First, I need to come out and just say that I feel like a mouse addressing a room full of lions. I know I am absolutely not the target demographic for this program despite having a REALLY nice time playing around in it, but I’m hoping my thoughts for improvement might be shared by others that are more qualified to discuss them. I am nowhere close to an architect or engineer, so I feel guilty even posting in the forums amongst you all. I’m a little awkward, but there are those who feel a conversation is more interesting when introduced by a human face. Hence the video > just a voiceover. I’ve also included captions for those that don’t want to listen to a squeaky voice (or that are like me and think reading is faster than listening).
I started this video the day before the public release of Arkio 2.0. I’ve never made a video like this, but I kind of fell hard for Arkio and want to talk about what I love! I figured trying to organize my thoughts this way would be better. I haven’t gotten to check out 2.0 yet after Arkio crashed, but I’m excited!
I don’t think it’s necessary to address Support since I have a feeling the crash was caused by an automatic update to 2.0 —> files getting corrupted. It’s not a big deal, I generally create better things after losing the first couple of drafts anyway, but I’m including those relevant clips in the video anyway (mostly because I’m never 100% positive of anything, but I’m also not going to waste Support’s time with a direct inquiry over something small.).
Here’s my video, it’s kinda long (12 mins)
MOSTLY I just want to chat about potential tools or confirm that I might be missing a toggle setting. I’ve read through many forum posts, I’ve watched every tutorial, and I’ve even snooped around for YouTube videos, but I haven’t found a definitive “yes, you can do this” or “no, this will never be implemented because the target demographic has a better use for [blank]”. I’m just a dork who plays around with building and design, whereas most of you all make your living from it, so I don’t really have any right to make suggestions. Still, I’d kick myself for not asking.
To summarize:
Toggle geometry snapping off and on or introduce a nudge tool? I love how helpful snapping is most of the time during the drafting stages when you’re just trying to block out your forms, but sometimes ideas need more precision and unsteady hands won’t cooperate. I suppose I should “get good,” but there might be something I’m missing!
Stricter “lock position” buttons? Losing my alignment and never being able to anchor it properly again is such a buzzkill. It’s not always on purpose, but even disabling hand-tracking would somehow cause the “lock position” wrist icon to disable.
(Also, I’m still trying to “figure out” Discourse, and I’m not understanding embedding files into posts. I understand files have to be under 50mb, but even then my clips weren’t showing. I waited around a half hour in case they needed to buffer after uploading, but I think I’m just blind. 
)
Anyway, I’m really excited about this program and how much it has helped me organize and plan for my studio remodel. I can “feel” different layouts before I commit to anything, but I can also import all of my tools and stations to determine what areas need more attention (sewing room vs my soldering station/programming desk, for example).
Really, I’d just be happy to interact with anybody else who has been having fun with Arkio and hear about your thoughts, either as a professional or a fellow hobbyist. I modeled some cabinets after blocking out a potential location for them over a table I already had, and then imported those model cabinets at 1:1 scale thanks to Arkio’s plug-in for SketchUp. I even used PolyCam to scan the old paint-room sink so that I could use the mesh as a reference for a to-scale, “solid” model in Fusion. I then imported that into Arkio to start designing a counter around the sink.
This thing freakin’ rocks. I’ve only been at this for 2 weeks and it’s got my gears turning like mad!!
Also, I apologize for not understanding or using proper terminology throughout all the software I use. I’ve been playing around for years in programs like Fusion, Blender, and SketchUp because of my STEM and costuming hobbies, but spending even an hour in the same room (virtually or physically) as somebody who ACTUALLY knows what they’re doing just reminds me of how little I actually know!! So thanks for letting me ramble.
). I think the community would also be interested in learning about the rooms you are designing using Mixed Reality and how you created some of these designs.