New Features in pCon.planner 7.4Print

New Presentation Features

Background image in the design area

What will my building look like once it’s standing where it should? No need to wait, you can figure that out during the planning process: It’s all thanks to a customized background image – also known as Skybox – that can be placed directly in the design area. This realistic background can be rotated and the opening angle is adjustable. This ensures that the view out the virtual window always shows the right landscape for your plan.

The highlight: You can use the Skybox as a background for your OSPRay renderings. To add an image background, go to the View tab, open the Render Settings dialog (see arrow marked in green in image below) and upload an image into pCon.planner under the Background tab.

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Source Background Image: iStock.com/Michael Bischof

Use a spherical panorama as the background image. It must have a height-to-length ratio of 1:2 and should be as high quality as possible.

The background image will remain visible in every planning until it is changed again.

pCon.planner Help: Render

Render settings and image output always side by side

The image output dialog is now connected to the Image or Video dialog. During the rendering process, there will be no new window in the way: You will be able to see the progress of your rendering as well as your settings at all times.

Why is this so important? You’ll see in the next section!

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pCon.planner Help: Creating Media

OSPRay more flexible

The rendering has begun, but you can already tell it’s going to be too dark? Simply change the Tone Mapping setting. Now you can do so while the image is being rendered –without starting over!

All in all, rendering with OSPRay is much more user friendly now. Unlike in pCon.planner 7.3, you can change many of the settings while your image is being created. A manual restart of the rendering process is no longer required.

In addition, OSPRay gets more efficient: Your image will be rendered in less time while keeping magnificent quality.

Restart or keep it going?

It is now possible to change several OSPRay settings while an image is being rendered. These changes will then be directly inherited for the final image. It is also possible to make changes to further parameters during the image calculation; however, some will lead to a restart of the rendering process.

Note: You can even change the Tone Mapping and Background after the rendering is complete!

OSPRay repertoire continues to expand

So, you can use a background image from your plan when rendering now, but that’s not your only option: In addition, you can set your own panorama using the Image dialog. You can then adjust the Rotation and Opening Angle directly within the OSPRay settings. The previous need to align or move the entire plan is no longer necessary.

The Rotation option is also available when using HDRI images as a light source. That way, your light is always coming from the desired direction.

Tone Mapping settings have also been revised. You can read more about this in our online pCon.planner Help Center.

What’s also nice: Self-illuminating materials and the Architect camera type, like those available for Yafaray, are now available when rendering with OSPRay, as well.

pCon.planner Help: Photorealistic Images

More overview in the Image dialog: Rendering Profiles moved

In the new version, you will find your Render Profiles dialog to the right of the Renderer selection. This clarifies the overview of the selection, as the chosen Renderer determines which profiles are available.

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Note: This new arrangement also applies to the Video dialog.

pCon.planner Help: Single Frames

Several New Dimension Features

You can do much more with dimensions in pCon.planner 7.4. You’ll find suitable tools for even more objects and 2D elements within your plan.

Dimensioning radii, diameter and arcs

Round out your dimensions with the new features for diameter, radii and arc dimensioning. With these three new dimension types, nothing is standing in your way of complete plan dimensions – not even excessive free form curves or your own individual constructions.

pCon.planner Help: Circular Dimensioning

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Select Dimension Styles directly from the ribbon

The path to dimension styles is shorter now. By clicking on Dimension Styles in the Edit tab under the group Dimensions, you can open a drop-down menu that contains all of your styles. Simply click on one of the styles and it will be enabled for all future dimensions. You can recognize this by the green check mark placed before the entry.

Note: Your individual Dimension Styles are saved together with the DWG. They will then be available when you continue to work on the project.

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pCon.planner Help: Dimension Styles

Import Dimension Styles

You can easily transfer your Dimension Styles to other plans. Click on the Import button in the Dimension Styles dialog and select a DWG from your file system. All styles included in this DWG will then be inserted into your current plan and can be used for further planning.

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Insert dimensions easier

pCon.planner 7.4 guides you through the dimensions more quickly. Once you select the type of dimension, the dimension is attached directly to the mouse.

Set it in the right place and you will always see which point you have to click next.

Insert labels with better annotations

Annotations, or Callouts, are texts that refer to a particular position on your plan with the help of an arrow.

You can find them in the Start tab, Drawing Elements group, under the drop-down menu Text (click Callout).

This feature puts forward an improved drawing process. You can remove the text in the Properties Editor and have more freedom when using annotations.

The properties for your comments depend on the chosen dimension style, and work to keep the dimensions and annotations uniform.

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pCon.planner Help: Callouts

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Set Unit of Measure and even more new dimension functions

You can now define a color in the Properties Editor for individual dimensions. Coloring helps to structure your plan better, as the dimensions are clearly distinguishable from object edges.

The new option Remove Connections awaits you in the context menu. This eliminates the connection between objects and dimensions. With this, you can move dimen-sions independently from objects or move them to different positions.

The following settings can be defined globally by way of Dimension Styles or, for a single dimension, through the Properties Editor:

Select dimension units: Measurement values are automatically converted into the selected Unit of Measure. To do this, set the number of decimal places in the Precision input field.

Place a check mark next to Show Dimension Line and the dimension lines will be shown, even if the dimension arrow head and dimension values are outside of the guides.

pCon.planner Help: Dimensioning

Further Developments and Improvements

Share Model: Familiar function, new location

The Share Model button has found its new home on the Presentation tab. As usual, this gives you the opportunity to upload a 3D model of your furniture or an entire group of furniture items online or to share them via link with colleagues, customers and friends.

pCon.planner Help: Share Model

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Narrative Cameras

When selecting a Camera in the View tab, you will now see a thumbnail image. This makes it easier than ever to select the desired camera.

A new, organized camera area in the View tab allows for more efficient work.

New functions in the Media Browser

The Media Browser has been supplemented with a quick filter, making it more convenient to search for content. You can also use the context menu to determine whether you want to display subfolders for the current directory or only individual files.

pCon.planner Help: Media Browser

Contents

New Features in pCon.planner 7.4Print