New in ARCHLine.XP 2017
Design with us in 2017
Two key elements of design work are that creating even more photorealistic visualisation and more effective project management. Now we help designers to achieve these with our new developments in ARCHLine.XP 2017 version.
Most important new features
BIM: Standard and certified IFC export and import and direct Revit RFA, RVT import
Import PDF geometry
Excel file import
Tiling in 3D
Mosaic tiling
LED light strips
Material settings - New categories, special materials
Integrated render window and real-time rendering
Printing layout developments
4K monitors - scaling the interface
Panorama 360 - Virtual tour
Designing 3D shapes
What is new in the visualization?
We know customers and they can be fascinated with visual plans. We continuously focus on improving the visualization. The following new features will support creating more realistic renderings:
LED light strips
LED light strips are brilliant tools for decorative and hidden light representation. LED light strip is a generic term used to describe a group of LED light sources on variable length. These lights sources can be placed simply in 2D/3D in ARCHLine.XP and editing their properties is very flexible. With this function LED light strips can be placed fast and easy to any spatial directions. It can be used as inner lighting of furnitures, as background lighting, in arbitrary color with arbitrary brightness. On the rendered image the visualization of light happens with emissive material properties. You can work with high level of quality, precision and material accuracy.
Real-time rendering
The Real-time rendering is a new approach in the rendered image visualisation. It supports to find the best final rendering settings. It speeds up making a high-quality photo-realistic view just in a few steps in ARCHLine.XP. Real-time rendering immediately gives a response to the followings:
Fine tuning of the perspective viewpoint is visualized automatically
Turning lights of/off: interactive light settings
Materials: changes of material settings become visible immediately
Displaying the render frame
It can be easily identified anytime that part of the 3D view which will be presented on the final rendered visual plan - based on the given resolution in the render window. This area is inside of a dashed frame in the 3D view.
Fine tuning of the perspective viewpoint is visualized automatically
Turning lights of/off: interactive light settings
Materials: changes of material settings become visible immediately
Displaying the render frame
It can be easily identified anytime that part of the 3D view which will be presented on the final rendered visual plan - based on the given resolution in the render window. This area is inside of a dashed frame in the 3D view.
Explore your project in 360-degree virtual tour
ARCHLine 2017 provides a brand new technique through VR Box. It is more than just a screen view, the panorama is projected straight in front of our eyes and head movement replaces the mouse. Place your smart phone in VR Box, then the breath-taking performance can start. The effect is stunning.
Material settings
Textures in ARCHLine bring your geometry to life. ARCHLine 2017 shows you how to swiftly project textures onto any surfaces - wallpapers, furniture, rugs, LED strips, etc. Glossy and matte finish, transparent or reflective surface can be defined precisely.
New material settings: False emissive, True emissive, Porcelain.
New special materials: White ceiling, Porcelain white.
New property: Fresnel effect - the observation that the amount of reflectance you see on a surface depends on the viewing angle. Without the Fresnel effect the reflectance is consistent on the reflective surface. Applying this new property the consistent reflective surface can vary according to the viewing angle of a 3D surface.
New material settings: False emissive, True emissive, Porcelain.
New special materials: White ceiling, Porcelain white.
New property: Fresnel effect - the observation that the amount of reflectance you see on a surface depends on the viewing angle. Without the Fresnel effect the reflectance is consistent on the reflective surface. Applying this new property the consistent reflective surface can vary according to the viewing angle of a 3D surface.
Designing 3D shapes
The "3D shape" is an essential design tool when designing simple 3D bodies or creating fast conceptual prototypes of real-world items. The 3 most important profiles are visible and ready to modify right inside the 3D model without even opening the property dialog window of the tool itself. This makes it extremely easy to design such objects in-situ. The bounding sizes are visible and editable after selecting the item in 3D.
Tiling
Tiling – New bathroom tiling in 3D
We can save time and energy by using this new function, we can change the bathroom tiling layout with one magic spell in the new version: the tiling style can be modified in one step.
Tiling design commands directly can be reached in 3D window by clicking on tiles.
Thanks to new command: You can move the tiles in one step by rotating left, centre, right reference point of the tile. The replacement of tiles is now possible and also simplified the deleting option.
Tiling design commands directly can be reached in 3D window by clicking on tiles.
Thanks to new command: You can move the tiles in one step by rotating left, centre, right reference point of the tile. The replacement of tiles is now possible and also simplified the deleting option.
Mosaic tiling
Do you want to design a unique bathroom with bespoke tiling? We offer a brand new solution in version 2017. Now it can be created fine detailed and diversified tiling styles without recurrence. Randomly generated tiling with four different materials or four different sized mosaic tiles. Square or circle shapes for tiles. The frequency of the tiles in the pattern can be adjusted. Ideal design tool for exclusive bathrooms.
Cooperation
The developments don’t only concern the eye-catching details, we also aim to support the essential background work. We want our designers' projects to be profitable, uncomplicated and have adequate time allocation until the end of the project. Therefore, the following improvements have been implemented.
BIM: Standard and certified IFC export and import
ARCHLine.XP gained the IFC Coordination View 2.0 Import certification. Why is it good for our users?...We can import floorplans, 3D models at higher standard from designers using other different CAD software and also we could export whole buildings to them. The most valuable feature of the IFC format is that architectural elements preserve their type and properties in IFC file.
Direct Revit RFA, RVT import
ARCHLine.XP 2017 users can import and view of the RVT, RFA files types. RFA (Revit Family) is the format of families of the BIM application Autodesk Revit. RFA objects carry BIM parameters about the object. RFA import can be extremely useful, since almost all manufacturers who provide downloadable 'BIM' models usually only provide in Revit format. One of the most comprehensive BIM library is the Bimobjects.com. After downloading and extracting from .ZIP file you can open the RFA file in ARCHLine.XP (e.g. by simple drag-n-drop) using the menu File > Import > RFA, RVT command. You can convert then the imported items into ARCHLine objects, doors, windows together with the original Revit family BIM parameters. Use the command Manufacture > New object > New object for ARCHLine object conversion and Manufacture > New door > Convert object to door for ARCHLine door conversion.
Import PDF geometry
Fast, accurate way to reduce to minimal the time is spent on processing architectural file in PDF.
The corresponding PDF file content can be imported as scalable and editable drawing line. Geometry import visualizes lines and polygons with a given colour and line weight.
The imported floorplan can be re-scaled to 1:1 (if the scale factor is 1:100, we need 100 times bigger enlargement) and the openings with exact size can be added by giving their endpoints.
The corresponding PDF file content can be imported as scalable and editable drawing line. Geometry import visualizes lines and polygons with a given colour and line weight.
The imported floorplan can be re-scaled to 1:1 (if the scale factor is 1:100, we need 100 times bigger enlargement) and the openings with exact size can be added by giving their endpoints.
Documentation and Project management
Excel file import
The new Excel file import command enables you to upload content of Excel files to floorplan. You have an option to import an entire worksheet or select a certain range of cells in the XLS file. The excel spreadsheet tables are linked to the original file. In case the spreadsheet has been changed, (such as a row, column, values has been added/deleted) the table in ARCHLine.XP drawing can be updated accordingly. This is a new way to represent consignation plan, component list, and piece list on the drawing plan.
Printing layout developments
Printing layout dialog is extended with default Stamp definition. Autofill and automatic placement of default stamp. New command to edit text parameters in a group. All texts are editable with markers, it can be parametric or static text either. Enhanced stamp filling dialog with the list of static texts. New command: Convert text to parameter. It converts the static text into a parameter starting with $ character. Separated Architectural Scale factor. Managed independently from drawing scale.
Project milestones, time stamp
Many of us can float away with smaller stages of a project, or sometimes we tend to forget how much time needs to be spent on a project to keep it profitable. Now we give you helping hand to solve this crucial issue. The new version of ARCHLine.XP offers the milestone function. You can create sub-objectives or stages into which a project is divided for monitoring and measurement of work performance. This is a successful tool in Project management.
Door/Window editing
New window property: angle of window exterior/interior sill
We have an option to represent a real window sills in more details and create itemized plan documentation. The exterior and interior window sill angle can be defined between 0 and –10 degree We can choose from several default window sill profiles.
New Door/Window editing command – Change Type and keep original width/height
By the size keeping replacement of certain type of doors and windows, the subsequent modification on the drawing becomes easier. We can replace previously placed doors and windows by using this new function that those bounding size will not change.
This way we can modify easily more windows and doors at the same time which significantly reduces the time spent on frequently occurred type changes during any stages of planning.
This method is extremely useful when we have to work with unknown content or deal with drawings designed by another designer colleagues to be processed.
This way we can modify easily more windows and doors at the same time which significantly reduces the time spent on frequently occurred type changes during any stages of planning.
This method is extremely useful when we have to work with unknown content or deal with drawings designed by another designer colleagues to be processed.
Sill height in roof window properties
Beside the traditional plan view placing of the roof window there is an opportunity to insert it according to the given or measured parapet height. By taking the sill height into consideration the roof window can be placed on the given roof only at the previously set height. The roof window can be placed multiply taking the rafter allocation into consideration. This method allows a faster and more punctual planning.
More efficient design tools
More improvements to speed up daily work
When move or copy the new object stays active When you remove an item from serial dimensioning then adjacent values will be adjusted. Using markers you can directly modify item's dimensions (length, width, height) Horizontal/Vertical serial dimensioning commands are directly accessible from Toolbox.
4K monitors – Scaling the interface
The development of monitor producing has accelerated and now the ultra HD resolution monitors are available. The 3840x2160 resolution is four times bigger than full HD. The image quality is beautiful and it comes with a lot of advantages. ARCHLine.XP 2017 follows this development and the interface of the program can be displayed in appropriate size on high resolution monitors as well.
Multiple area and Lasso selection
Area selection can be repeated Lasso selection: a newer, more comfortable way of selection which is useful in many cases Selection in multiple windows: in 2D and 3D as well.
Excel export
You can add headers or footers at the top or bottom of a printed worksheet. You may create a footer that has page numbers, the date and time, and the name of your project. New Excel furniture list, sorted by producer Excel export header, footer, project datas.
Protocol for layer and object naming
According to the BS1192:2007 standard, the layer name can be given according to the AEC BIM protocol for international work Standardized and unified object name can be given for international work.