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ArchiCAD Tutorials Videos on the Web

As you probably know, I have been creating ArchiCAD tutorials for a very long time.

Over the past couple of years, I have been actively developing my ArchiCAD tutorials video channel on YouTube. It’s been exciting to see the number of views explode as I added more videos:

• Through 2010: 4 videos, 3,412 views
• 2011: 10 new videos, 110,914 views
• 2012: 18 new videos, 502,618 views

If you haven’t already done so, I encourage you to subscribe to my YouTube channel so you get notified whenever I post a new one of my ArchiCAD tutorial videos.

We’re approaching 3,000 subscribers, with 627,628 views from 201 countries. It’s very satisfying to see my work actually reaching and helping ArchiCAD users all over the world!

ArchiCAD Tutorials on YouTube

There are a number of other YouTube channels for ArchiCAD that are well worth visiting.

The GRAPHISOFT ArchiCAD channel has 1,268 videos offering a mixture of product demos (for example, new features of ArchiCAD 16), case studies and interviews with architects using ArchiCAD, and recorded webinar presentations. More recently, Graphisoft has been creating tutorials in the “ArchiCAD Video Series” on a variety of topics such as the Wall Tool, Slab Tool, Magic Wand and Element Information, as well as several longer ArchiCAD Training Series playlists on Basic ArchiCAD, Using Teamwork, and Advanced ArchiCAD.

I have particularly enjoyed some of the Graphisoft “Classics modeled with ArchiCAD” videos that show how architectural and design works can be recreated in ArchiCAD: Eero Saarinen’s Dulles International Airport, Alvar Aalto’s Vase, the Sagrada Familia Passion Towers by Antoni Gaudi, and the Leaning Tower of Pisa. These are inspiring examples that show how ArchiCAD’s modeling tools can be applied creatively to quickly produce intricate geometry.

Jared Banks is an architect based in Minnesota who has created a fascinating ArchiCAD blog under his company name Shoegnome. It is filled with tips and tricks and commentary on how he uses ArchiCAD as well as other observations on Graphisoft and the world of architecture in general. Jared’s YouTube channel now has 12 excellent ArchiCAD Tips that I’m sure you will find very interesting.

There is a well-established ArchiCAD channel by the UK reseller Applecore Designs Limited. It has a combination of some original tutorials and presentations, as well as many videos reposted from Graphisoft and other sources. Recently they produced a series of three videos with a case study on “Project Hollycroft: Utilising BIM for Renovation.” Check out these videos to learn more about how to apply ArchiCAD’s recently added Renovation tools in the context of real projects.

ArchiCAD Tutorials in Other Languages

This past year, I have been working with Atlanta architect Mark Moscrip to create a version of the Best Practices Course ArchiCAD training in Spanish, as well as MasterTemplate. As part of our research, we discovered Linkaterra, a general website for Spanish language training videos. If you speak Spanish, I encourage you to visit the Linkaterra page for Recursos y Videotutoriales sobre ArchiCAD.

I’ve also seen ArchiCAD tutorials posted in Italian, German, French and other languages – we are truly a worldwide community!

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My latest free ArchiCAD tutorial video: Multi-Story Buildings – Basic & Advanced Strategies

As part of my personal Thanksgiving ritual, over the weekend I created another free ArchiCAD tutorial as a way of giving thanks to all of you. It is my privilege to be able to contribute to this vibrant community of creative design professionals.

 

ArchiCAD Tutorial | Multi-Story Buildings: Basic & Advanced Strategies

In this 30 minute tutorial I show several different approaches to modeling multiple story buildings, starting from simple schematic-level stacking and evolving into highly detailed methods that give beautiful section drawings automatically. The more sophisticated techniques are rather efficient, as they are actually fast and fairly simple to use once you understand what’s possible and how to set them up.

As a beginner, one starts with basic stacking of elements and simple walls with empty fills. The same approach may be used by a veteran user, but then developed further as the design is refined. Solid Element Operations make it easy to create a model that generates additional detail in the sections. The use of complex profiles allows even more complete detailing in the model, along with the possible separation of the structural floor from finish floor into separate elements. When done properly, the model generates views that can be used directly in enlarged wall sections with minimal cleanup, and little to add except for annotation.

Please enjoy my latest creation. If you learn something that helps you use ArchiCAD more effectively, click the Like button or better yet, post a comment on the YouTube page or as a comment here.

Check out my ArchiCAD Tutorials YouTube Channel for more free ArchiCAD tutorial videos.

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ArchiCAD Tutorial: Create a New 3D Object with Custom Hotspots and 2D Symbol

This ArchiCAD Tutorial has a little story behind it.

Last week I received an email from Francois Swanepoel, a colleague who works with ArchiCAD in South Africa. Francois asked me for some help with a GDL question, and pointed me to this discussion on ArchiCAD-Talk.

A series of posts ensued, which inspired me to create a new 30 minute video, which I just posted on my ArchiCAD Tutorials YouTube Channel:

ArchiCAD Tutorial | How to Create a New 3D Object with Custom Hotspots and 2D Symbol

What You’ll Learn in this ArchiCAD Tutorial

I explain and demonstrate how to create a custom 3D object from elements in your model, complete with custom hotspots on plan as well as in 3D. I used a special 3D Hotspot object which I scripted (downloadable without charge from the YouTube video page) to set the snappable points in the 3D model.

In the video I also show how to easily redraft the 2D symbol (which is normally scripted in GDL by ArchiCAD) to simplify it. This is often a confusing area for new and intermediate level users, since it is easy to create a custom 3D object but it’s not obvious how to change the 2D symbol if it doesn’t look the way you need.

I also show how to add in an opaque fill to cover up items below the object. I’ve had this question come up many times over the years. Users often want their new object to work in a way similar to standard library parts, which cover up floor tiles or other elements placed behind them in the Display Order.

I take a few minutes in this tutorial to demonstrate that old favorite technique (no longer as widely used or needed, but still useful) of rotating the viewing position to a side elevation to create a custom object with a different axis orientation. As many of you know, this can help simplify the creation of certain forms, since it is sometimes easier to draft something precisely on plan then flip it up to a vertical orientation.

I hope you enjoy my latest ArchiCAD tutorial – please check it out, click the “Like” button, and post a comment!

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Four more free ArchiCAD tutorials, three new ArchiCAD training mini-courses

During the past month, I released 4 more free ArchiCAD tutorials on my YouTube channel:

• Roof Modeling in ArchiCAD 15 and above
• Migrating Favorites
• Project Map vs. View Map
• How to Model Better in 3D and Draw Less in 2D

The response from ArchiCAD users around the world has been phenomenal, with 46,143 views in the past 30 days along with 126 Likes and 25 comments.

This has helped propel my ArchiCAD Tutorials YouTube channel to a milestone of over 450,000 views and 2,000 subscribers, solidly establishing it as the premier destination for ArchiCAD users outside of Graphisoft’s own sites.

There are a lot of us ArchiCAD users out there – I recently checked and my tutorials have been watched by users from 201 countries. I didn’t even know there were that many countries… ;->

Thanks to all of you – it is my pleasure and privilege to be able to share these tutorials with you, and help you get the most out of ArchiCAD!

To celebrate, I am giving away to five lucky YouTube subscribers one of my new specialty training courses.
Each day I will announce another prize – this is going to be fun.

I’m picking winners at random from my list of YouTube subscribers, giving preference to those who have posted a comment on the videos.

(If you subscribe now and post a comment, you’ll be in the draw!)

THREE NEW SPECIALTY ARCHICAD TRAINING COURSES
ON SALE FOR $47 EACH THRU FRIDAY OCTOBER 19

To celebrate this YouTube milestone, and the first anniversary of my QuickStart Course on ArchiCAD Basics, I have put together a new series of affordable training resources – three sets of lessons from the Best Practices Course focused on specific topics:

FastTrack! Course – speed your ArchiCAD design and production with these tips and tricks; retain control and improve quality while working at top velocity (8 hours)

RoofDesign Course – learn the fastest ways to create roof models and drawings using ArchiCAD’s Best Practices; build roof systems quickly and accurately (5+ hours)

SiteModel Course – create topography based on DWG surveys or PDF drawings; master the mesh tool and model terrain and hardscape, do site improvements and calculate cut and fill (3.5 hours)

These specialty courses will retail for $97, but during my introductory promotion you can enroll for only $47!

Each course has a set of video lessons to help you master a specific topic. You can go through them at your own pace, as the videos are available on demand in our member area. Watch them in your web browser or download them for permanent reference.

Get all three courses for only $97:
ArchiCAD Training Three-Pack – get all three – the Fast!Track, RoofDesign and SiteModel Courses – over 16 hours of high quality training for only $97 during my introductory sale!

QUICKSTART AND BEST PRACTICES ARCHICAD TRAINING COURSES ON SALE TOO

As part of the anniversary celebration, I am also putting the QuickStart Course on sale for $147, a savings of $50 off the standard price of $197. A two-payment option is available, so you can get started learning ArchiCAD for only $77.

The Best Practices Course is on sale for $597, a savings of $100 off the standard price. The Best Practices Course includes the entire QuickStart Course, so you can go through the basics as well as all the intermediate and advanced topics. (The new Fast!Track, RoofDesign and SiteModel Courses are all included as well, since they are excerpts from the big course.)

When you enroll in the Best Practices Course, in addition to permanent access to the member area for all the training videos, you also get 6 months of membership in my ArchiCAD Coaching Program. Three times each month I hold a live 90 minute webinar in which I answer questions from members, either sent in ahead of time or asked in the chat box.

This ArchiCAD Coaching Program a great place to get your personal questions answered, and learn how to apply Best Practices principles in the context of real-life projects. You can even send me a project so I can show how things can be done or cleaned up in your actual file.

CELEBRATING ARCHICAD, HELPING ARCHICAD USERS

I’ve been working with ArchiCAD users for over 22 years now, and I’m more excited than ever about what architects and building designers can do with this program. As I’ve broadened my focus over the past two years from being an ArchiCAD reseller in California, I’m delighted to get to know and help ArchiCAD users from around the world.

I’m truly delighted to share all of these resources with you, and to give you the best deal possible on high quality ArchiCAD training and coaching. Please check out the course pages to see all the details about each one, and choose the best option that suits your needs and budget.

If you have any questions or comments, please drop me an email or post a comment on any of these website pages. I look forward to hearing from you, and working with more and more of you to help you master ArchiCAD and get the most out of this powerful but often enigmatic software.

Best regards,
Eric Bobrow

P.S. If you purchase any of my training courses, THEN win one of the prizes, don’t worry. I’ll give you another course, or refund what you paid, or give you a credit towards the Best Practices Course equal to twice what you paid.

ArchiCAD users – this is going to be fun!

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Keeping Things Up to Date

I haven’t paid attention to this website for a while, and I intend to change that. When I last posted here in June, I was in the middle of presenting a series of webinars on Internet Marketing for Architects. Now, almost three months later, I’ve launched an entire course on Internet Marketing for Architects, and presented 8 out of 12 weekly training lessons with very positive feedback.

It’s been a rather all-consuming summer of work on many fronts: in addition to launching the IMA course, we upgraded MasterTemplate for ArchiCAD 16, I’ve been creating more lessons for my Best Practices Course, and producing more videos for my YouTube channel.

Traffic to my YouTube channel has continued to increase, and we recently passed 400,000 views, less than 5 months after hitting 200,000. I guess I must be doing something right… people are recommending the channel to their friends and colleagues, and we now have over 1850 subscribers.

This fall, I’ll be launching several different initiatives that I’m excited about. To start out, I’ll be introducing a series of 3 mini-courses for specific ArchiCAD topics: Site Design and Terrain Modeling, Roof Design and Documentation, and the FastTrack! Course on optimizing your speed and accuracy in general. Look for an announcement next week on these very affordable and extremely targeted training series.

I’m going to celebrate the YouTube milestone by awarding 4 prizes for these new ArchiCAD training courses to subscribers. If you’d like to win one of these all you have to do is visit my YouTube channel and subscribe (just click the button – it’s easy). I’ll pick 4 subscribers and give them a free training course to thank everyone for their support and encouragement as I continue to develop my comprehensive Best Practices Course into the richest and most effective training for ArchiCAD users.

I’ll be back soon with more news about the fall. There is a LOT that I have in the pipeline that I know you’re going to love!