Foundation & screens

[yellowcense]

I have two questions:
Is there a way to make screened windows/doors, such as for a screened in porch?  Other than using enlarged windows, which show only clear glass? 

The next question is:  I want brick to show at the foundation, but I do not want to change the default foundation setting, just takes too much time.  I can set the drop siding to zero and apply brick for the edge of the floor and it looks fine, but I'm getting blue betweent the floor and the ground and even if I increase the floor height and then do a minus in elevate, I still get the blue spacing.

I hope this makes sense, is late and have been fiddling with this for a while.
Thanks
Yellowcense

[Allan Chesney]

You should be able to simulate the screens just by changing the glass to a close weave fabric or even just a dark colour and set the texture to semi transparent so that you can see through it.  You may have to experiment with the custom settings to get the right level of transparency. (Double click the texture in the Properties box to get to these settings).

I dont understand why it takes a long time to change the texture of the foundation - it should only take the same time as to change the edge of the floor.  If you use the 'paint brush' (Edit menu) it should only take seconds, especailly if you already have the texture visible - you can use the 'dropper' (top of Palette) to pick up the texture and the 'paintbrush ' to apply it. 

The blue you are getting is probably the sky, meaning you have a gap between the two surfaces.  Maybe changing the drop side to a little more than zero will cover it.

Just ask again if any of that needs more explanation.

Allan

[yellowcense]

Allen,
Thanks for your prompt help.  The idea you gave regarding screens worked great.  On a door, I changed the leif to glass and the changed the properties of the glass - I didn't know this option exsisted!
I choose lamp shade 1 and changed the transparentency and it worked GREAT.  And was pretty simple & fast to do.

Also, I didn't know about the paint option, which will make changing the foundation texture MUCH faster (designing my dream house & is BIG) but the idea you gave for the blue under the foundation isn't working.  I had already tried this but I tried it again.  It IS the sky as I changed the background to night, and the blue under the foundation changed to night.

I even increased the depth of the floor and then changed the elevation to  a ( - ) and it didn't help.
Any other suggestions?
Thanks,
Yellowcense

[yellowcense]

Ok, here's what I've further discovered.

If I insert a floor without walls, apply grass to the underside of the floor and then lattice to the edge of the floor, it's perfect for the look I want.  Do not have to do even one other change.  Sits perfectfully on the landscape, no blue line.  But as soon as I add walls, don't drop the exterior siding and apply the exact same effects to the floor, same elevation, everything is the same except have added the wall, I get the blue under the floor in spite of what I've tried.
Is there something else I can do or is this just a glich in relation to walls?
Yellowcense

[Allan Chesney]

It sounds as though the wall is sitting above the floor (elevated slightly) or some setting in the Location is not right.  Can you save the view (File/Export/2D image) so we can see what you are getting and maybe post the BLD file too so we can see the settings? I don't know of any 'glich' with the walls.

Allan

[Allan Chesney]

A further thought on this.  The walls will cut a hole in the landscape/terrain - maybe you are seeing this hole below your floor (The sky is still blue under the terrain!).  If this is the problem increasing the thickness of the floor may stop it or insert a foundation.

You will probably find you have auto terrain cutting turned on (Settings / Program Settings / Terrain ). If you only have a flat terrain, then you could turn it off.

Allan

[yellowcense]

Hi, I haven't been able to work with my project for a while, but an now getting back to it.  Will try your latest suggestion and then get back & let you know. Thanks.

[yellowcense]

Alan,
Turned off auto cut around terrain and problem is solved. Thanks so much.

[Allan Chesney]

I thought that may be it.  You will have to turn it on again of course if you decide to insert a hilly terrian - or you will end up with hills inside the building!!!

Allan