Creating your own symbols in CET Designer or Non supported Symbols

I promised you I'd show more cool uses for the CET Designer Edit Graphics extension. Here is the second one.

Have you ever wanted to put something in your drawing that isn't supported by SmartTools, Canvas, or ProjectSymbols? I've come up with a method to create your own symbol by using ProjectSymbols and Edit Graphics.

You will need a couple things to do this procedure.

• First you need to find a good 3D symbol either in AutoCAD or SketchUp.

• Second you need to have a manufacturer other than Steelcase or Haworth installed in ProjectSymbols.

After that you are ready to go!

Here are the basic steps.  Watch the video to get the details.

1. Import the AutoCAD or SketchUp symbol.
2. Place a ProjectSpec Symbol that is about the same size as the one you are creating.
3. Use Edit Graphics Replace Symbol to switch the PS Symbol to the new symbol.
4. Use the Query command, Make Special to edit all the part info.
5. Change the Install Text.

I also show you how to change the colors on the symbol.  :)

Let me know if this is helpful.

Thank you and have a great day!

Cate

Another quick CET Designer rendering tip

Sometimes new features are slipped in and we don't notice them or we don't really know what they are useful for.  I've found another one that Configura added to CET Designer that I think you will like.

It's the Camera Angle Step function and it helps you get the same angle on a rendering every time.  Or you can do a birds eye view of a plan. Have a client that just isn't getting the plan view?  Render it from above to help them understand.

Rendered from above

Front view; I used a clipping plane to show the inside of the workstation.

Rendered in elevation

How to use it:

As always have fun.  Let me know if you want to see something special here.

Hope you aren't snowed in.  :)

Cate

New CET 3.2 rendering technique

No longer need the "white room" to render!

It's been a while since I posted and a lot has happened. I'll get to that later. But for now, my friends, the best new thing in CET 3.2 is a little check box called Emissive background.  What that means is there is a nice white ambient light that is shining all around our layout that we can use with the Natural Light render mode.  So, no more need for the white room to get a nice natural light effect.
Here is an example:

I've made a short video to get you started.

As always, I appreciate your feedback and comments. Enjoy!!

Cate

Ghost Panels

Rendering in CET Designer is a hot topic for me these days.  A lot of my time in training is spent on it and I've been showing some of my students this nifty way to create Ghost Panels.  It's very similar to the process you use for the SketchUp look but with a twist. 

Here is the result:

I created a short video with the steps if you'd like to watch it.

Hope this works for you.

Cate

Announcing In-Depth, Topic Focused, Webinar Series

Get in-depth education in two 2-hour one topic training, specifically geared for your users.  The webinars are hands on; you sit comfortably at your own computer with CET running as I demonstrate, watch, and guide you as you learn. The first session ends with a homework assignment to reinforce the topics covered. 
Part of the second session is a Q&A discussion about best practices.

Cost:

Each course is $250 per person. Class is limited to 6 participants.

Dates:

CET Rendering:

• September 17 & 18, 2012, 11:00 to 1:00 EST
• September 19 & 20, 2012, 2:00 to 4:00 EST

CET ProjectSymbols In Depth:

• September 19 & 20, 2012 11:00 to 1:00 EST

CET Edit Graphics and Specials:

• September 17 & 18, 2012, 2:00 to 4:00 EST

Sign up now:

Sign up at www.catesword.com or email me at cate@catesword.com for more information. More classes will be added as needed, check the web site for more times and dates.

Course Outlines

CET Rendering Class

Session 1 Topics:

• Basic rendering tips – angle, composition, depth
• Capture Image
• Lighting – simple, multiple sun, grid, ceiling tile
• PhotoLab setting
• Photo Series
• Paperview
• Output

Session 2 Topics

• Environment
• Materials
• SketchUp
• Special effects

CET ProjectSymbols in depth

Session 1 Topics:

• Placement, rotation
• Layers
• Resolution
• Block replace
• Specification

Session 2 Topics

• Standard options

• Specials
• Non supported Catalogs
• Converting drawing

CET Edit Graphics and Specials

Session 1 Topics:

• Replace Graphic
• Simple modifications
• Advanced modifications

Session 2 Topics:

• Review Advance modifications

A CET Dimension Tip

Wow, where has the time gone! So much for giving you tips every month!  I'll try harder, but for now I have another tip for the CET Designer users.


For many of you as you start using the software for installation drawings you find that you don't have the control over the dimensioning you'd like.  Sure, now we can set a preset size and change them all globally but we are still missing the true ability to link them to specific "layers" or as they are called in CET Visibility Categories. I know it is coming but until CET has it solved I have a work around.


I had a client ask me the other day if she could have dimensions for a panel plan and then other dimensions for components.  The answer is not really.  But I found a way she could do it.  I'll share it with you.

• First you rename one of the Part Tagging Tags to Panel Dimensions and the other to Component Dimensions (you don't really HAVE to do this but it gets confusing if you don't).

• Then right click on the dimension and pick Visibility and Categorization.

• In the Categorization tab check either Panel Dimensions or Component Dimensions.

• When you set up your PaperView Viewports just make sure that you don't have Normal View selected and then go to the Part Tagging and check the dimensions you want to print.

There you go.  I suspect there are more uses for this tip, let me know if you find other ways to use it.

Also, don't forget to order your renewal before August 1.  If you plan on renewing in the future do it now before the rates go up!!

Enjoy the rest of the summer!

Cate

CET Materials

I am always looking for resources for great materials to use in rendering.  Configura has a nice zip file on their web site that you can download. It's on the documentation page. But there isn't quite enough choices.

Another resource I found was on my own hard drive! AutoCAD installed a huge library of wonderful materials.  I found it in the C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Autodesk Shared\Materials2011\assetlibrary_base.fbm\2\Mats directory.  Some of the files are Bump files which give AutoCAD the texture information, others are Mask files that AutoCAD uses for creating holes in the material (think of chain link fence).  You probably won't use those type of files. However, if you look through the directory you will find some nice stone and brick patterns.

Here is a screen capture of the directory:

Hope you are able to use these materials.

Cheers!
Cate

New Configura CET Tip

Hello friends,
I haven't had much to share lately but today I want to tell you about a CET trick I discovered when I was testing.

Updating multiple alternatives at the same time

Lots of people ask me if they can make changes to all their alternative at once and I have always said no.  But I found a work around using Blocks.

See, a block is the same in all your alternatives, so if you make a block of your architecture you can update it in one and all the other alternative will also update.

Here are the steps:

1. Draw your room in one of your alternatives.
2. Select the whole room and right click to pick Make Block.
3. Leave the Block dialog open and switch to another Alternative.
4. Place the Block.

When you change the Block in any alternative they all will change.

You can do this with other things that are the same in all the alternatives as well, like accessories or even the workstations.

Hope this is something you can use!

Have a great day,

Cate 

Specials - blech

Specials seem to be the thorn in designers sides when they are doing projects.  How do you handle them?  There are lots of ways: add them to the spec, put a dummy symbol in the drawing, create the symbol in SketchUp, stretch it in AutoCAD, draw it from scratch, etc. Then you have to add intelligence to the symbol and each software has it's strengths and it's issues for doing that.

Some good news:
I've heard that CAP is coming out with some new tools for specials that will give you the ability to include specials in Visual Impressions.  VI is a great new tool but only for standard product, so adding that functionality will really help.  I haven't seen it yet - but as soon as I do I'll share it with you!

Other good news:
CET is updating the Editables extension to make it more user friendly. I like Editables, however, it has a lot of steps and buttons. CET has been getting feedback from users and incorporating them into the tool. Also, haven't seen it but I will this week at the CET User's Conference in Vegas.  I'll let you know what I find out.


By the way, let me know if there is a topic you'd like to hear about.  I'm happy to share what I know.

Have an excellent day,
Cate

Hardware. Finding the perfect little black dress.

I get the hardware question a lot.  What do I recommend? What do I have? What do I like?  It's a toughie.


First off, let me say I am not a hardware expert.  I ask a lot of questions from people I trust and do the best I can.  This is my take on that info.

It's a lot like getting a little black dress for a big event.

You could spend $500 at a boutique or find one on sale at a department store for $20.  The dress from the boutique may be a classic and you could wear it for years. I have a few of those - I gained weight and can't wear them, but also can't just donate or sell them at a garage sale because I spent so much on them.  So they take up space in my closet waiting for me to lose weight.  The dress from the department store may be cute at first but sometimes the cheap dresses don't last - sometimes they do - but often enough they lose their shape or fall apart. Sometimes it's a great deal, sometimes not.

So what we do is find the dress that we can afford but that we know will last and will be good for a long time. We find that comprise. 


The same thing with computers.  We need to find the one that is the best we can afford and that will last.  


Here are some factors to consider:

• Your IT department - Do you have one? Do they really know what you do?  Are they responsive when you need help?
  If you have a great IT department you can trust them to get you what is best for you and what they like.  Make sure they know how your software works, that having a laptop designed for gaming doesn't mean you are a gamer.  If you don't have the best IT support you may need to stick to your guns about the hardware.  I have heard many designers tell me that the IT person didn't believe them when they said they needed a good graphic card and got a cheapie and the designers are paying for it with crashes and slow machines.  If you are your IT department then support from the manufacturer is going to be very important.
• Laptop vs Desktop - Are you going to work from home/clients/Starbucks?
  A desktop computer can be upgraded and can have more power for less money.  However, with the graphical nature of our programs and the work anywhere attitude people have a laptop is much more practical, even a large heavy laptop is better than a desktop and a monitor if you want to work from home or do a quick presentation at the clients.
• The brand of the other computers in your office.
  If your office has a contract with Dell you may get better pricing.  Or your IT person may have a good working relationship with someone. 

What do you need? 

The most important issue when getting a computer for designers today is getting the best graphic card you can afford.  My experience is get a Nvidia GeForce Graphics Card but there are lots of them so here is a chart to figure out if the one you are getting is as good as you can afford. 

The second most important is the hard drive, then getting plenty of ram to support that awesome graphic card.

What Brand

Just like dresses we all have our favorite brands.  I can't wear Ann Taylor because I'm just not thin enough but I know there are people out there that love her.

I don't have a favorite brand right now. It used to be Alienware when they were a boutique shop and they are still fine but then Dell  bought them and if I'm going to buy a Dell - I'll just buy a Dell.  Which I think is a good computer.

I wouldn't get an HP.  Rumor has it they are getting out of the hardware business and my experience has been a bit like getting the dress form the department store. Sometimes they are solid other times not so much.

I like Lenovo ThinkPad and the Thinkstation  but they are on the higher end of the price scale. You do get what you pay for and I have some clients that have them and are very happy.

Mac are right out.  Our software doesn't really run on them.  Oh well.

This is what I have right now:

Malibal P150H Lotus P150HM

  Display: 15.6" 1920 x 1080 FHD LED Backlit Glossy Display
  Processor: Intel® Core™ i7-2920XM, Extreme 8MB L3 Cache, 2.50-3.50GHz
  Memory: (12GB) 12288MB, PC3-10660/1333MHz DDR3 - 3 SO-DIMM
  Graphics Card: NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 485M 2GB GDDR5
  Hard Drive: 160GB Intel® X25-M SATA II 3Gb/s SSD2 Drive

I got this laptop in June and I haven't been happy with it because I think I got a lemon.  My friend Jason at Configura loves Malibal and has over 20.  I have heard others say the same thing.  However, my experience with their customer service was bad.  They were unprofessional and unresponsive to my problem - blaming me for my hard drive crash.  I would only recommend them if you have an extremely good IT person.

Keep in mind, all of this could change in a minute because there is always something new. You are also going to want to get a new one in a couple years to keep up with all the new software that is going to come out!  Trust me, it won't stop.  I buy a new computer every 18 months - but that's pretty much my only business expense so you  may want to budget for every 2 to 3 years.

So, have I answered the question?  No, but I hope you can make a more informed decision now.

Good Luck!

Cate