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Easy 2D and 3D Design. Objects you place in 2D plan view are automatically created in 3D, real-time. Generate 3D views and select, modify, move, and delete objects directly in the view.

Editing Feedback. Preview the placement and orientation of objects while moving your cursor makes adding and moving items easy and fast.

Set Heights by Absolute or Relative Position. When editing objects, specify heights or offsets based on Absolute location in plan, or the object’s relative position to other plan locations.

Reference Display Tool. Turn on a Reference of adjacent floors to aid in designing multi-tiered decks or room layout between floors.

Custom Room Label Controls. Name individual rooms from a defined list of types or create new custom room labels. Display the Dimensional Size and the Square Footage labels for a room in its label.

Multi-Line Labels. Include line returns in customized labels to create wrapping effects and multi-line label text.

Architectural Blocks. Multi-Select and group items together to create architectural blocks that can be moved as one, stored in the library, and unblocked for editing.

Lock Aspect Ratio for Resizing Symbols and Moldings. Choose to retain the scale of symbol based items and moldings when modifying one dimension.

Make Parallel Tool. Use the Make Parallel tool to align objects parallel or perpendicular to other objects.

Rotate and Reverse Plan. Quickly change the orientation of your design for alternate versions or to better fit the lot.

Custom Watermarks. Create watermarks and display them on your work. Control location, size, angle, transparency, and include images in your watermark design.

Live Layout Views. Specify views that have been sent to layout to update in real time or use edit tools and menu commands to update the view directly from the layout page. Select multiple layout views and modify their display modes and updating properties at once.

Perspective Layout Views. Create perspective views and send them to a layout and retain the view’s link to the plan; easily transition to camera view and update it to the layout. Unlike an image sent to layout, these views can be printed at high resolution.

Reshape Views Sent to Layout. Like other Polyline based items, add breaks and curved edges to Layout viewports to control cropping of their display on a layout page.

Backup Entire Plan. Export a bundle of all the files referenced in your plan, good for sharing with other users who do not have your custom materials and images.

Missing Graphic File Handling. Interface to aid in updating, replacing, deleting, and ignoring missing graphics files.

Model Maker™ Tool. Using the Print Model feature allows you to print paper models that are tabbed for assembly.

Plan Check™ reviews your design against basic building principles.

Import PDF Files. Retain print resolution and quality when printing final documents by using embedded PDF files.

Import 3D Library objects in .3DS, .OBJ, .SKP, & .DAE formats.

Rendering Controls. Set up camera angles and locations to create realistic 3D renderings with shadows in interior and exterior scenes.

Enhanced Render Features. Ambient Occlusion, Bloom, Normal Maps and Bump Maps are all elements that can add realism in Rendered Views.

Export image files of your designs to share. (.JPG, .PNG, .BMP).

Save 360° Renderings to the Cloud. Easily save your 360° renderings to the Chief Architect Cloud, and share them or embed them into web pages.

Crop Picture Images Added to Plan. Crop handles allow picture boundaries to be reduced or enlarged.

Create accurate day or night-time views of your lighting plan.

Specify Number of Lights Used per Scene. Choose to display more than 8 light sources in your 3D views. Set the maximum number of lights used in the Camera Specification dialog.

Multiple Camera Defaults. Specify default values for each camera type; control, layer assignment, active Rendering Technique, and more.

Easily Control Lighting. Edit controls for lighting allow you to turn lights on or off with a single click.

Saved Cameras. Save and load 3D and Render Views to quickly view your favorite camera images.

Opaque Glass in Camera Views. Set glass to appear as solid fill (non-transparent) in camera views. Choose to show glass as opaque or transparent by default per Render Technique, or adjust individual views.

Cross-Section Slider with Multiple Cutting Planes. Choose up to six cutting planes in the Cross-Section Slider view and adjust the cutting distance for each plane to create unique and detailed views.

Display Lower Levels with the Floor Overview Camera. A 3D display option allows lower floors to be viewed under a current floor, such as open below rooms used for stairways or lofts.

Delete Surface Tool. Explore your structure in 3D by temporarily removing surfaces without changing your design.

Convert Polyline Tool. Create 3D objects (countertops, slabs, terrain features, and more) from CAD objects.

Material Eye-Dropper and Color Chooser™. Quick "click-and-drop" application of materials and colors.

Blend Color Tool. Change the Color of any material while retaining its texture, similar to applying stain to wood.

3D Navigation. Easily navigate 3D views in and intuitive way. Use the 3D Focus on Object tool and select an object to make it the camera's target, or select an object then use the Focus on Selected edit tool to make the selected object the target; use [ALT + Middle Mouse] button controls to enter Orbit mode; system returns to previous edit state when buttons are released.

iOS Compatible Movies. Record Walkthrough Videos and animations that you can share to watch on your iOS devices. Available in the Mac version only.

Standard Project Cost Estimation. Automatically generate a materials list for budgeting and planning an entire project.

Specify when a room is calculated in the Living Area. For example, specify the garage or attic to be included or excluded in the living area calculation.

Export Materials Lists to spreadsheet programs including Microsoft® Excel.

Add detail to each individual component in the materials list for a comprehensive cost estimate breakdown. For example, assign components to your cabinets, such as doors, pulls, and hinges and assign costs for each item.

Master List allows you to store and manage commonly-used material prices.

Auto Refresh Exterior Dimensions. Keep Auto Exterior Dimensions up-to-date as you move walls and openings in your design.

Automatic Interior Dimensions. Automatically dimension interior rooms. Set defaults for locating objects.

Temporary Dynamic Wall Dimension. Display temporary dimensions as walls are drawn.

Fully Editable Dimensions. Define where dimensions locate walls, windows, doors, and other objects, when generating dimensions automatically or manually.

Adjust Position using Dimensions. Use dimensions to quickly position objects with precision. Use simple arithmetic formulas while editing dimensions to easily move objects in a design.

Dimension Location Snaps for Furniture Items. Set dimensions to snap to the centers and/or sides of furniture objects.

End-to-End Dimension Tool. Drag dimension from start to finish creating a single dimension string.

Default Dimension Format & Arrows. Control the unit formatting, arrows for the default dimensions. Quickly change the look of the dimensions in your design through a single dialog.

Create back-clipped Cross Section/Elevation Views to limit your view to relevant details for precise plan editing.

Create Rendered Elevation and Cross-Section Views with photo-realistic textures.

Standard CAD tools to detail your designs.

Polyline Editing. Select any polyline and choose Close Polyline to automatically connect the start and end points. Editing of filleted polylines retains fillet radius.

Edit CAD using Same Line Type Control. Quickly create new line, spline, or arc segments at the end of existing objects using the Same Line Type handle.

Visual CAD Snaps™ feature with setup dialog and snap options to control.

Toggle control for Angle Snaps & Object Snaps.

Automatic Roof Labels. Display labels for roofs, skylights and holes. Label includes pitch direction arrow and the roof angle in pitch or degrees. Modify the arrow style and text style of the roof labels.

Primary and Secondary Terrain contour labels. Control the highlight for negative value contour labels.

Text Tools and Customization. Add custom text as notes and modify text in plan with attributes and treatments like font, bold, underline, caps, size, and color.

Show or Hide Electrical Connections, Architectural Blocks, Hardware, along with other elements using layer controls.

Automatic GFCI Outlets in Kitchens. Use the Auto Place Outlet tool to add GFCI outlets to your kitchen rooms.

Advanced Cabinets. Attach moldings & hardware, angled front cabinets, and more.

Insert Items inside Cabinets. Attach custom shelves, storage, and hardware items into cabinet boxes and specify their behavior per face item.

Multiple Door and Drawer Styles per Cabinet. Assign different door or drawer styles to a single cabinet; wall cabinets with glass doors on top; drawer bases with slab and panel drawers.

Multiple Faced Cabinets. Use the Split Items button to add horizontal and vertical layout of doors and drawers on any cabinet. Create Entertainment Centers and Vanity cabinets with doors on one side and drawers on the other.

Edit Multiple Cabinets’ Configuration at Once. Group select cabinets and modify their face items at one time to create similar cabinets easily.

Top and Bottom Hinged Cabinet Doors. Design cabinets with awning and hopper style doors.

Control Cabinet Hardware. Use the Center option to adjust cabinet drawer hardware location, also specify cases where two knobs will be used.

Control Soffit Molding. Specify whether soffits interact with room molding from within the Soffit Specification dialog.

Rounded Countertop Corners for Automatic Countertops.

Dimension to Cabinet Toe Kicks, Moldings, Backsplashes and Countertops. Set up locate configuration for dimensions; use the automatic dimension tools in elevation views to automatically include these dimensions.

Frameless Cabinet Settings. Change the cabinet style in one click with the Frameless and Full Overlay options for cabinets.

Design and edit Custom Countertop shapes and styles.

Atrium Door Options. Create Center Swing Double Doors, also known as atrium patio doors.

Window and Door Casings Display in Plan View. Display or hide interior and exterior casings using the “Casings, Interior” and “Casings, Exterior” layers.

Automatic Frame Depth. Set window frame depth to automatically fit into wall.

Control Trim for Interior Doors and Windows. Separately specify the materials and trim assigned to each side of an opening.

3D Door Display Options. Edit tools “Show Door Open in 3D” and “Show Door Closed in 3D” make it fast and easy to control the state of doors in 3D views.

Adjust the Hinge/Swing Amount for Bi-fold doors.

Bay, Box, Bow Window Tools. Click and drop bay, box, and bow windows in a wall. Resize and customize the unit as a whole.

Adjustable Louver Sizes. Louver attribute allows you to control their size in windows and doors.

Angled Top Window Controls. Adjust the angle of window tops. Apply changes to the left, right, or center of the window.

Window Treatments & Interior Shutters. Adjust curtains by the height off floor and height above casing. Specify shutters on the interior of a window. Blinds fit inside casing when attached to windows.

Included Library Items for customize and create designs. Fixtures, furniture, accessories, and materials to create your scenes. Add more variety by downloading Bonus and Branded catalogs from Chief Architect's 3D Library.

Bonus Catalog Add-Ons. Generic furniture, materials, fixtures, hardware, and accessories, some free and others for purchase, can be downloaded and added to your library browser for more design choices. New catalogs made available monthly

Automatic Catalog Updates. Check for updates for catalogs distributed by Chief Architect and automatically update to the latest version.

Ability to Add items to the Library Browser.

Export Entire User Library. Easily backup and transfer User Library at the top level of the User Library Tree.

Library Browser filtered views. Choose to show or hide entire library catalogs in the Library Browser tree.

Import New 3D Objects from Library Browser. Use the Right-Click contextual menu in the Library Browser to import new 3D Objects directly into their Library folder.

Library Catalog Downloads Status. Options to Continue or Cancel downloads when Home Designer closes. Catalog Downloads automatically restart if Home Designer is closed then re-launched.

Symbol Object Specification Editable from Library. Edit specifications like Height Off Floor and Label for unlocked library items and save with the object in the Library Browser.

View number of Objects in Library Catalog. Select any folder to view on the Status Bar the number of items.

Auto L-Shaped and U-Shaped Stairs. Use the L and U stair tools to automatically drop stairs with landings into plans; stairs will orient and snap to adjacent walls.

Stair Railings. Railings specified for stairs can be customized with different rail styles (balusters, open, middle rail, panels)and multiple rails.

Define Stair Starting Elevation. Specify whether stairs and ramps are located at the sub-floor or the finished floor elevation.

Landing Tool. Create Custom Landings to auto-connect Stair sections or Ramp sections together. Choose auto adjust features for the height and thickness based on stair or ramp connection. Turn railings on or off per Landing edge.

Shoe Control for Railings. Control the height off of floor for the bottom rail (shoe) for Railings and Ramp Railings.

Assign symbol Railing Balusters, Newels, and Panels. Specify railings, balusters, and newels from the Library Browser for railing walls.

Turn off Posts for Railings. Easily specify whether railings or fences include posts with the “No Posts” control.

Automatic building tools for roof generation, stairs, dimensioning, foundations, and more.

Ceiling Plane tool - create custom ceilings of any slope and shape; vaulted, cathedral, and more.

Building tools to customize floors and ceilings. Control over ceiling height and vault.

Automatic Dutch Gable Roof. Specify wall attribute to automatically generate a gable-on-hip roof over the wall.

One-Click Auto Dormer™. Build dormer on roof automatically while cutting a hole for the ceiling.

Dormer Overhang Controls. Separately control the eave and gable overhang distance for automatic dormers.

Auto Place and Delete Corner Boards and Quoins. Automatically add or remove trim details to wall corners.

Ridge Caps automatically generate on roofs.

Manual Roof Tools. Create and edit any custom roof planes. Start with an automatic roof and then add custom details, or create the entire roof manually.

Customize construction methods for walls, floors, ceilings, and foundations. Specify wall layers, floor structure, platform height, mudsills, framing methods, and more.

Specify Mudsill per Wall. Adjust the thickness of mudsill framing on a wall by wall basis.

Wall Defaults. Default controls for interior and exterior walls.

Easily Modify Wall Types. Use controls in the Wall Type Definition dialog to easily move wall layers toward the interior or exterior of the wall, set materials, and define individual properties of each wall layer.

Paint One Wall. Quickly change the material on the surface of a single wall in a room.

Half-Wall Tool. Draw half walls and specify their default values (also known as solid railings).

Pony Wall Height Controls. Adjust the height of individual Pony Walls by typing the lower wall’s height into the dialog.

Pony Wall Framing. Automatically generate framing of different sizes for upper and lower pony walls by specifying different wall types.

Specify Foundation types by room.

Elevation and Cross-Section cameras show the foundation in the view - see your basement, slab, or crawlspace in a section view.

Specify Foundation Piers as Round or Square. Toggle between square and round with a single click.

Foundations with Slab at top of Stem Wall.

Foundation Defaults. Detailed control over the foundation automatically generated for Garage rooms.

Slab Volume listed in the slab specification dialog for easy reference.

Manual framing tools for fully editable framing, including joists, rafters, trusses, beams, posts, and more. Create any framing system for your design.

Post & Beam Framing Tools. Specify Round or Square posts. Set the Default Material for Posts in the framing defaults.

Advanced architectural object editing including replication, rotation, and reflection.

Home Designer Suite has access to full selection of plant images.

Plant Hardiness Zone Maps

Grow Plants Slider Tool - 0 - 20 years.

Show plants with filled colors in your 2D landscape design.

Lock and Reset the aspect ratio for plants and images - choose to stretch or resize plants and images based on your design needs.

Complete Deck & Fence Tools.

Auto Re-Build Deck Framing. Deck Framing updates as the deck design changes.

Advanced Railing Tools. Custom Railing Panels, Control of Height & Railing Styles, great for custom decks.

Deck Planking Control. Change angles, borders, and create patterns with deck planking.

Deck Framing Layers. Deck framing, posts, beams, and footings are each added to their own separate layers.

Pre-Arranged Garden Beds.

Advanced Landscaping Terrain Tools. Hill and Valley tools for terrain features.

Define custom Terrain, including sloped lots and input elevation points.

Create split-entry homes with daylight basements.

Straight & Curved Roads & Sidewalks, & Driveway & Parking Lot tools.

Water Feature Tools. Create various shaped ponds and water features or design a lake front home.

Image/Plant Object Specification. Set the X and Y coordinates for image and plant objects for specific planting definition.

Import GPS Assistant. Quickly model your terrain with GPS data.

Dimension to Plants & Images.

64-bit Software. The 64-bit version is more efficient in managing memory and you will see better performance on larger plan files.

Touch Screen Optimization. Smooth and accurate touch controls for pinch zoom, pan, rotate and other controls for Windows computers (not supported by Mac OS).

HD Interface Graphics and Icons. Toolbar buttons and high definition icons scale to fit screen resolutions and increased DPI (128px vs 20px).

Migration Tools. Easily bring forward settings from previous versions.

Save Prints in PDF Format. Save to a PDF file for outsourcing a print job.

Fully editable working environment including customizable toolbars.

Compatible with Chief Architect® Version 10.0.

Online Training Tutorials with "How-To" videos.

Searchable Knowledge Base Articles. Detailed, illustrated, instructional articles will guide you step-by-step through specific tasks; search on a subject or task to find help on that topic.

Free Online and Live Technical Support. Contact Support Technicians at Chief Architect Headquarters to receive personalized help.