DavidJPotter

A lot of people who do a lot of renders also use Photoshop or the like to adjust their images, such fine adjustments are easier to make in such applications. DJP

With PBR there are NO specific settings that "fit all occasions", period. Each scene may or may not have a backdrop that effects lighting effects in the scene. Certain material combinations can affect how reflected light appears on other objects. The first thing I usually adjust is the lighting intensity and adjust sunlight direction and intensity until I get just the look I intend. As I said, certain colors in backdrops and room materials can adversely affect outcomes. You just have to confront what you are looking at and then make adjustments until you obtain the outcome you desire, it is an Art and NOT a Science. DJP

Check this video out, please DJP

You can also go to the Acme Brick site where they have an app to create Brick textures from their catalog in various patterns, the Boral Brick and stone company also has such an app online. Between the two there are hundreds and hundreds of potential choices to create, download, and install in HD software as "custom Materials'. DJP

All of these libraries contain stone and brick selections and they are all FREE: Click here DJP

All objects in the software have Dialog Boxes. Check the terrain feature dialog box for height and depth settings to see if that helps you at all. DJP

"Silly" outcomes come from uninformed (guessing) settings. The key to this software is through careful study followed by practice or looking to find out without guessing. Competence comes from YOUR knowledge of the software tool you are using/guiding to a product. https://youtu.be/5kFCWT37R7M Link to a YouTube Video PLEASE COPY-PASTE THIS LINK INTO A BROWSER ADDRESS WINDOW TO VIEW DJP

Dimension tools in Home Designer Pro and in Chief Premier are identical. See Eric's post above as your solution. DJP

I have never in thirty years of drafting and design ever heard that term used, can you also show a photo of one please? DJP

DJP PS: the only reason floor input box would be "grayed out" would be if you were not currently on the first floor (second-third or foundation)

Terrain was added as a feature back in the 90's and has since been treated as an "add on", so what you do is manually set the Garage's floor 34 inches below the "Zero Inches" of the house and then modulate the terrain to itself as a unified object and using the "Building Pad" input box of the "Terrain Specification Dialog" to align the terrain to the structures. DJP

If you used "Elevation Points" I would consider that is the problem. I always use Elevation lines, splines, flat regions to emulate terrain. Where elevation abruptly changes one used a "Terrain Break" object. The reason I never use points is that they alter the terrain concentrically from the center of the point outward (terrain is rarely like that). DJP

I assume you are speaking of "Marquee Select", if you are, there are three "Modes" it can be set to use found in Edit - Preferences - Edit - Marquee Selection", I recommend you try each one and see which behavior you prefer, I often change the mode depending upon what I am doing. DJP

Help articles about dimension tools at the Home Designer Website. DJP

In photo one, the openings in the porch wall are just doorways manually located. In photo two the eyebrows are merely manual roof planes supported, manually with corbels from the Library Browser. The parapet railings can be manually set to whatever height you wish and in this case I would not use roof planes but rather make the (no ceiling areas) Balcony's. What you are asking for is over an hours work for someone who has spent the time to learn how to manipulate the software to a specific result. It is done by following procedures, dialog box and Default Settings and a bit of knowledge about creating manual roof planes. Take it a piece at a time, learn the tools necessary to create that piece and then move on the next piece or segment of the plan until finished. No one can merely guess their way to a product, it requires study and practice to then gain knowledge and competence. DJP

Open the "Build Roof" dialog and then click on the "Roof Styles" tab and then click on the "Shed Roof" tutorial and then carefully study it please. DJP

DJP

DJP

See attached image to further illuminate Eric's post please DJP

Thank you for sharing your plan, I took a look to see what you are speaking of. 1.The first thing to understand about framing and trusses in Home Designer software is that, especially about trusses they are pre-programmed to file the void between the top of the ceiling and the bottom of roof planes so they just fill the void that YOU create in a model. 2. The software is not a substitute for a State licensed Structural Engineer who is the ONLY person who is allowed by law in all 50 States to design and adjudicate their design. 3. So any trusses you create using a software program are at best purely conceptual. DJP

Doors a basically symbols and are rather fixed except relative to their dimensions. You cannot change a symbol in this software other than its dimensions and location. In order to do was you wish you must find a door symbol that looks as close as possible to your actual intended door. In terms of construction plans, they are a conceptual guide to other building professionals as to the desires and intended outcome of a project. Commonly one specifies or goes and buys such things as doors, windows, fixtures, appliances, light fixtures and then makes them available to contractors/sub-contractors to install them. Therefore it is not necessary to make the plans a perfect duplicate down to nine decimals of the plans to actual project. The sizes and locations are important in terms of the plans, the exact type or appearance is not. Anyone strives to make perfect, I am just saying that the plans do not dictate in detail a project, rather the client paying for it does. DJP

Please read, found under the "Help" menu: "Read Users Guide". Then Watch/read some of these Help Resources to get better oriented to how to use the software properly. It is not recommended that one guess what the commands, dialog boxes, check boxes are for and what they mean and when and when not to use them. I recommend that you study and find out how to use your software before using it. DJP

One more time... DJP

You went WAY overboard with the "Emissive" property setting on several materials.that is what is causing the weird, distorted camera views you are getting. The software is only doing WHAT YOU TOLD IT TO DO!!! DJP

Build - Build Roof Specification Dialog - Structure Tab - various categories to get what you want. And in Pro you can open and manually edit roof planes as you wish. DJP