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Writer's pictureCarsten Emde

Celebrating 50 Archicad Tips.

Updated: Mar 25, 2023


Below is the full list of all my 50 ARCHICAD Quick Coffee Tips combined. They all show the description of what the tips is all about. A thumbnail to see the finished 3D model that links to the related ARCHICAD Tutorial.

Tip 01: ARCHICAD How to resize a Google Earth Map to correct scale

Quick coffee break tip on resizing a Google Earth Map to scale with ARCHICAD. Using google earth maps when building your 3D model assists with using existing surrounds to place your model in

Resize Google Earth Map in ARCHICAD

Tip 02: How to create 3D stone shadow gaps in ARCHICAD

Quick coffee break tip on create 3D stone shadow gaps in ARCHICAD. Instead of using texture maps, in some models it is a lot easier to create shadow gaps in 3D. This will give you a much better and more realistic look in your 3D render.

3D Stone Shadow Gaps in ARCHICAD

Tip 03: How to create a twisted column effect in ARCHICAD

Answering a subscribers question. At first I thought that will be quite hard to create a twisted column effect in ARCHICAD, as ARCHICAD is not designed to twist. Then a quick research in my marvelous ARCHICAD drawer tugged away in my brain, I found an easy solution !

Twisted Column in ARCHICAD

Tip 04: How to create 3D roof tiles in ARCHICAD

This tip is about creating 3D tiles and colorbond sheets for your roof. It's a great free ARCHICAD accessory, which I show you where to download.

3D Roof Tiles in ARCHICAD

Tip 05: How to transfer window attributes in ARCHICAD

This weeks ARCHICAD speed modeling quick coffee tip is a top secret one, like a hidden feature, not even sure if GRAPHISOFT knows about it !

Transfer Window Attributes in ARCHICAD

Tip 06: How to align and resize texture maps to fit in ARCHICAD

It can be frustrating when your model looks great, maps are applied but the grout of the tiles, for example, is not aligning in all 4 corners of the room ! Same with textures on walls, especially brick textures. It just looks not right, don't you think so, when the brick course is finishing on a half brick at the top ? Have a look on how it's done correctly every time, even if you have different texture sizes ( 1000 x 1000, 1024 x 1024, etc. or rectangular ones like 500 x 1000, 1200 x 1800, etc. )

Align and Resize Texture Maps in ARCHICAD

Tip 07: How to render out a color mask in ARCHICAD

Over the last couple of months I came across this question a couple of times. I decided to show you how it's done in ARCHICAD ! This option has been there ever since Graphisoft introduced CineRender. Ok it's not really an option, it's a solution but see for yourself.

Render Color Mask in ARCHICAD

Tip 08: How to show window cut in wall for high windows in ARCHICAD

It happens all the time, you move the window higher in the wall and make it smaller in height too, then it disappeared on the floor plan. There are 2 simple solutions I like to show you.

Show all window cuts in wall in ARCHICAD

Tip 09: How to use the Marquee Tool to speed up your modeling process in ARCHICAD

There a couple of ways to speed up your modeling process using this tool. I use this daily and almost could not do without it !

How to use the Marquee Tool in ARCHICAD

Tip 10: How to render only part of an image with Cinerender in ARCHICAD


This is very useful if you are working on materials/colors/lighting/reflections. Helpful too, when your client comes back with small material/color changes, so you don't have to re-render the full high resolution image. Great time saver !

Render Part of Image in CineRender in ARCHICAD

Tip 11: How to create a quick sloping Kerb along a terrain in ARCHICAD


How to create a quick sloping Kerb along a terrain. It's something ARCHICAD used to struggle with. The newer versions can handle this much better. It looks great and doesn't take long to model up at all.

Sloping Kerb in ARCHICAD

Tip 12: How to match curved curtain wall mullions to columns in ARCHICAD


To match curved curtain wall mullions to columns, is not as straightforward as you think unless of course, you know what you are doing ! Follow this quick tip and you will see.

Curtain Wall match columns to mullions in ARCHICAD

Tip 13: How to associate a path to a terrain in ARCHICAD


How to create a quick path associated to a terrain. You change the width of the path in an instant and the terrain adjusts automatically.

Associate a Path to Terrain in ARCHICAD

Tip 14: How to create panels on round column in ARCHICAD


Creating panels on round columns is actually quite easy if you know how. They look really good in 3D and render beautifully.

Create Panels on a round Column in ARCHICAD

Tip 15: How to create an overpass in ARCHICAD


How to create an overpass in a couple of simple steps.

How to create an overpass in ARCHICAD

Tip 16: How to model a cool bookshelf design and save as library part in ARCHICAD


When you design a bookshelf or any other furniture, try to think outside the square when it comes to ARCHICAD tools. This quick coffee tip tutorial is a great example to make something look exciting with, well very little effort !

Cool Bookshelf Design in ARCHICAD

Tip 17: How to use graphical override for presentations in ARCHICAD


Graphic overrides, yes they are awesome ! There are a lot of options and combinations you can come up with. I will show you a couple in this Quick Coffee break tip tutorial, then it is your turn to give it a go and show your clients what can be done !

Graphical Override in ARCHCAD

Tip 18: How to create a random ramp - 2 ways in ARCHICAD


This tutorial will show you how to create a random ramp in 2 quick ways. There are a couple of tools in ARCHICAD which come in handy . It is actually pretty straight forward, if you know how to ! Both ways I show you are quite unique and produce great results.

Random Ramps in ARCHICAD

Tip 19: How to split facade materials up and into shape you want in ARCHICAD


Splitting up facade materials, is sometimes necessary to create the CGI the client is after. I show you a simple way to do this, any split/shapes you want, represented on your facade.

Split Facade Materials up in ARCHICAD

Tip 20: How to duplicate a layer and it's content in ARCHICAD


How to duplicate a layer and it's contents including all stories. It's actually straight forward and pretty fast IF you know how to do it.

Duplicate layers and it's content in ARCHICAD

Tip 21: How to create a cut out seat in a concrete wall in ARCHICAD


This Tutorial shows you how create a nice wooden seat , cut out through a concrete wall.

Wooden Seat in Concrete Wall

Tip 22: How to add more segments to Shell tool and more in ARCHICAD


How to add more segments ( resolution ) to your Shell tool object and more. Like creating the shape you after, adjusting the shell contours at a later time. Linking to walls.

Add more segments to Shell Tool in ARCHICAD

Tip 23: How to create a Shade Sail Cover in ARCHICAD


It's about how to create a shade sail cover for an outdoor place. There are a couple of key steps to follow the rest is " easy "

Shade Sail Cover in ARCHICAD

Tip 24: How to model a Barrel Shaped Building in ARCHICAD


This tutorial is showing you how to use the shell tool to create a barrel shaped building.

Barrel Shaped Building in ARCHICAD

Tip 25: How to model a Public Place Offset in ARCHICAD


This tutorial is showing you, how to use the offset option, creating a public space.

Public Place using offset in ARCHICAD

Tip 26: How to model a slanted Curtain Wall 2 ways in ARCHICAD


Modeling a slanted curtain wall 2 ways is not as hard as you think. It actually works quite well when you use the Elevation to model this and not just the floor plan.

Slanted Curtain Wall 2 Ways in ARCHICAD

Tip 27: How to model a Pergola Shade in ARCHICAD


Model a pergola shade. Even so it seem fairly easy there is a lot more to it, couple of cool tricks to add to your skill range !

Pergola Shade in ARCHICAD

Tip 28: How to create Custom Windows with Curtain Wall in ARCHICAD


This tutorial explains how to create custom window shapes, any shapes, with the curtain wall tool. I show you how to save the window into the ARCHICAD library to be used at any time.

Custom Windows with Curtain Wall in ARCHICAD

Tip 29: How to create a pedestrian drop kerb in ARCHICAD


This is a great way to create a drop down kerb for pedestrians on an intersection, using the mesh tool, profiler and SEO.

Link:

Pedestrian Drop Kerb in ARCHICAD

Tip 30: How to cut adjust terrain to buildings in ARCHICAD


This tutorial is showing you how to cut out a hole in a terrain around a development. There are 2 options: The one you don't want to do and the one you do !

Cut Adjust Terrain to Buildings in ARCHICAD

Tip 31: Ceiling Stamp - cut out in ARCHICAD

This tutorial is about showing off some different ceiling designs while the client sits next to you or online, while sharing your screen. It is a simple and fast way, you will love it.

Ceiling Stamp cut out in ARCHICAD

Tip 32: ASM Techbase ARCHICAD Working Environment


How to setup the same ARCHICAD working environment as ASM Techbase

ASM Techbase's ARCHICAD Working Environment

Tip 33: How to model a 3D Barge Board in ARCHICAD


Modeling a 3D barge board is quite an easy task, yes if you know how to . This tutorial shows you a nice way to model the barge board and it's a great way if you want to change the board down the track.

Model a 3D Barge Board in ARCHICAD

Tip 34: How to use the Roof Wizard to create roof constructions in ARCHICAD


This quick tip is explaining ARCHICAD's roof wizard. We look into some of the many settings and show you a couple of different roof types including some with skylight window. The ARCHICAD roof wizard works really well and if you spent a bit of time learning it, like an hour or two you will be quite pleased with the results.

Roof Wizard in ARCHICAD

Tip 35: How to reset Favorite default settings in ARCHICAD


This ASM Techbase quick coffee tip is about lost default favorites. Have you ever lost your favorites ? I bet you have, it's a common occurrence if you work long enough with ARCHICAD. As usual it is quite easy . . . if you know how :)

Reset lost Favorites in ARCHICAD

Tip 36: How to model a Wire Fence in ARCHICAD


This tutorial will show you, how to create a wire fence. There are a couple of certain steps involved to get to this 3D model of a wire fence. Can you use the handrail tool ? Yes you can but before you use the handrail tool you need to create the "parts" which you can later assign inside the handrail tool. So please watch this first tutorial to create the fence shown in the thumbnail shown below. The follow up tip - No. 37, will show you how to apply your new learnt skills in the handrail tool. The fence created in there will be much more sophisticated and flexible including placing it along a sloping terrain.

Model a Wire Fence in ARCHICAD

Tip 37: How to model a Handrail Wire Fence in ARCHICAD


This tutorial will show you how to add the wire fence parts ( from Tip 36 ) into the handrail tool. So we create a wire fence you can use with the handrail tool, which is a lot more flexible including using the wire fence on a bent ramp or a sloping landscape!

Model a Handrail Wire Fence in ARCHICAD

Tip 38: Modern Garden Steps with Neon Lights in ARCHICAD


This ARCHICAD tutorial shows you how to model some modern garden steps with neon lights.

Modern Garden Steps in ARCHICAD

Tip 39: Model a Modern Staircase in ARCHICAD


I came across a great modern design of a staircase which I thought was perfect for my new quick tip. This is a great example how important a good 3D model is to get the point to the client.

Modern Staircase in ARCHICAD

Tip 40: Slanted Roof Shell Shape in ARCHICAD


I like you to pay special attention to the highlighted shell in the top image. You can see the shell has a slant at the bottom left hand corner with a certain width. As you follow along the wooden shell you can see the shell width is getting smaller and matches the same shell width of the outer shell on the right hand side. At the same time the slant is decreasing to zero.

Slanted Roof Shell Shape in ARCHICAD

Tip 41: How to model Corner Windows in ARCHICAD


This tutorial is showing how to model a lot of different types of corner windows in ARCHICAD.

Model Corner Windows in ARCHICAD

Tip 42: How to Model a Bent Corrugated Iron Roof in ARCHICAD


This Speed Modeling quick coffee tip is showing you how to create different types of round corrugated iron roofs. Placing some windows which follow the round roof is a handy tip too.

Bent Corrugated Iron Roof in ARCHICAD

Tip 43: Model Special Column Designs in ARCHICAD


The tutorial is all about creating some more special column designs. There are times we want to get away from the normal square and round columns to make the design more exciting. I will show which ARCHICAD tools are essential and how to use them.

Special Column Designs in ARCHICAD

Tip 44: Model Outdoor Design Chair in ARCHICAD


This tutorial is showing how to model up an outdoor designer chair. We make good use of the shell tool and show you how swapping between floor plan and sections, helps you model faster and easier.

Outdoor Chair Design in ARCHICAD


Tip 45: Model Shell Shape Building with shell tool in ARCHICAD


This tutorial is about a Shell Design with focus on how to add glass, holes and frames.

Shell Shape Building with shell tool in ARCHICAD

Tip 46: Model detailed Swimming Pool in ARCHICAD


This tutorial is showing how to create any shape swimming pool, with detailed tiles sweeping around the edges. The model will be ready to cut a section or use in a nice CGI render.

Detailed Swimming Pool in ARCHICAD

Tip 47: How to import Autocad file into ARCHICAD and start building your model

This tutorial is showing you a great way to import the DWG's - Plans and Elevations to trace over for modeling. I show you a tip on how to import all the layers of the DWG file onto 1 layer only.This way it won't mess up your layer settings and layer combinations.

Import Autocad file into ARCHICAD

Tip 48: Model Landscape Memorial in ARCHICAD

This quick tip will explain how to create this beautiful looking landscape design shape, which was used for the Pentagon Memorial. ( designed by the Architects Julie Beckman and Keith Kaseman ) Enjoy and learn - Carsten

Model Landscape Memorial in ARCHICAD


Tip 49: Pedestrian Bridge Design Model in ARCHICAD

This Pedestrian Bridge Design Tutorial is showing you how important it is to use Sections or Elevations, when creating a 3D model. Furthermore it teaches you how to use the multiple rotate and elevate tool at the same time.

Pedestrian Bridge Design Model in ARCHICAD

Tip 50: EV Docking Station in ARCHICAD

This weeks Speed Modeling Quick Coffee Tip from ASM Techbase was inspired by Adrian Smith + Gorden Gill Architects in Chicago. The modern steel construction is actually a EV Docking Station, where you can charge electric cars.

EV Docking Station in ARCHICAD

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