COLOURED PLANS - THE SECRET REVEALED!I HAVE BEEN PRODUCING COLOURED ELEVATIONS/SECTIONS REGULARLY FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS WITH FANTASTIC RESULTS.
THIS IS HOW I GO ABOUT IT.
This is the method that I use to generate coloured plans directly from the Model.
There is
Although it is a very simple process, it took over two years to discover the ‘secret’ of how to go about it, and this technique has now transformed the humble working drawings into a virtual work of art. It reminds me of when you walk into an old building and see an old set of plans framed on the wall touched up with water paints.
I use the technique to highlight parts of the building that are to be –• Painted
• Rendered
• Door & Window frames and components
• Glass
• Library parts
• Surfaces that are to be given some sort of flat colour for highlighting
1. Slab or roof edge
2. Barge board, fascia
3. Roof accessory – metal barge roll
• VECTORIAL SUN SHADOWS: I also generate Shadows on the Elevations for increased ‘relief’ of these 2D drawings (Section/Elevation Tool). I normally set the Sun at 45deg or –45deg Azimuth and between 30 and 45deg Altitude, rather than a specific time of day. My intention is to enhance the readability of the drawings, not particularly to do a Sun Study. Sometimes I will do a Sun Study shadow on the North side only (southern hemisphere dwellers). I turn Shadows on when doing the final Elevation generation, as it does take longer to generate. I find a lighter grey for shadows looks good when working in with the medium grey on the windows, and does not overwhelm the finished elevation. Another benefit of shadows is that I believe it is easier to ‘read’ the drawing, and gives it a certain depth that otherwise is lacking.
• GLAZING: I generally use a medium to dark grey. Note that you need to have the opening lines in a much darker grey or black or they will be difficult to see. Alternatively, if the glazing is dark enough, you can use white for the opening lines/arrows (usually a little thicker line weight is better), and try dashed as well, as it stands out nicely. I have also used dashed white with heavy black arrowhead successfully.
• PRINTER: I use an Epson 3000 Colour printer. Virtually all of my work is on A2 paper
• INK COLOUR: The line work of all my Section/Elevations are in colour.
• Better documentation = increased fees – literally!
• Clarity of plans for builder and subcontractors reduces the ‘allowance’ factor from unclear drawings and more information provided; i.e. 3D views
• Sensational finished Working Drawings puts you ahead of your competitive opposition
• Hopefully, all of the ‘cons’ are offset by the ‘pros’!
CONS
• Vectorial 3d Hatching increases Section/Elevation generation time
• Vectorial Sun Shadows increases Section/Elevation generation time
• Increased set up time both setting up materials and nominating materials (colours) to elements
• Ink costs
1. Pens & Colours - Open up Option > Pens & Colours.
2. Customised Colours - If you do not have the required colour you need for a certain element, you need to create it in the Pens & Colours Dialogue Box. I have a number of spare pens left white so I simply double click on one of these and customise the colour I need. If you do not have enough of a range in your standard Pens & Colours Dialogue Box, you may need to do this a few times.
3. Materials – Click on Options > Materials > Expert.
4. Create New Material – Click on any material (or one with a similar name to your proposed new material), and then click on Duplicate. Type in the new name and OK.
5. Material - 3D Hatching ‘Solid Fill’ – In the main Materials Dialogue Box under 3D Hatching (bottom of the dialogue box), select Solid Fill. Note: It must be Solid Fill NOT Empty Fill. This is the critical factor to the whole thing! Only a Solid Fill will show on the Section/Elevation as a solid colour.
6. Material - 3D Hatching ‘Custom Colour’ – Click the Custom Colour radio button (below Element Pen) with the little pen icon next to it.
7. Material - 3D Hatching ‘Pen Colour’ – Now click on the Pen Colour button and select the custom colour in the Pens & Colours Dialogue Box you previously created (or other colour if desired). Check now to see that the solid colour has been applied to the Material by looking at the right hand side of the Material button at the very top of the Material Settings Dialogue Box. Where there was either no window, an empty window or a Fill pattern, you should now see the little window turn solid black. This confirms you have correctly followed the steps. OK and exit. NOTE: It is always solid black little preview box regardless of what colour you select for the material.
8. Apply Material to Model – Select the entity on model you wish to apply the Material to; Wall, roof edge, WC, Window glass etc. and apply the material(s). Apply as many as you wish.
9. Section/Elevation Tool Settings – Open the Section/Elevation Tool > Set your Horizontal and Vertical Ranges. Click the main Vectorial 3D Hatching and Sun Shadows button to open settings and tick the Vectorial 3D Hatching and Sun Shadows boxes on. (The Sun Shadows is not required for coloured plans, but is used to enhancing purposes – see TIPS)
10. Section/Elevation Tool – Place the Section/Elevation mark on your plan view. For a quick method to open the Section/Elevation, hold your cursor on the Section/Elevation Mark and right mouse click (there is no need to select it first and then right mouse click as that is an extra click every time, times ten thousand per year). Open and enjoy!
11. Printing in PlotMaker – When the Section/Elevation is imported into PlotMaker, select the Section/Elevation, right mouse click > Drawing Settings > Show on Layout > Vectorial Colour Preview. This will display the Section/Elevation in colour just as you see it in ArchiCAD. At this point in time I have found no way to switch off the full colour for check plots. The Options > Preferences > Miscellaneous > Fill Background Colour does not affect the colour on the surface of the models element, only the colours in cut elements can be switched on or off.
12. Moving The Section/Elevation Marker Line – I have found that sometimes the Section/Elevation Marker Line may need to be moved a fraction to regenerate the Section/Elevation and update the colours on the Section/Elevations. Don’t know why this is, but just is!
Experiment, try different colours for glazing, green or blue tints look interesting. I have used a pitch-black glass on the Existing portion of our 1882 Railway Gatehouse building and the medium grey on the Proposed. Looks great and it helps to visually distinguish the new from the old.
Enjoy and wait for those ‘oos and aahhs’! They are pleasant to the soul and much deserved for any job well done!
PS – If Djordje has any suggestions on where I could email a PDF or similar for general viewing of a finished set of Section/Elevations, I am more than happy to help.
NOTE: This format was written with ArchiCAD v7, but the process have changed only in PlotMaker in regards to displaying colours - I think!
THIS IS HOW I GO ABOUT IT.
This is the method that I use to generate coloured plans directly from the Model.
There is
Although it is a very simple process, it took over two years to discover the ‘secret’ of how to go about it, and this technique has now transformed the humble working drawings into a virtual work of art. It reminds me of when you walk into an old building and see an old set of plans framed on the wall touched up with water paints.
I use the technique to highlight parts of the building that are to be –• Painted
• Rendered
• Door & Window frames and components
• Glass
• Library parts
• Surfaces that are to be given some sort of flat colour for highlighting
1. Slab or roof edge
2. Barge board, fascia
3. Roof accessory – metal barge roll
• VECTORIAL SUN SHADOWS: I also generate Shadows on the Elevations for increased ‘relief’ of these 2D drawings (Section/Elevation Tool). I normally set the Sun at 45deg or –45deg Azimuth and between 30 and 45deg Altitude, rather than a specific time of day. My intention is to enhance the readability of the drawings, not particularly to do a Sun Study. Sometimes I will do a Sun Study shadow on the North side only (southern hemisphere dwellers). I turn Shadows on when doing the final Elevation generation, as it does take longer to generate. I find a lighter grey for shadows looks good when working in with the medium grey on the windows, and does not overwhelm the finished elevation. Another benefit of shadows is that I believe it is easier to ‘read’ the drawing, and gives it a certain depth that otherwise is lacking.
• GLAZING: I generally use a medium to dark grey. Note that you need to have the opening lines in a much darker grey or black or they will be difficult to see. Alternatively, if the glazing is dark enough, you can use white for the opening lines/arrows (usually a little thicker line weight is better), and try dashed as well, as it stands out nicely. I have also used dashed white with heavy black arrowhead successfully.
• PRINTER: I use an Epson 3000 Colour printer. Virtually all of my work is on A2 paper
• INK COLOUR: The line work of all my Section/Elevations are in colour.
• Better documentation = increased fees – literally!
• Clarity of plans for builder and subcontractors reduces the ‘allowance’ factor from unclear drawings and more information provided; i.e. 3D views
• Sensational finished Working Drawings puts you ahead of your competitive opposition
• Hopefully, all of the ‘cons’ are offset by the ‘pros’!
CONS
• Vectorial 3d Hatching increases Section/Elevation generation time
• Vectorial Sun Shadows increases Section/Elevation generation time
• Increased set up time both setting up materials and nominating materials (colours) to elements
• Ink costs
1. Pens & Colours - Open up Option > Pens & Colours.
2. Customised Colours - If you do not have the required colour you need for a certain element, you need to create it in the Pens & Colours Dialogue Box. I have a number of spare pens left white so I simply double click on one of these and customise the colour I need. If you do not have enough of a range in your standard Pens & Colours Dialogue Box, you may need to do this a few times.
3. Materials – Click on Options > Materials > Expert.
4. Create New Material – Click on any material (or one with a similar name to your proposed new material), and then click on Duplicate. Type in the new name and OK.
5. Material - 3D Hatching ‘Solid Fill’ – In the main Materials Dialogue Box under 3D Hatching (bottom of the dialogue box), select Solid Fill. Note: It must be Solid Fill NOT Empty Fill. This is the critical factor to the whole thing! Only a Solid Fill will show on the Section/Elevation as a solid colour.
6. Material - 3D Hatching ‘Custom Colour’ – Click the Custom Colour radio button (below Element Pen) with the little pen icon next to it.
7. Material - 3D Hatching ‘Pen Colour’ – Now click on the Pen Colour button and select the custom colour in the Pens & Colours Dialogue Box you previously created (or other colour if desired). Check now to see that the solid colour has been applied to the Material by looking at the right hand side of the Material button at the very top of the Material Settings Dialogue Box. Where there was either no window, an empty window or a Fill pattern, you should now see the little window turn solid black. This confirms you have correctly followed the steps. OK and exit. NOTE: It is always solid black little preview box regardless of what colour you select for the material.
8. Apply Material to Model – Select the entity on model you wish to apply the Material to; Wall, roof edge, WC, Window glass etc. and apply the material(s). Apply as many as you wish.
9. Section/Elevation Tool Settings – Open the Section/Elevation Tool > Set your Horizontal and Vertical Ranges. Click the main Vectorial 3D Hatching and Sun Shadows button to open settings and tick the Vectorial 3D Hatching and Sun Shadows boxes on. (The Sun Shadows is not required for coloured plans, but is used to enhancing purposes – see TIPS)
10. Section/Elevation Tool – Place the Section/Elevation mark on your plan view. For a quick method to open the Section/Elevation, hold your cursor on the Section/Elevation Mark and right mouse click (there is no need to select it first and then right mouse click as that is an extra click every time, times ten thousand per year). Open and enjoy!
11. Printing in PlotMaker – When the Section/Elevation is imported into PlotMaker, select the Section/Elevation, right mouse click > Drawing Settings > Show on Layout > Vectorial Colour Preview. This will display the Section/Elevation in colour just as you see it in ArchiCAD. At this point in time I have found no way to switch off the full colour for check plots. The Options > Preferences > Miscellaneous > Fill Background Colour does not affect the colour on the surface of the models element, only the colours in cut elements can be switched on or off.
12. Moving The Section/Elevation Marker Line – I have found that sometimes the Section/Elevation Marker Line may need to be moved a fraction to regenerate the Section/Elevation and update the colours on the Section/Elevations. Don’t know why this is, but just is!
Experiment, try different colours for glazing, green or blue tints look interesting. I have used a pitch-black glass on the Existing portion of our 1882 Railway Gatehouse building and the medium grey on the Proposed. Looks great and it helps to visually distinguish the new from the old.
Enjoy and wait for those ‘oos and aahhs’! They are pleasant to the soul and much deserved for any job well done!
PS – If Djordje has any suggestions on where I could email a PDF or similar for general viewing of a finished set of Section/Elevations, I am more than happy to help.
NOTE: This format was written with ArchiCAD v7, but the process have changed only in PlotMaker in regards to displaying colours - I think!
As alternative to *.pmk files or Copy/Past options can also be AC's *.2dl extension 
Z.Bauer wrote:What is a .2dl extension ?
As alternative to *.pmk files or Copy/Past options can also be AC's *.2dl extension
Can you be more specific about the use of this technique?
Jaime wrote:Generate 3D in ACZ.Bauer wrote:What is a .2dl extension ?
As alternative to *.pmk files or Copy/Past options can also be AC's *.2dl extension
Can you be more specific about the use of this technique?
File menu>Save as... Choose "ArchiCAD 2D extension *.2dl" <|It's nothing more as 2d drawing file, like pmk. And it's a big question in wich specific situations is .2dl great extension
Still looking?
