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Hi Wojciech My setup has Mozilla ver. 1.2.1 running on Win2000Pro I'll upgrade my browser to the latest version and see if I have the same problem. Sorry to hear you're having problems. I'm generally very happy with the Mozilla browser and am keen to see more using it. David

Hi Wojciech I use the Mozilla browser and have had no problems viewing the CGArchitect site, uploading images or accessing 'Live Chat'. The problem probably lies with your firewall and not the browser. David

Got me thinking For example, a time in the morning where I live(Calgary) would be after lunch in London and after supper in australia. That would allow most of the people in the world to get on CGArchitectChat at the same time while the Pacific Ocean is covered in darkness. Other times would optimize the opportunities for Europe/Asia/Australia and North-South America/Europe during working hours. Australia/North America/Asia doesn't share working hours unfortunately David

Hi Richard I have had similar experiences although I have bumped into nisus and mike zagorski who have been very helpful. I know other people who visit CGArchitectChat and some agree ahead of time on a time to meet. My sense is that CGArchitectChat doesn't work well on a 'drop-in' basis. I would suggest that CGArchitect have a member poll to establish what would be the best 3-4 times in a day when people could log on using GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) as the basis given that we work around the globe and around the clock. Getting on CGArchitectChat on my lunch-hour may allow me to connect to 2-3 time zones in North America / South America as well as those in Europe who will have had their supper. Your morning may be my 'after supper'. From a professional point of view I would prefer that CGArchitectChat work well during the week when I'm working and may have questions as opposed to the weekend. Based on this survey,CGA could post 3-4 'best' times in the day on the understanding that people would start using CGArchitectChat on a more regular basis knowing that others might be there. What are other's doing on CGArchitectChat? David

Tim Check a previous WIP thread called 'rendering rain effects'. A number of people offered up some good sources of info for work in this area David

I had problems with VIZ4 crashing. I had a number of other autocad programs installed on my machine including autocad, cadoverlay, land development desktop and map. I'm running these on a dual xeon Dell. I discovered that autocad recommends installing autocad software in a particular order if you're installing a number of ACAD programs. VIZ for instance wants to be installed BEFORE your other ACAD programs. Check that each install works before installing the next. Check with autocad or your reseller (they gave me a list with an install order for my particular combination of software). I haven't had a crash since David

Miki I vote for keeping the power lines as it adds to the sense of 'reality' that the second image has. I don't think it needs to be strongly featured but could be moved a bit in the second image to be more understandable as to what it is. The window mullion hides too much of it. You may want to 'grey' out the background image and add a bit of blue to have it appear more atmospheric and in the distance. I'd lower the reflectance in the floor a bit too. Window coverings in the form of drapes, louvered shutters or slatted blinds (horizontal or vertical) would complete the 'lived in' look your going for Great start David

From a functional point of view, the information desk to the right would normally have a higher level of illumination associated with it either through ceiling spots or task lighting etc. It's too dark and flat right now. That area of the image needs some additional light as well as maybe some reflectance off the counter top and some 'sparkle' to balance the detail and light in the far window. Some object(s) with some detail on the counter might also help. David

Greg Every once in a while you see a piece of information go by that is soooo helpful that you know you have to 'print it out and stick it on the wall' beside your computer. This is one of those!!!! :angecool: From those of us that aren't real good at optimizing our machines...thanks. David

Eric If you're working with a set of ACAD drawings that others are having input into..or where your office has a set of layer standards, you may not be able to modify layer names in the original drawings..... That said, there's got to be a better way to get VIZ to see a layer or object that's been inadvertantly deleted than file linking in another version of the same drawing with the deleted layer reconnected! David

Eric I've had this problem too and I've used the following approach to get the deleted object and its associated layer back into the drawing without wrecking everything else. I haven't been able to get the deleted object back into the 3DS scene with a simple reloading of the original dwg file. VIZ doesn't see that layer any more. What I've done in the past is to link another version of the original drawing...WITH ALL OF THE LAYERS TURNED OFF EXCEPT THE ONE YOU WANT TO RELOAD You'll now have two linked drawings to manage. When the deleted layer comes back in you will have to reapply its material settings but the remainder of the material settings will remain as they were. It's not pretty ..... and there's got to be a better way to recover from inadvertantly deleting an object or layer in VIZ and I'd like to learn what it is. Let me know if this works in the meantime. David

Gareth Being an 'old guy' I've done all of the 'traditional architectural' stuff from walking the site and sketching in the field to drawing with set squares. The advantages of digital media are incredible, but the insights that come from seeing and experiencing our environment first-hand cannot be overestimated. The old skills of forcing yourself to 'draw' on site actually makes you 'see' the environment in a different light. I worry about a whole generation of architects who only want to work in a digital environment and don't want to experience the smells, sounds, lights and activity of a real sight or building. In the end, their 'art' reflects that experience (or lack of it) David

Hi Mike The autocad is version 14. I worked on that project a few years ago with a number of other people. The model was drawn automatically from a database of 3D survey info using lisp. The lisp code is pretty much broke now with newer versions of ACAD but if you like this kind of stuff I can put you in touch with the guy who developed the LISP routines...we're talking about a HUGE amount of coding and configuration.....not for the faint of heart David

Gareth Ya that's me in Red Deer. Didn't know the client had this site up. I'd better talk to them and get some better models up...the stuff there is pretty old. We've actually modelled a lot of the mainstreet environment and will be doing more this summer Thanks for the other site link David

Thanks Ingo I'll do some more homework. Sounds like I'd have to 'bite the bullet' and throw away my mouse which has become a natural reflex for me. Anyone successfully using the Wacom tablet and pen with ACAD and 3DS? David