Creating Images

Select Build> Image to view the Image Tools, which allow you to use 2D images representing real world objects to enhance your 3D views.

Images have the advantage of making 3D views and renderings more realistic without adding many surfaces to the model. For example, a realistic tree image can be used instead of a tree symbol with thousands of surfaces, dramatically improving realism without compromising drawing time.

An image is not the same as a picture file. See "Picture Files vs. Pictures and Image Objects". Images are associated with a CAD block for floor plan view and have width and height data assigned to them.

Images

rotate so that they always face the camera in 3D views.

Billboard Images

do not rotate to face the camera. An example of when this may be useful is an image of a trellis, which might look awkward when facing a camera from a side view.

To create an image in floor plan view

In floor plan view, select Build> Image> Create Image

or Billboard Image

to open the Image Specification dialog. See "Image Specification Dialog".

On the Image tab:

Click the Browse button to browse to a picture file on your computer or enter the path to a valid picture file in the Image File field.

Select a CAD block to represent the image in floor plan view. Choose a 2D Plan Symbol from the list or click the Library button and select a CAD block from the library. See "CAD Blocks".

Enter Height and/or Width and Location information.

Enter transparency information and layer information on the Transparency tab.

Click OK to close the Image Specification dialog.

Click to place the new image in floor plan view.

To create an image in the Library Browser

From the Library Browser, select an unlocked library, folder, subfolder, or image.

Right-click with the mouse and select New> Image to open the Image Specification dialog. See "Image Specification Dialog".

Once created, the image is listed in the Library Browser where you right-clicked. Size and other data is saved.

Using Paste Image

You can also import an image by first copying it to the Windows Clipboard, then navigating to a Chief Architect window and selecting Edit> Paste> Paste from the menu, or by using the Screen Capture tools. See "Paste" and "Creating Screen Captures".

Converting a Folder of Images

A folder of images can be converted into image objects all at once, saving the effort of converting them individually.

To convert a folder of images:

Select Build> Image> Create Image Library

Select a folder of images to convert in the Browse For Folder dialog and click OK.

When all of the images in the folder are converted, a new library of the same name and directory structure as the converted folder is listed in the Library Browser.