 3000 as 3005 etc.Any ideas?
[attachment=0:xet2rc7g]<!-- ia0 -->measurement_6.jpg<!-- ia0 -->[/attachment:xet2rc7g]
Is that a SU view? If so, be sure it is aligned. If it is a 3d object, you may be picking up points in the 3d geometry. Other than those two possibilities, not sure what would cause this. LO dimensions very accurately for me, although I never use metric. Looks to be a simple file, post it so we can have a look.
Edit: I see that is a SU reference. I often find that LO actually points out needed corrections in SU. Double check the SU file and verify the lengths are exact, and verify your tolerances in both SU & LO. I'll bet if you use the dimension tool in SU you will get the "~" in front of the dimension.
Hi Sketchy:
You simply open a new SU file. Under File/Import, you select the file established as your base file. It then inserts the file as a component into the new file. After you edit the base file, right click or select the inserted component and select "reload". It will then update the file based upon the last save.
With that video card you should have hardware acceleration active. In fact, it would be a huge mistake not to. In SU - Window/preferences/open GL, you should have hardware acceleration checked. If you don't, SU will be painfully slow.
I don't do any work in 2D anymore except for producing 2d documents. I design everything in 3d from the start. I really enjoy this method more than creating a 2d concept. My first step on any project is to model the site in 3d with all info projected on the 3d mesh - setbacks, easments, property lines, trees physically located etc. I then start modeling the home and immediately reference the home to the site. This way I always have a very clear understanding of the home design's relationship to site topography, features and boundary limitations.
It also helps me keep in check, height limitations. With the existing site modeled I also project a copy of the ground plane within the setback to the required height for the development - typically 28-35 feet. I save that geometry on a layer that I can toggle on and off while the massing of the home develops.
I've simply found this flow method works wonderful for me. It took me a while to break from looking at a home in 2 dimensions, but once I did, it was remarkable how quickly I could develop a design.
It is still winter!
Skied yesterday in 20" of powder.......Too fun! Now working Saturday to make up the day.
If you are using SU as your plan reference and your doors are components, LO will recognize the CP. I dimension all my windows and doors to the CP and it works great. Your effort will be further simplified if you draw a threshold / sill.
Welcome Barry! Layout definitely has its quirks currently. However, over time I have completely adapted. It is so much faster for me to create a full set of CD's than I could with ACAD. The use of the single 3d model also relieves so much stress about coordination. As for the section and plan linework I use, yes you do need to update that information in the model. That is generally a task that only takes minutes.
I recently got my structural engineer addicted to the process. So far it is really impressive. I'll post some images of our first project that is getting submitted to the building department this April. It is a good sized home - 5,100 sf and every drawing in the set will be a product of SU and LO.
Don't use "Hide". Use layer control. Just setup layers for things you want to see or hide. Then set the layer control within each scene. The individual scenes in SU will remember the layer routine so you don't have to.