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Modeling
About Archicad's design tools, element connections, modeling concepts, etc.

Shadows showing incorrectly in elevations

JaredBanks
Mentor
The shadows in my elevations (view map & project map) show shadows based on the 3D model. The elevations on the layouts show the shadows @ 45 degrees (I had set the elevations to 45 degree shadows, looked at the layouts, didn't like it and went back to by 3d model).

After going from the sheets to the elevations, the elevations momentarily show the shadows @ 45 degrees then regenerate to by 3D model.

Anyone else seen this, can replicate it, or have a solution? I'm ready to throw the computer out the window. I should just turn the shadows off for now and keep working, but this is one of those things I have to solve on principle. And this is on v14, latest build.

Thanks.
Jared Banks, AIA
Shoegnome Architects

Archicad Blog: www.shoegnome.com
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9 REPLIES 9
JaredBanks
Mentor
partial solution:

delete the views in the view map, create new ones and relink the placed views in the layout book. A solution, but not an answer.
Jared Banks, AIA
Shoegnome Architects

Archicad Blog: www.shoegnome.com
Archicad Template: www.shoegnome.com/template/
Archicad Work Environment: www.shoegnome.com/work-environment/
Archicad Tutorial Videos: www.youtube.com/shoegnome
Anonymous
Not applicable
Total Solution!

In the dialogue for the elevation marker (of the elevation concerned)
change the sun azimuth from 45 degrees to 44 or 46 (whichever looks better).
JaredBanks
Mentor
I realize I was a little unclear. No matter what I change the elevation marker shadow settings to (46 degrees, 44, 135, or by 3D model), the layout continues to show the shadows at 45 degrees.

So the view map and layout book are not matching up anymore. That is the issue.
Jared Banks, AIA
Shoegnome Architects

Archicad Blog: www.shoegnome.com
Archicad Template: www.shoegnome.com/template/
Archicad Work Environment: www.shoegnome.com/work-environment/
Archicad Tutorial Videos: www.youtube.com/shoegnome
Barry Kelly
Moderator
I have just come across the same problem (don't use shadows in elevation very often).
If set to custom angle then they seem to update on layouts fine if that angle is changed.
But if set to "As in 3D window" then they no longer update if the north point is changed.

Open the source view of the elevation and you will see the correct shadows.
But nothing I try will update the layout drawing.

Apart from deleting the view and creating a completely new one and adding that to the layout.

What am I missing here or is this a bug.

I tried with a completely new file and a simple box with roof just as a test in the image attached.
The same problem exists in 15 as well.
Will check back in older versions just out of interest.

Barry.
shadows.jpg
One of the forum moderators.
Versions 6.5 to 27
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mhmorgado
Booster
I'm also having the same issue stopping me from completing my project! 😮

Archicad17 here and the shadows don't match... The elevations at the Project Map and View Map have different shadows and they won't update no matter how many times I click to rebuild from model.

My shadows are 3d view and site related and when I started to use this feature everything went out of sync... Of course I've tried clicking every update and rebuild tool I'm aware of to no avail.

Any fix? I can provide my project if necessary.
Csaba Kezer
Graphisoft
Graphisoft
Hi guys,

I have tested this shadow updating process in ArchiCAD 17 and 18, but it appears to be working fine for me.
I tried changing the custom angles as well as changing to the "As in 3D window" option and even if the project north was changed from 90 degrees to something else the elevation drawing on the layout was updated correctly every time.
If any of you could send me their file (in pm) in which I can replicate this phenomenon I would investigate further what might be the issue here.

Many thanks,
Csaba
Csaba Kézér
Director, Global Customer Support
Graphisoft
Anonymous
Not applicable
Hi guys,

I have tested this shadow updating process in ArchiCAD 17 and 18, but it appears to be working fine for me.
I tried changing the custom angles as well as changing to the "As in 3D window" option and even if the project north was changed from 90 degrees to something else the elevation drawing on the layout was updated correctly every time.
If any of you could send me their file (in pm) in which I can replicate this phenomenon I would investigate further what might be the issue here.

Many thanks,
Csaba

Hi Guys i finally found a solution to this annoying problem with shadows to elevations not updating or not looking correctly.

1. Complete all elevations using the proper elevation tool with the correct settings and shadow settings you want, making them look accurate to what the sun will actually be doing.


2. Once completed open show organiser have on the left side the project map and on the right side your layouts THEN drag and drop all elevations across into layouts.

3. Now since your quick views are already the elevations they will Auto update when you later add anything else to them.


Whatever you do not link source it back to the quick view of your elevations as it will change the shadows to the incorrect angles again etc.

Hope this helps.

This has worked me. I'm currently using AC19 for the mac on EL Capitan.

Take care
I'm having this problem in AC20 in the 3D window. Sun angle of the View is shown differently in the Drawing placed in the Layout. Open View from the [incorrect] Drawing and it is shown correctly.
MacBook Pro Apple M2 Max, 96 GB of RAM
AC27 US (5003) on Mac OS Ventura 13.6.2
Started on AC4.0 in 91/92/93; full-time user since AC8.1 in 2004
This is great -- my entire building is in the shade.

Recreating the Views is not a solution in this case -- I cannot fix.
Drawing and View.jpg
MacBook Pro Apple M2 Max, 96 GB of RAM
AC27 US (5003) on Mac OS Ventura 13.6.2
Started on AC4.0 in 91/92/93; full-time user since AC8.1 in 2004