How do I render Architectural Desktop 2 objects?

Generally, you can assign materials to objects in Architectural Desktop. Unfortunately, there are objects in Architectural Desktop like windows and stairs that have sub-objects. You must assign materials to sub-objects by color if you want them to render with different materials.

You will need AccuRender 3 build 202 or later.

Configuring Architectural Desktop 2 for Rendering

There are slightly different settings for Architectural Desktop and Architectural Desktop 2. If you are using Architectural Desktop 1, see the previous section.

To configure Architectural Desktop 2 for rendering:

1. From the Desktop menu, click Display System, and then click Display Configurations.

2. To create a new configuration, in the Display Configurations dialog box, click New.

3. In the Name dialog box, enter a name for the new configuration such as RENDER, and click OK.

4. In the Display Configurations dialog box, from the Name list, select RENDER, and click Edit.

5. In the Display Configurations dialog box, on the Configuration tab, clear the Configuration is View Direction Dependent checkbox in the middle of the dialog.

6. Then at the top of the dialog under Fixed Display Configuration frame, in the Display Representation Set list, select Model, and click OK.

7. In the Display Configurations dialog box, click OK.

8. Now when the RENDER configuration is current, the sub-objects in Architectural Desktop will render properly. You can switch between this configuration and the standard configuration on the fly.

To set the display configuration:

1. From the Desktop menu, click Select Display.

2. In the Viewport Display Configuration dialog box, under System Default Display Configuration, in the Name list, select RENDER, and click OK.

Assigning Materials to Architectural Desktop 2 Objects with Subcomponents

Architectural Desktop objects are made up of a number of sub-objects. For instance Window, which is an object in Architectural Desktop, is made of three sub-objects (Glazing, Frame and Sash.) If you would like everything in an object to be one material, you can assign the material to the object's layer. However, if you would like to assign materials to the sub-objects, you must make each sub-object a different color.

To change the color of sub-objects in Architectural Desktop 2 Doors:

1. From the Design menu, click Doors, and then click Door Styles&ldots;

2. In the Door Styles dialog box, from the Name column, select the style door object you would like to change or use Standard.

3. After highlighting the door style you want to change, pick the Edit button.

4. In the Door Style Properties dialog, pick on the Display Props tab.

5. From the Display Props tab, under the Property Source column select System Default and pick the Edit Display Props button.

6. In the Entity Properties dialog box, on the Layer/Color/Linetype tab, from the Component list, click the color for the component you want to change.

7. In the Select Color dialog box, select a color, and click OK. The number of the color will be used to reference the material.

8. Pick OK from Entity Properties, pick OK from Door Style Object, and pick OK from Door Styles.

9. From the Design menu, set colors for the other components.

10. At the Command prompt, type regen.

The objects will now be displayed in their new color.

Assign AccuRender Materials for Architectual Desktop 2

You must now assign AccuRender materials to the colors of the sub-objects.

To assign materials to the colors:

1. Start AccuRender.

2. In the AccuRender dialog box, click on the Setup tab, click Materials.

3. In the Assign Materials dialog box, in the assignment type list in the upper left, select By ACI (AutoCAD Color Index).

4. Under ACI, select a color number, and click Assign Material.

5. In the Material Library dialog box, select the material.