Page 1190 - Chief Architect Reference Manual

Importing 3D Symbols

If a face is drawn clockwise, the surface
normals are directed outward; if a face is
drawn counter-clockwise, the surface
normals point inward. Chief Architect
assumes that the face on the positive side of
the normal vector is the outside face.

Many objects can be drawn using only one
side of each face. A cube is a good example:
A surface normal is a vector that is the inside of a cube is not visible, so it is not
perpendicular to the plane of a surface. This necessary to create its inside faces. When
vector points in one direction, determined by inside faces are not calculated, 3D views in
the way the face is drawn.
Chief Architect can generate more quickly.

Importing 3D Symbols

Chief Architect supports the import of Symbol dialog can also be saved in the
3D surface and 3D solid objects saved library. See “The Library” on page 921.
in .dwg, .dxf, .3ds, .obj, .stl, .dae, and .skp
formats. To drag and drop a 3D symbol file
For most file types, there are three ways to 1. Open the plan in which you would like
import a 3D symbol into Chief Architect: to import a 3D symbol and remain in
• By selecting File> Import> Import 3D floor plan view.
2. Open an operating system window in
Symbol tool.
front of the Chief Architect program
• By selecting New> 3D Symbol from window.
the contextual menu in the Library 3. Resize and position the window so that
Browser. See “Using the Contextual the Chief Architect program window can
Menus” on page 924. be seen behind it.
• By dragging and dropping the file from an 4. Click on the desired .3ds, .obj .stl, .dae,
operating system window into floor plan or .skp file and drag it into the Chief
view. Architect program window.
3D .dxf/.dwg files can only be imported by 5. When your cursor changes to a +, click
selecting File> Import> Import 3D in the drawing area to place as many
Symbol . copies of the symbol as desired. When
you are finished, select a different tool.
Symbols imported by clicking and dragging
are imported for use in the current plan, Symbols imported by clicking and dragging
while those imported using the Import 3D are imported as generic stand-alone interior
fixtures. If you wish to assign different

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