Drafting Software Features
"Chief Architect lets my clients be part of the design process and the house becomes their home right in front of them."
–Fred Hahn, Designer
3D Design Software for Drafting Professionals
Chief Architect – Full
Perfect for Drafters looking for complete residential and light commercial design capability. You get photo-realistic 3D renderings along with accurate and detailed construction documents. Design more efficiently with Chief Architect. Learn More
Plan Sets & Construction Documents
Quickly Generate Cross-Section Views
Chief Architect is a great tool for the Design and Drafting professional to help the client see the project before construction begins. Often the most challenging issue with designing is communicating your ideas and helping the client visualize the finished project. Chief Architect enables the Design-Drafting professional to efficiently and accurately draft in 2D while helping communicate and illustrate a 3D model of the project. Be more productive and ensure more satisfied clients with Chief Architect on your next project.
Powerful CAD Design & Drafting Tools
- A complete CAD tool set, including Visual CAD Snaps™ to highly customize designs
- Choose from a Library of over 500 CAD Details – customize or import new Details
- Control line weights and styles, set scale, select built-in architectural fonts, choose colors, arrow styles and more
- Use the CAD-to-Walls tool to import 2D files and automatically generate 3D models – AutoCAD® compatible
- Generate Cross-Sections for your design and customize with the CAD tools for added detail
- Advanced CAD tools for roads, sidewalks, patios, custom shapes – assign materials, colors and textures
- Group select and block items and save to the Library for future reuse – a great time saving feature
- Import DWG/DXF/3DS/OBJ/SKP files
Plan Sets & Construction Documents
Powerful CAD Design & Drafting Tools
- Produce detailed, professional Plan Sets with framing, electrical, plumbing, elevations, cross-sections, 3D overviews and more
- Use the Layer Sets to turn on and off layers to easily create the exact view for your Plan Sets
- Use the Layout tool to produce detailed, professional Plan Sets with framing, HVAC, elevations, cross-sections and more
- Layouts are synchronized with your design – change the floor plan, it automatically updates in the Layout
- Print anywhere – desktop, large format printers, or use a PDF print driver
- Easily create custom title blocks or use pre-defined templates for your Plan Sets
Design with 2D & 3D Models
Design in 3D & 2D Simultaneously
- Perfect for residential and light commercial design – from concept to final plans
- Quickly drag and arrange walls, windows, doors and cabinets in 3D and 2D
- Use the 3D views, models and Virtual Tours to help communicate and illustrate the finished project to the client
- 3D models are automatic. To see a view, simply point-and-click the camera. Save any view as an image to email or print
- Choose from several 3D tools including the Full Overview, Doll House™, Glass House™ and many more
- Use the Plan Database to organize and maximize reuse of your plan portfolio
- Quickly design kitchens or baths in 2D and 3D, dropping in cabinets, changing styles, adding custom countertops, flooring and more
Automatic & Manual Building Tools
Automatic & Manual Framing Tools
- Use the powerful built-in Automatic and Manual Building tools to make the most of your design time including: walls, windows, foundations, framing, stairs, decks, CAD, electrical and more
- Automatic and Manual Dimension Tools – click to place automatic dimensions or manually place dimensions
- Automatic and manual roofs: hip, gable, curved and more
- Advanced roof tools: Auto Dormer™ and Auto Roof Returns™
- Automatic framing for walls, foundations, decks and roofs
Materials Lists for Cost Estimating
Over 500 Built-in CAD Details
- Automatically generate a Materials List broken down by individual category – concrete, framing, sheetrock and more
- As you make changes in the plan, the Materials List will automatically update when you generate a new list
- The Materials List can be generated by room, area or project in a spreadsheet format
- Easily export the Materials List to other programs for additional cost estimating or project management
- Build a Master List for pricing of commonly used items to save time for cost estimates
- Generate Schedules for: windows, doors, cabinets, electrical, finish, fixtures and furniture