A fresh start - what software would you buy?
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This post is primary targeted architectural design (not the detailed drawings)!
Within my 12 years of experience with building design, I have tried different software to find the best (for me) workflow.
I have primary used autodesk software, autocad and revit architecture, Max, and of course Sketchup
But there are a lot of similar software, eg. Archicad, Vectorworks, Allplan (all Nemetschek), bonsai 3D, lumion 3D, Thea Render, and a lot more I don't know!
If you were about to make a fresh start, what would you buy to get the best workflow, focusing on architectural design and presentation??
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What can one say at a Sketchup forum:
In our office we have 2 bought programs, all the rest are free for commercial use.
- Sketchup Pro (without Layout it looses its competitiveness);
- Thea (Kerkythea free);
Free/Opensource:
- Gimp;
- Inkscape;
- Draftsight;
- Tekla (didn't really feel the need yet, but will do for sure).
The only real essential is Sketchup+Layout all others are what makes an edge.
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Ok.. currently I use Autocad Architecture to draw the floorplans after the initial handsketching. After that I fire up Sketchup to get some 3D.
Our drafting people makes the following drawings in Revit.We are talking seriously about a more streamlined workflow, but I just hate Revit. The views is in parallel mode (cameras can be in perspective mode, but it's just not good enough), and the dimensions is snapping all over - it's far from Sketchups simple interface.
The Autodesk package I have installed on my workstation, is very expensive, and not that usefull for the work I do
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I think you could cut Arch Desktop out of the loop and just go straight to Sketchup with your 2D drawing as well.
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@krisidious said:
I think you could cut Arch Desktop out of the loop and just go straight to Sketchup with your 2D drawing as well.
Yes.. I have tried that, but there is absolute some time saved in using the intelligent objects, just in 2D (AEC Objects in autocad architecture) to get the floorplan adjusted/modified as needed. But it is definitely a lot of money to use on Autocad for just that feature!
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That's why I've made a lot of my own and you can too or find them on the 3Dwarehouse. door openings, windows, hvac etc. I even have a trick with components where I have 2D component groups that you open them later at the 3D stage and insert the 3d model version and it populates the model with all the 3d doors and such.
far too much money for just that.
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@krisidious said:
That's why I've made a lot of my own and you can too or find them on the 3Dwarehouse. door openings, windows, hvac etc. I even have a trick with components where I have 2D component groups that you open them later at the 3D stage and insert the 3d model version and it populates the model with all the 3d doors and such.
far too much money for just that.
Interesting!
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That really depends on what's your process/workflow.
Krisidious has that trick but for a fraction of the amount of investment you are talking about with Autodesk, you could explore every plugin available for sketchup possible to replace Architectural Desktop. For myself, I now model everything and ceased drawing in 2D except for details, wich I draw on sketchup on SectionCutFaces and present on Layout.
There's pratically no CAD involved in my work right now, except when exporting/importing engineering drawings.
I'm starting to explore sketchup BIM capabilities with Tekla. I don't care much for parametric modeling as I tend to design exceptional details everywhere. So, for BIM, I'm interested mostly in infraestructure collision and Building Information Management for specific clients (wich are lacking for me right now).
I'm still afraid of auto reports from my models but I think this is where I should invest most of my time exploring in a near future.
I'm not going to talk about renders and presentations as it's pointless... Unless you'd like something unbelivebly sophisticated like those plugins available only for the most expansive softwares, sketchup has it all...
I really think my Sketchup licence is, and will be, the most important piece of software that dropped on my job in 12 years of work. I'm only sorry it was only 2 years ago and not earlier.
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I'm also very happy with sketchup, absolutely the fastest tool I have tried, to get a 3D model look fantastic!
But there is also a lot of software I haven't tried, Vectorworks seems to get some attention when I search the internet!?
I do need to be able to open standard cad formats, like dwg, which is used mostly in my country. That's why I'm thinking about an additional tool, besides Sketchup. Sketchups 2D capabilities is limited compared to other applications. -
I think it depends a lot on what kinds of businesses you interface with. If you're a small firm and work directly to the client you might be able to get away with just using SketchUp but if you regularly work with larger firms dumping Revit might not be realistic. I would swallow the bitter pill and go with SketchUp / Revit or Revit LT. It will make you available, professionally to the largest possible market.
If I were making a fresh start I would probably cough up the $$ for MAX and SketchUp but that's because I work less in the field of architecture now and more in retail display. If I were working solely in architecture it would be SketchUp / Revit for sure.
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I'd like to buy SketchUp 2020! (said with tongue in cheek).
Hopefully by that time there will be a front-end to SketchUp that will allow sketch (freehand) design, possibly using a Wacom or Pad (iPad etc).
I am currently playing with ArchiPad and see possibilities.
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hi guy's,
Two years ago i was still deciding what to do about my work flow, because i had hard time to keep up.
But i tried all of BIM and I wasn't satisfied with any of it. So I decided to stay in the smallest necessary evil witch is auto cad LT and i learned that i didn't use the functionality of full version anyway. I am still keeping my eye on Revit LT. And my biggest problem with sketch up was UV mapping witch is now ok thanks to fredo.D.
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Think you guys, for all your replies!
I see everyone is in love with, not surprisingly, Sketchup
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maybe look at VisualARQ in combination with rhino.
me personally, i don't need the parametric walls and layout capabilities etc of visual Arq but it seems you would benefit..
if i were starting fresh, rhino would be in there for sure.. then sketchup.. and i might like learning modo though i don't think i'd use it in my actual work..it all depends on who you're dealing with or what other people need to see your files.. most of the architects/engineers i've been sharing files with lately are done via sketchup while many of my drawings are done in rhino.. most everybody seems to have a copy of sketchup along with basic knowledge of obtaining dimensions etc..
that said, if i were looking at this from a student point of view (or whatever) and wanted to have knowledge in apps which makes myself available to the largest group of potential firms.. i think i'd focus on autoCad / Revit as my main learning points. (similar to what arail has said earlier)
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@jeff hammond said:
maybe look at VisualARQ in combination with rhino.
me personally, i don't need the parametric walls and layout capabilities etc of visual Arq but it seems you would benefit..
if i were starting fresh, rhino would be in there for sure.. then sketchup.. and i might like learning modo though i don't think i'd use it in my actual work..it all depends on who you're dealing with or what other people need to see your files.. most of the architects/engineers i've been sharing files with lately are done via sketchup while many of my drawings are done in rhino.. most everybody seems to have a copy of sketchup along with basic knowledge of obtaining dimensions etc..
that said, if i were looking at this from a student point of view (or whatever) and wanted to have knowledge in apps which makes myself available to the largest group of potential firms.. i think i'd focus on autoCad / Revit as my main learning points. (similar to what arail has said earlier)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hfPfvqC5fj0
That looks really cool!!
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Sure a sort of optimal versatile combo!
(a little pricy for hobbyst -
[quote="jeff hammond"]maybe look at VisualARQ in combination with rhino.
Jeff,
As I novice, I look at RHINO and wonder why you would use anything else.
Cost not being a factor of course.
The learning curve seems steep but once mastered, why SU?
Just wondering. -
Jeff,
Are you using VisualARQ? I asked on the Rhino forum a while back for an evaluation of VisualARQ vs Layout but didn't get much of a response. I am interested in the actual ease of use as opposed to a promotional video. All programs present themselves as the greatest thing in the world but in the end, the question is - "How does it work in the real world when you're on a deadline and the need to issue the construction documents is imminent?"
I used Softplan for a time but ultimately was dissatisfied with the hoops I had to jump through when I had to do something which was outside the options available. I presently use a mixture of Autocad, SketchUp, and Layout. This works quite well but of course I would really like a little more automation as per Chief, Softplan, Vectorworks etc.. The production of the working drawings is as important as the modeling environment and it seems like the search for the optimal solution is as illusive as the search for the Holy Grail. I would appreciate any comments you may have on VisualARQ.Kris
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Re: visualarq - I downloaded a demo but then got busy and didn't have the time to try it out. I have a sense that it's probably of more use to someone who is largely involved in architecture and needs it's implementation of parametric slabs, walls, doors and windows, etc. than to someone like myself in retail design and product display. Nonetheless, it looks like a very impressive program and, being a software junkie, I'd like an excuse to own it.
Re: Rhino vs SketchUp - I love working in Rhino and it can do things that couldn't even be dreamed about in SketchUp but when it comes to modeling simple geometry I have to say that SketchUp is faster. There are a couple of simple reasons for this and V6 might offer some improvements in these areas so Rhino might yet become a replacement for SketchUp. But, when I have to model something very fast and it requires no complex curves, tangencies or other functions that Rhino excels at, I use SketchUp.
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@jpalm32 said:
As I novice, I look at RHINO and wonder why you would use anything else.
Cost not being a factor of course.
The learning curve seems steep but once mastered, why SU?
Just wondering.I don't use sketchup very much these days.. even for simple stuff such as a basic floor plan with extruded walls and door/window cutouts, beam locations etc.. something like that is usually required as the starting point of a project in which i'll do a site visit for one day, take measurements with a laser, and draw the building on the computer as i go. in the past, i did that with sketchup -or- i'd have the main project file being a .skp and i'd only bring in rhino drawings for the more complex designs. but now, i've become proficient enough with rhino to where it's overall faster and simpler for me to just do everything in rhino.
i'm working on a design for an upcoming project this week and i've done exactly that.. no sketchup at all. except i've done a few exports to sketchup in order to send to the client for communication purposes because he has sketchup and can navigate a model and it's simpler/faster for me to show ideas that way instead of doing 2D exports with explanations typed on top.
there's also a company i sub for on occasion and they use sketchup for everything.. we'll sometimes do design collaborations on a .skp so for that alone, i need to keep my sketchup chops up to par.
anyway, i mostly like sketchup nowadays for this exact forum and coming up with solutions for 'how do i draw this in sketchup' questions.. there's a certain fun to be had from that (by me at least) even though it's usually way easier and more accurate to do the same drawing in rhino.. in some of the threads, i'll also post a rhino solution as well.. recent example: http://sketchucation.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=79%26amp;t=56057
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