TRICKS

and
TIPS for
ARCHICAD

Permission to copy:

The CAD Academy

Page 1

CHANGE A HIP TO A GABLE ROOF:

Using the WALL tool draw a rectangle 24 x 35.

Using the MAGIC WAND (hold down

the SPACE BAR). Place a HIP roof on
the rectangle.

To change roof to a GABLE goto the

ARROW (to edit) select the PICK POINT
and the MOVE tool from the PAL. Repeat
on the opposite side. Do both sides of the
ROOF.

Select the two portions of the ROOF and DELETE

them.

Page 2
Change to a GENERIC
PERSPECTIVE view. Change
wall height and TRIM wall to the
ROOF.

Results in a GABLE roof.

Use the SLAB tool. Create a SLAB

starting in the middle of the outside
wall.

Page 3

MERGE ROOFS:
Select COLUMN and place two
columns as shown.

Using the ROOF tool make two

roof panels as shown.

Select the ARROW to enter EDIT mode.

Select the roof panel as shown and then
holding down the CTRL key select each
panel to merge with the ROOF.

MERGED RESULTS as shown.

Page - 3

QUICK SELECTION SETS:

To select ALL WALLS for instance.
Select WALL from the toolbox
Hold down CTRL and the A to
HIGHLIGHT all walls.

Try selecting ALL roof panels using the

same steps.

EVENLY SPACE WINDOWS ALONG A WALL:

Turn off roof layer.

Place three windows along a wall.

Highlight WINDOWS in the

TOOLBOX. Use CTRL A to select all
windows. Go to EDIT pull down and
select DISTRIBUTE ALONG X and
windows will be evenly spaced along
the wall.

Page 4

QUICK RENDER TIPS:

Illusion is important in rendering. You

dont want to get so much information that
it takes forever to render, but have enough
to make the project look inviting. Start
with the MESH tool. The trick here is to
change the elevation to -6 so it is below
the slab.

Make the largest square you can around the

building.

There are a lot of items in the object tool.

Use the down arrow and select FIND
LIBRARY PARTS to quickly find what
you need.

Page 5
Type in TREE to search for available
trees.
Use ONLY GREEN trees as the others
are 2D.

Place a couple of trees. If we sell the project we

can embellish.

Whatever view
you have in
GENERIC
PERSPECTIVE
will be the
rendered view.
There are default
camera, lights,
sky, etc. that can
be changed as
well, but that is
another lesson.

Page 6

ArchiCAD uses a powerful render

machine called LIGHTWORKS. You
can also quickly produce walk-throughs
and sun studies.

Go to the DOCUMENT pull down and

SELECT CREATIVE IMAGINING and
then PHOTO RENDER PROJECTION.

Not bad for a few minutes work.

Page 7

Reflected Ceilings:
Use the slab tool set to ceiling height

Select the slab for editing

Right-mouse click to bring

Up menu and select SLAB
SELECTION SETTINGS.

Page 8

Select COVER FILL and then RIGHT

ARROW.

Select GRID size.

Select COVER FILL ORIENTATION and

set to LINK TO FILL ORIGIN

Page 9

You will have two

GRIPS. One will
allow you to change
rotation angle and
the other will change
the origin.

Rotate

Change origin