Fluted stock, board & batten siding, edge & center bead wainscoting!

This is all done in SoftPlan!

Click on image for larger view

Create a profile (or import one)

Explode (CTRL+C) so it is all lines, arcs, etc..

Go to Edit > Form Solid Polygon
click on all lines, etc.
When done, right click in middle of object
Give object height
Export as .dxf or.dwg give object a name


Go to System Options > Symbol Library > Symbols
Add object (symbol) to existing Library or Add Library
Click on Wizard button
Import newly created 3D Symbol
Put in Library of Choice (may need to create one)
Orient new symbol by following the prompts
Apply dimensions, colors, textures
Apply cuts countertop, slopes to ceiling etc...
save
Let it create 2D plan symbol for you

Done.

Window Stools and Aprons !

Ever wonder how to get window stools and aprons to show in 3D renderings ?
Use the Draw > Countertop Tool !

Drawing Mode

In plan view draw a wall and place a window if you have not done so already.

Stool or Stool Cap - Draw > Cabinet > Plan View > Countertop  or
click on the cabinet icon and select draw countertop.

Drawing Mode

Draw your apron (countertop) to the depth (bottom to top in plan view) as to what you want it to look like
EX: You want to show a 3" deep (not thick) stool cap.
Edit the Apron (countertop) set the thickness (height) to say 3/4"
Edit the window and note the bottom offset (height above floor)
Use that number, deduct (subtract) the stool cap thickness (3/4") in our case from the window bottom offset number.
Ex: bottom of window is 36" above the floor.  36 - 3/4" = 35-1/4"
Set stool to 35-1/4"
Go to Common tab of stool, and enter that number
Right click on left edge of stool cap.
Click on Edit Edge
Near the bottom of the popup window you will see Nosing with Profile Library and Profile Name
Click on Profile Library and select a profile for the edge of your stool cap.
Click OK
Repeat for front and right edges
Build your Model (Assemble Floors)
3Dimension choose render mode
I use textured
Give stool cap color / texture
Enjoy the view

Note:
Same principal applies for aprons.
Change thickness of apron to width of stock.
Ex: if you are using 3-1/2" casing set thickness to 3-1/2"
Remember to offset the apron so it lines up vertically correct

taoist

Canted Walls Tip ! Use profile in wall definition.

Think light house where the walls tilt inward to form a cone shape if you will.

In the wall definition table at the far right is the Profile column.
This is where you select the profile (you may need to create a profile) to have walls other than vertical.

For outside taper walls (from ground to top of wall) have profile base at bottom and slope (angle) at the right side.

Think of a right triangle with the 90 degree angle at the lower left and the vertical line on the left running up (vertical).

To get profile to show for the entire height of the wall, you must make the profile height 1.5 times the height of the wall.

Ex: You have a 2x4 wall 8' tall.  You want to show a canted / sloped wall with a 12" base tapered to 0 at the top.
Create your profile with a 12' tall vertical line a 12" long horizontal line at 90 degrees to the base (bottom) of the 12' vertical line and then a line for the right side of the 12" base line connecting to the top of the 12' vertical line.
Think of a gable end split into 2 vertical right triangles. The split line represents the vertical edge of both the left and right triangles.  You want your profile to be the right side triangle.

Have fun,

taoist

Beginners Tip !

Use Divide Segments (Misc) when placing posts, piers, etc.. Make sure to have Snap (F11 key) on

Beginners SoftPlan Beam Tip !

When drawing beams, remember where you want them placed vertically. In Drawing Mode, the top of the beam is flush with top of the wall. In Floor System Mode, the bottom of the beam sits on top of (flush) with the next lowest level wall. This will reduce the amount of adjusting and calculating the offsets (vertically up or down) for the beams

SoftPlan Tip !

Nudge Feature. Put cursor over item to move. Press Home key. Use arrow keys to move in 1/8" increments

SoftPlan Tip! Link Floors

If you have a plan with two floors, and you need to move stairs or such and it will alter the other floor, or the other floor needs to be in sync, link the (2) floors together before moving. Make sure both plans are in the Model section of the Navigation Window. Click Move or Move Block. On Status Bar, Click Link Floors Button, proceed to move the items.

Pen Weight Tip! You can have multiple pen weight setups. You can save setups by job, by printer. Load them as you see fit. Here is where you make your changes. Notice the save and load tabs.

2012 Tip! Horizontal Lighting

2012! Lighting Tip Use Horizontal lighting to illuminate you ceilings. Make the pattern to cover the walls outside the room. Set Z to 1". Otherwise you end with a show cast line. Try using 45 degree angle, distance of 10' and brightness of 10 to start with. Set direction to up. Of course you have the color choices as well.

Beginners Tip! Box Tool.

Beginners Tip! Box tool (rectangle, square) edges can't be edited. That is, no deflection (curve) inward or outward. Use line or polygon tool instead. If you want to curve the corners, use curve fillet tool. Chamfer corners, use chamfer tool. You will find that these are very useful tools and can be used in ways you have not thought of yet. Hint! Not just limited to lines or shapes.

Beginners Tip! Set plan parameters first.

Beginners Tip! Define your Floor, Roof parameters 1st before drawing. Yes, you can edit them, but takes a lot of unneeded work because of improper setup or planning. Look at it this way. Would you rather have your ducks all lined up (plan in place, all parameters set) or fly by the seat of your pants. I for one, prefer to have a plan. Speed is not everything, efficiency is. Be organized.

Tip! Layers & Line Weights

When you create a cross section on SoftPlan the program (since version 14) creates these layers. I do not know about version 13 as I never had that version.  Create a cross section then save it. Hold mouse over Info at bottom of this window and it will tell you what layer this particular line/item is on. Go to Options>Layer Setup. Scroll down the list and you will find your layer. These "extra" layers are added by SoftPlan. You will never know they are there if you do not scroll through the list. Not all lines/items are in a different layer. You can verify this by right clicking on the items yourself in your cross sections.

Beginners Tip! Line Weights.

Beginners Tip! Line Weights. Go to System Options>Pen Setup>Configure Print Pens. You will notice 16 pens available. I use Remodeler's Wall definitions. I have existing set up as Yellow on screen, prints black. Red on screen for demo walls and print. Blue on screen and print for new walls. Also notice under Pen Setup, Group Pen...s and Item Group: This area controls a lot of the Pen Weights for what we draw. I suggest printing out the current pen weights. Change the weights as you see fit in configure print pens. The higher the number, the thicker the line. Experiment with the pen weights to suite your taste. Make sure under Options > Visible Items you check show print pen style. This way you can see the results of your line weight choices.