DavidJPotter

Depends on two things: 1. What software title and version are you using and 2. What exactly do you mean by "on" (visibly on in camera views or in plan view)? Light sources can be turned on or off by way of their dialog box per symbol. Whether or not they show as "on" in camera views is controlled by two things: 1. the dialog box of the light symbol and also your video card (for Standard Renders a visual computer language called "Open GL" is used to determine a maximum of eight light sources per camera view and those 8 need to be in the field of view of the camera to be computed in the camera view. DJP

Call Sales or Tech Support for the real experts on Home Designer and Chief Architect. DJP

What PDF application (printer) are you using? I always get high-resolution copies using either "the provided "Save as PDF" or "Cute PDF", been using those for years with no problems at all, ever. DJP

Your posted image is ray traced (X9 only) to get the image clarity, as Eric said, Home Designer can do everything in your example except the high resolution, ray-traced imagey. DJP

I think this answers your question as to floor plan appearance, Using custom slabs for posts will display better in plan view than soffits. DJP

In terms of plan view, solid objects like soffits tend to resist moving into the plan view space of another "solid" object like a wall. In order to overcome this preprogrammed behavior, you simply depress the "Control Key" on your keyboard (CTRL Key) to override this behavior to then drag the soffit into the orientation you desire. In order to have a floor plan visual of the post you can use a 2D, square, poly-line to show where the soffit is in plan view or do what I prefer is to use a custom slab, reshaped to the dimensions of your intended post. 2D objects converted to 3D objects do not "bump" into other solid objects and they show up better in plan view. DJP

The riches you have at your finger-tips! DJP

No one can help you with certainty unless you share with us, what software application you are using. Home Designer has half a dozen different titles; each has differing abilities relative to roof design. The first place to look is in the "Build Roof Dialog - Roof Styles Tab" where how to auto-generate each common roof type is described. DJP

Get out your users manual for your printer and carefully read it, making sure it is properly set up with special attention to the Trouble Shooting section. You might also consider calling their Tech Support for help. DJP

A common use for Sketch Up made symbols is sharing them with others, here and at 3D Warehouse. I am sure there are disclaimers posted at 3D Warehouse (you can look and see) but to me, "Free" means FREE. DJP

This should help you get started. DJP

Such .skp (Sketch Up) files can only be opened and edited in Sketch Up, not in Chief Architect or Home Designer. Sketch Up basic is free and not hard to learn how to use, it is more a matter of "how bad do you want to do what you desire?" DJP

I think Tech Support is your best bet for finding out "why" this occurred, all I did was find a workaround. New users often guess too much and get settings and defaults wrongly set making it hard to figure out, after the fact, exactly what is "wrong". In any case, I hope this helps in some way. DJP

I can help you, just send me your notes and some idea of how you want the plans organized and laid out. Or even better let's do them live, online together. I am available after 5 PM Central tomorrow or anytime on Friday, 9 AM to 7 PM Central. DJP

Tech Support is who you should talk to. DJP

To raise a roof plane manually can be done in two ways: One: in an elevation, camera measure the distance that shows how too low the roof plane is and then use that figure to raise the roof plane manually using the "Transform-Replicate" tool to raise the selected roof plane by the measured figure. You place the amount you wish to raise or lower the roof plane in the "Move" input box for the "Z" axis and then click "OK" to raise the selected roof plane. or 2: You can open the roof plane specification dialog, lock the roof pitch input (so the roof pitch is not changed) and then add your measured value to raise the roof plan to the "Base Line Height" input box value. Both methods work. DJP

As long as you are not interested in ""Shed-line" flat roofs, you can set the pitch indicator to a low value, like 1/16" in 12" and get flat roofs that look flat but actually slant towards the eaves a little for drainage. DJP

All objects in this software are on a named layer in "Display Options" for plan view. You can choose to merely turn them off or as Eric said you can move them visually to another floor. DJP

The auto-stairwell tool only works IF there is already a second or upper floor in which to create a stairwell. Only then will it appear as a choice in the "Edit Toolbar". DJP

There are two libraries available here: https://3dlibrary.chiefarchitect.com/index.php?r=site/library&search=&x=0&y=0&x=true&soft_family_2=2&hid_soft_family_2=2& , take a look. you can also browse/search at 3D Warehouse for such objects made in Sketch Up for import into Home Designer, these things are mostly for Home Designer Pro; what do you have? DJP

In Suite, you will have to improvise with a half wall on the bottom and a soffit reshaped to look like glass ( assign Glass as a material). Soffits are to be found under "Cabinet Tools". DJP

Yes, I do it with my HD Pro clients all the time. Once opened in Chief X9 you merely mark it, in X9 to "Be editable in Home Designer" and that way the person can still view and edit using Home Designer Pro 2018 thereafter. In terms of "converting," there is NOTHING to do as they are, by default compatible. This is NOT true for older versions of HD, what is true is that X9 and 2018 are a pair, X8 and 2017 are a pare and x7 and 2016, and so on back to X1 DJP

Thank you but the above images do not, by themselves answer my clarifying question. The image showing the tile pattern is a Standard Render image created using the Standard Render Elevation camera tool. The Second image that does not show the pattern is a Standard Render Isometric camera tool image. In this sort of render, it is possible for "Patterns, 3D" to be turned "Off" in that camera's "Display Options". Each Material is defined differently for Vector View Camera tools (just lines, patterns, and color) and Standard Camera Views (that display textures across 3D surfaces). There is also a layer called "Patterns, 3D" in all Camera Type "Display Options", any of these settings can affect a render outcome, check for that. DJP

You take your existing model and build a blank second floor which leaves the roof intact bearing on the first floor walls. then manually draw in your loft walls under the first floor roof. DJP

That is what the "Add New" button is for in the floor dialog/Moldings shown in your posted image. DJP