Design software??
#1
Design software??
I am looking to build a rec room in my basement. I have roughly sketched the walls on paper, but I am wondering if anyone can reccommend any computer software that will help me do a plan in 2d or 3d and help figure out materials needed? Anything like that on the web, ot at a Home Depot type store??
Thanks
Thanks
#2
g_funk3, Welcome to the DIY Forums.
HD and Lowes have computer programs to let you see a finished room. Probably lists materials also. If you want to OWN the software, I would think it is probably expensive. Good luck with your project.
HD and Lowes have computer programs to let you see a finished room. Probably lists materials also. If you want to OWN the software, I would think it is probably expensive. Good luck with your project.
#3
g_funk3,
There are various programs, inexpensive out there but all have limitations. What I use is almost $3,000.00. Truth is, the cost is high but you also need the experience to know how things are built. My software is programmable, down to fractions of an inch. Many programs out there for the DIY'er are not.
Programs available are,
http://www2.shopping.com/xKW-home_de...001141/GS.html
The rest is of interest but I have answered your question above.
What I can do with my software is not done with just a click here and there and "poof" it's done. Software is only a tool and as such, the person using it must know much more than how to click the mouse. Also, there is a learning curve with all of this and I assume most have heard of AutoCad. Again, these programs require significant hours just to get to a stage where you can understand what the key functions are let alone what to do after getting to that point. We even have 2 year courses to learn AutoCad at trade schools, how many hours is that?
Below is just some of what I can do that low priced software cannot do.
1. I can literally design walls that are exact to existing conditions of a home.
2. I can modify anything without much difficulty.
3. I can produce virtually life-like 3D views based on all the data that I input for a project.
4. I can insert numerous span calculations for wood and steel beams with load limitations for each based upon plan specifications.
5. I can produce material take-offs with supurb accuracy.
True, you get what you pay for but I will say this about the software that some of my customers use. Bear in mind, I don't mind them showing me what they have in mind as it does help me in getting an good idea as to what they are after.
According to the articles and reviews I have read and there are 3 that I have used, almost all the home design software offered is either hard to use, slow and cumbersome, full of bugs and glitches, or all of the above. many users posting to sites such as Amazon.com and Epinions felt there was too long a learning curve to use them.
Part of the problem is that many have high expecations when they buy the software but once loaded, were disappointed in the amount of time it would take to cover the basics, such as learning to use the software and making a floor plan. Their comments emphasize the fact that home design software is not as easy to use as you would expect; it doesn't have the instant rewards of, say, game software. That doesn't mean working with these products can't be fun, but it does mean a novice user with little computer graphics or design experience will need to dedicate lots of energy to master these tools. Notwithstanding these complaints, other users and most professional reviewers say these programs, despite their faults, are indeed learnable by the average consumer.
Problem is that many budget software programs are not accurate. I have taken a clients design with dimensions and returned just to say that they are off from inches to feet. How can that be, you ask. It is simple, you get what you pay for. Just because a box says it can do this or that, isn't the whole truth. Read the disclaimers in small print on the package.
The you read customer reviews like this,
“After reading the reviews here I thought I was in for a real treat. To my disappointment, after I installed the software (which was painful to say the least) the product constantly crashed and was very unstable. Drawing walls is a joke. There is absolutely no accuracy in design. To create a nice image crashed my computer at every turn. Hope the rest of you have better luck than I did”
“I was looking for a software that would let me create a good design of my new house. I am not an architect and I am not interested in details such as plumbing, electrical, framing etc. I just wanted to create the walls, add the doors windows, furniture, stairs, roof, etc.”
Design software DOES NOT;
1. Automatically kick out a set of plans that are Building Permit Ready
In other words, you can't just draw the lines and it automatically generates all the necessary data, notes, etc. which make it acceptable for the City to get a permit.
2. Guarantee that what is drawn is accurate to fractions of an inch
It will not
If you just want to play with some simple ideas and then pass your ideas on to an architect this program will probably work for you. If you want to design your own house and build it then forget trying to use this program.
The challenge in preparing this update of home-design software is finding packages that are reviewed well. According to the articles and reviews we read, almost all the home design software offered is either hard to use, slow and cumbersome, full of bugs and glitches, or all of the above. Our most credible reviewer, Smart Computing, says all five packages in its most recent roundup were a disappointment in some way. That may be why there are so few current professional reviews of home design software—its failure to progress has created little reason for reviewers to keep up with new versions and therefore little consensus among critics.
Family PC enlisted the help of 138 families to test three home design packages, but that was in 1999 and the software tested no longer exists—in fact, Family PC no longer exists either. This magazine halted publication over a year ago. Reviewers Grotta and Grotta from PC Magazine went the extra mile in their interesting roundup of home design packages, tackling the same design project with four different products, but again this review is now dated. Consumer Reports notes shortcomings in various software products, but this very brief, four-year-old article is limited to only two or three sentences about each program.
Unfortunately, most of the cheaper software, with the notable exception of Data Becker Complete Home Designer 5.0 (*est. $30), falls far short of more expensive programs, like Punch! Professional Home Design (*est. $100). For example, Smart Computing's editors had quite a time with Activision's Home Design 3D (*est. $20). There's no printed manual, so you must rely on on-screen help topics, and even so, editors found it "easy to misplace walls" and "carpet didn't line up with the walls and the roof never looked right." Drag and drop is inaccurate, editors say; a bathtub ended up halfway in the bathroom and halfway in the back yard. Plus, the Activision software is only supported by Windows 95, 98 and Me.
Topics Entertainment Instant Home Design (*est. $30) didn't fare much better. This software asks you to scan in a photo of you own home, then tinker with exterior treatments and landscaping. But editors at Smart Computing weren't impressed: "Our finished product looked exactly like what it was: a photo with cutouts pasted onto it." Instead, if your looking for a cheaper option in home design software, editors recommend Data Becker's Complete Home Designer; images are less sophisticated than those of Punch! Professional, but reviewers say Data Becker is a good value, with easy-to-use features.
>> Where to buy
Interestingly, we noticed that while professional reviewers liked some of these programs, many users posting to sites such as Amazon.com and Epinions felt there was too long a learning curve to use them. We found the most impassioned voices on Amazon, where the highest-rated home design software earned only 3.5 stars out of 5 from 51 posters; overall, this product category had a higher percentage of low ratings than we’ve seen in other product categories.
Part of the problem is that few of these owners anticipated the time it would take to cover the basics, such as learning to use the software and making a floor plan. Their comments emphasize the fact that home design software is not as easy to use as you would expect; it doesn't have the instant rewards of, say, game software. That doesn't mean working with these products can't be fun, but it does mean a novice user with little computer graphics or design experience will need to dedicate lots of energy to master these tools. Notwithstanding these complaints, other users and most professional reviewers say these programs, despite their faults, are indeed learnable by the average consumer.
While the packages discussed here offer some provision for designing exteriors, the focus of this report is on software with strong architectural and interior-design components, as well as decorating options. These programs allow you to design a home from the ground up, specify the size of rooms, then manipulate virtual furniture, change wall coverings, and add decorative items.
Punch! Professional Home Design Platinum (*est. $100) has recently emerged as the experts’ favorite. A printed user manual is one reason why this package earned Smart Computing’s top rating. Its realistic graphics and fairly easy-to-use interface also impressed the editors. The software lets you build a home from scratch, load pre-designed plans, or scan in a floor plan. Its features are fully integrated, and reviewers especially like the Home Estimator tool, which compiles your design information into an Excel-compatible spreadsheet. Even though the software’s wall-building and the home walkthrough features were troublesome, editors had less trouble navigating this software than others on test.
Broderbund home design software is still popular with some experts and users. Its 3D Home Design Suite Deluxe 4.0 (*est. $70) is a three-CD package that contains five programs, including the user-favorite 3D Home Architect Deluxe 4.0, which has been discontinued as a separate, single product. (The individual Home Architect Deluxe 4.0 has been replaced with the very different and low-rated Home Architect Deluxe 5.0. It seems that you can’t export designs done in 4.0 into the new 5.0, so keep this in mind when considering an upgrade.) Broderbund’s deluxe suite also offers 3D Home Landscape Designer 4.0, Personal Home Inventory, and the helpful Black & Decker Everyday Home Repairs. But critics say the software’s images aren’t even close to those of the Punch! Pro Platinum software described above.
If you’d just like to dabble a bit without forking over a lot of cash, reviewers point to Data Becker Complete Home Designer 5.0 (*est. $30). Navigation is easy, and there’s a lot of flexibility for the money. You can start with a pre-designed home or scan in your own blueprint, use Ready-Room layouts or create rooms with a wall tool. However, to landscape your home you have to buy additional software. And just as with the Broderbund suite, the Data Becker graphics don’t equal those of the Punch! software.
Here's what the experts say to look for in a home design software package. The products listed in ConsumerSearch Fast Answers have most if not all of these characteristics.
• Web updates. Packages that access a Web site for updates ensure that furniture and textile selections are stylish and current.
• System requirements. The most comprehensive programs need a minimum of 600 MB of hard disk space and 64MB of RAM. Reviewers stress that the faster your computer, the less time you'll spend waiting for 3D components to process.
• A variety of 2D and 3D options. Almost all home design programs include a 3D-walkthrough feature, and the best offer at least three different viewing angles, including a "helicopter" view. Reviewers like split screens that allow you to make a change in a 2D plan and simultaneously see the result in 3D.
• Materials lists and estimating tools. These allow you to see how much your ideas will cost, as well as what you'll need to buy.
• A guarantee. Many packages let you get your money back if you're unhappy with the results, and with top packages going for up to $100, that's a big plus.
Consensus Report
Our Consensus Report shows how many times products are top-ranked by reviewers included in our All The Reviews Reviewed chart.
# of Picks Model
2
Punch! Professional Home Design Platinum
2 Sierra Complete Home 2.0
1 each Broderbund’s 3D Home Architect Deluxe 4.0, Broderbund’s 3D Home Design Suite Deluxe, Broderbund’s 3D Home Interiors, Broderbund’s Total 3D Home Design Deluxe, Data Becker’s Complete Home Design 5.0 IMSI’s FloorPlan 3D Design Suite, Sierra’s 3D Custom Home, Total 3D Home Deluxe.
The lack of recent reviews has resulted in little consensus among experts in this update. Several different Broderbund products still do well, which is what convinced us to put one of the company’s latest offerings in ConsumerSearch Fast Answers, along with the top-rated Punch! software. We didn’t include Sierra’s Complete Home 2.0 because it’s no longer available. We did include Data Becker’s Complete Home Design 5.0 based on the evaluation performed by our most credible reviewer.
Alternative Considerations
Our Fast Answers are based on the average needs of the average user. Below are some issues that could lead you to choose a different package.
Flora and Fauna. Landscape architecture and gardening design are extremely popular hobbies, and many software titles specifically target green thumbs. Broderbund 3D Home Design Suite 4.0 includes a Landscape application, but it's not the program's main focus. You'll need to do some research on your own to find information on garden design software; a good place to start is About.com (http://www.gardening.about.com).
Slower Systems. The titles in Fast Answers are comprehensive, with a huge variety of resources in one package. System requirements of 32 to 64MB of RAM and 100 to 600MB of free hard-disk space are not unusual. However, if you have an older system, you still have some options. Broderbund’s 3D Home Interiors (*est. $45) is bundled in with 3D Home Design Suite Deluxe, but is available separately with friendlier system requirements (32MB RAM and 25MB hard-disk space).
Exterior Architectural Design. The focus of this report is interior design, although the products in ConsumerSearch Fast Answers all include some provision for exterior design. If your primary interest is designing your entire home from the ground up, with a more structural focus, there are plenty of titles out there to suit your needs, including Broderbund 3D Home Architect (*est. $30) This is included in Broderbund/Mindscape 3D Home Design Suite Deluxe, but it's also sold separately.
Mac Users. All of the reviews we found on home design software focus on products for PCs. If you want Mac compatible software, your choices are limited. Even though MacIntosh computers are generally recognized as being the better format for graphics, we only found one package available, MacSoft's 123 Home Design (*est. $35). We couldn't find any reviews on this product, but you can find some information on the retailer's page at http://www.wizworks.com/macsoft/123_hd/123_hd.html.
I've used all of the 3D Home Architect programs as well as many professional CAD programs. 3D Home Architect is nothing like any of the previous version or a professional CAD program.
If you design experience is limited to creating a word document then you will probably find this version easier to use than the previous versions or a professional CAD program however nothing works the way you would expect if you are used to real CAD software.
The major drawback to this program is that there is absolutely no way to get your drawings into a format that is useable for permit applications or building. Try building off of a 8.5x11 drawing and you'll quickly be pulling out your hair. Blowing up the drawings is an option but it doesn't produce very good quality.
If you just want to play with some simple ideas and then pass your ideas on to an architect this program will probably work for you. If you want to design your own house and build it then forget trying to use this program.
Hope this helps
There are various programs, inexpensive out there but all have limitations. What I use is almost $3,000.00. Truth is, the cost is high but you also need the experience to know how things are built. My software is programmable, down to fractions of an inch. Many programs out there for the DIY'er are not.
Programs available are,
http://www2.shopping.com/xKW-home_de...001141/GS.html
The rest is of interest but I have answered your question above.
What I can do with my software is not done with just a click here and there and "poof" it's done. Software is only a tool and as such, the person using it must know much more than how to click the mouse. Also, there is a learning curve with all of this and I assume most have heard of AutoCad. Again, these programs require significant hours just to get to a stage where you can understand what the key functions are let alone what to do after getting to that point. We even have 2 year courses to learn AutoCad at trade schools, how many hours is that?
Below is just some of what I can do that low priced software cannot do.
1. I can literally design walls that are exact to existing conditions of a home.
2. I can modify anything without much difficulty.
3. I can produce virtually life-like 3D views based on all the data that I input for a project.
4. I can insert numerous span calculations for wood and steel beams with load limitations for each based upon plan specifications.
5. I can produce material take-offs with supurb accuracy.
True, you get what you pay for but I will say this about the software that some of my customers use. Bear in mind, I don't mind them showing me what they have in mind as it does help me in getting an good idea as to what they are after.
According to the articles and reviews I have read and there are 3 that I have used, almost all the home design software offered is either hard to use, slow and cumbersome, full of bugs and glitches, or all of the above. many users posting to sites such as Amazon.com and Epinions felt there was too long a learning curve to use them.
Part of the problem is that many have high expecations when they buy the software but once loaded, were disappointed in the amount of time it would take to cover the basics, such as learning to use the software and making a floor plan. Their comments emphasize the fact that home design software is not as easy to use as you would expect; it doesn't have the instant rewards of, say, game software. That doesn't mean working with these products can't be fun, but it does mean a novice user with little computer graphics or design experience will need to dedicate lots of energy to master these tools. Notwithstanding these complaints, other users and most professional reviewers say these programs, despite their faults, are indeed learnable by the average consumer.
Problem is that many budget software programs are not accurate. I have taken a clients design with dimensions and returned just to say that they are off from inches to feet. How can that be, you ask. It is simple, you get what you pay for. Just because a box says it can do this or that, isn't the whole truth. Read the disclaimers in small print on the package.
The you read customer reviews like this,
“After reading the reviews here I thought I was in for a real treat. To my disappointment, after I installed the software (which was painful to say the least) the product constantly crashed and was very unstable. Drawing walls is a joke. There is absolutely no accuracy in design. To create a nice image crashed my computer at every turn. Hope the rest of you have better luck than I did”
“I was looking for a software that would let me create a good design of my new house. I am not an architect and I am not interested in details such as plumbing, electrical, framing etc. I just wanted to create the walls, add the doors windows, furniture, stairs, roof, etc.”
Design software DOES NOT;
1. Automatically kick out a set of plans that are Building Permit Ready
In other words, you can't just draw the lines and it automatically generates all the necessary data, notes, etc. which make it acceptable for the City to get a permit.
2. Guarantee that what is drawn is accurate to fractions of an inch
It will not
If you just want to play with some simple ideas and then pass your ideas on to an architect this program will probably work for you. If you want to design your own house and build it then forget trying to use this program.
The challenge in preparing this update of home-design software is finding packages that are reviewed well. According to the articles and reviews we read, almost all the home design software offered is either hard to use, slow and cumbersome, full of bugs and glitches, or all of the above. Our most credible reviewer, Smart Computing, says all five packages in its most recent roundup were a disappointment in some way. That may be why there are so few current professional reviews of home design software—its failure to progress has created little reason for reviewers to keep up with new versions and therefore little consensus among critics.
Family PC enlisted the help of 138 families to test three home design packages, but that was in 1999 and the software tested no longer exists—in fact, Family PC no longer exists either. This magazine halted publication over a year ago. Reviewers Grotta and Grotta from PC Magazine went the extra mile in their interesting roundup of home design packages, tackling the same design project with four different products, but again this review is now dated. Consumer Reports notes shortcomings in various software products, but this very brief, four-year-old article is limited to only two or three sentences about each program.
Unfortunately, most of the cheaper software, with the notable exception of Data Becker Complete Home Designer 5.0 (*est. $30), falls far short of more expensive programs, like Punch! Professional Home Design (*est. $100). For example, Smart Computing's editors had quite a time with Activision's Home Design 3D (*est. $20). There's no printed manual, so you must rely on on-screen help topics, and even so, editors found it "easy to misplace walls" and "carpet didn't line up with the walls and the roof never looked right." Drag and drop is inaccurate, editors say; a bathtub ended up halfway in the bathroom and halfway in the back yard. Plus, the Activision software is only supported by Windows 95, 98 and Me.
Topics Entertainment Instant Home Design (*est. $30) didn't fare much better. This software asks you to scan in a photo of you own home, then tinker with exterior treatments and landscaping. But editors at Smart Computing weren't impressed: "Our finished product looked exactly like what it was: a photo with cutouts pasted onto it." Instead, if your looking for a cheaper option in home design software, editors recommend Data Becker's Complete Home Designer; images are less sophisticated than those of Punch! Professional, but reviewers say Data Becker is a good value, with easy-to-use features.
>> Where to buy
Interestingly, we noticed that while professional reviewers liked some of these programs, many users posting to sites such as Amazon.com and Epinions felt there was too long a learning curve to use them. We found the most impassioned voices on Amazon, where the highest-rated home design software earned only 3.5 stars out of 5 from 51 posters; overall, this product category had a higher percentage of low ratings than we’ve seen in other product categories.
Part of the problem is that few of these owners anticipated the time it would take to cover the basics, such as learning to use the software and making a floor plan. Their comments emphasize the fact that home design software is not as easy to use as you would expect; it doesn't have the instant rewards of, say, game software. That doesn't mean working with these products can't be fun, but it does mean a novice user with little computer graphics or design experience will need to dedicate lots of energy to master these tools. Notwithstanding these complaints, other users and most professional reviewers say these programs, despite their faults, are indeed learnable by the average consumer.
While the packages discussed here offer some provision for designing exteriors, the focus of this report is on software with strong architectural and interior-design components, as well as decorating options. These programs allow you to design a home from the ground up, specify the size of rooms, then manipulate virtual furniture, change wall coverings, and add decorative items.
Punch! Professional Home Design Platinum (*est. $100) has recently emerged as the experts’ favorite. A printed user manual is one reason why this package earned Smart Computing’s top rating. Its realistic graphics and fairly easy-to-use interface also impressed the editors. The software lets you build a home from scratch, load pre-designed plans, or scan in a floor plan. Its features are fully integrated, and reviewers especially like the Home Estimator tool, which compiles your design information into an Excel-compatible spreadsheet. Even though the software’s wall-building and the home walkthrough features were troublesome, editors had less trouble navigating this software than others on test.
Broderbund home design software is still popular with some experts and users. Its 3D Home Design Suite Deluxe 4.0 (*est. $70) is a three-CD package that contains five programs, including the user-favorite 3D Home Architect Deluxe 4.0, which has been discontinued as a separate, single product. (The individual Home Architect Deluxe 4.0 has been replaced with the very different and low-rated Home Architect Deluxe 5.0. It seems that you can’t export designs done in 4.0 into the new 5.0, so keep this in mind when considering an upgrade.) Broderbund’s deluxe suite also offers 3D Home Landscape Designer 4.0, Personal Home Inventory, and the helpful Black & Decker Everyday Home Repairs. But critics say the software’s images aren’t even close to those of the Punch! Pro Platinum software described above.
If you’d just like to dabble a bit without forking over a lot of cash, reviewers point to Data Becker Complete Home Designer 5.0 (*est. $30). Navigation is easy, and there’s a lot of flexibility for the money. You can start with a pre-designed home or scan in your own blueprint, use Ready-Room layouts or create rooms with a wall tool. However, to landscape your home you have to buy additional software. And just as with the Broderbund suite, the Data Becker graphics don’t equal those of the Punch! software.
Here's what the experts say to look for in a home design software package. The products listed in ConsumerSearch Fast Answers have most if not all of these characteristics.
• Web updates. Packages that access a Web site for updates ensure that furniture and textile selections are stylish and current.
• System requirements. The most comprehensive programs need a minimum of 600 MB of hard disk space and 64MB of RAM. Reviewers stress that the faster your computer, the less time you'll spend waiting for 3D components to process.
• A variety of 2D and 3D options. Almost all home design programs include a 3D-walkthrough feature, and the best offer at least three different viewing angles, including a "helicopter" view. Reviewers like split screens that allow you to make a change in a 2D plan and simultaneously see the result in 3D.
• Materials lists and estimating tools. These allow you to see how much your ideas will cost, as well as what you'll need to buy.
• A guarantee. Many packages let you get your money back if you're unhappy with the results, and with top packages going for up to $100, that's a big plus.
Consensus Report
Our Consensus Report shows how many times products are top-ranked by reviewers included in our All The Reviews Reviewed chart.
# of Picks Model
2
Punch! Professional Home Design Platinum
2 Sierra Complete Home 2.0
1 each Broderbund’s 3D Home Architect Deluxe 4.0, Broderbund’s 3D Home Design Suite Deluxe, Broderbund’s 3D Home Interiors, Broderbund’s Total 3D Home Design Deluxe, Data Becker’s Complete Home Design 5.0 IMSI’s FloorPlan 3D Design Suite, Sierra’s 3D Custom Home, Total 3D Home Deluxe.
The lack of recent reviews has resulted in little consensus among experts in this update. Several different Broderbund products still do well, which is what convinced us to put one of the company’s latest offerings in ConsumerSearch Fast Answers, along with the top-rated Punch! software. We didn’t include Sierra’s Complete Home 2.0 because it’s no longer available. We did include Data Becker’s Complete Home Design 5.0 based on the evaluation performed by our most credible reviewer.
Alternative Considerations
Our Fast Answers are based on the average needs of the average user. Below are some issues that could lead you to choose a different package.
Flora and Fauna. Landscape architecture and gardening design are extremely popular hobbies, and many software titles specifically target green thumbs. Broderbund 3D Home Design Suite 4.0 includes a Landscape application, but it's not the program's main focus. You'll need to do some research on your own to find information on garden design software; a good place to start is About.com (http://www.gardening.about.com).
Slower Systems. The titles in Fast Answers are comprehensive, with a huge variety of resources in one package. System requirements of 32 to 64MB of RAM and 100 to 600MB of free hard-disk space are not unusual. However, if you have an older system, you still have some options. Broderbund’s 3D Home Interiors (*est. $45) is bundled in with 3D Home Design Suite Deluxe, but is available separately with friendlier system requirements (32MB RAM and 25MB hard-disk space).
Exterior Architectural Design. The focus of this report is interior design, although the products in ConsumerSearch Fast Answers all include some provision for exterior design. If your primary interest is designing your entire home from the ground up, with a more structural focus, there are plenty of titles out there to suit your needs, including Broderbund 3D Home Architect (*est. $30) This is included in Broderbund/Mindscape 3D Home Design Suite Deluxe, but it's also sold separately.
Mac Users. All of the reviews we found on home design software focus on products for PCs. If you want Mac compatible software, your choices are limited. Even though MacIntosh computers are generally recognized as being the better format for graphics, we only found one package available, MacSoft's 123 Home Design (*est. $35). We couldn't find any reviews on this product, but you can find some information on the retailer's page at http://www.wizworks.com/macsoft/123_hd/123_hd.html.
I've used all of the 3D Home Architect programs as well as many professional CAD programs. 3D Home Architect is nothing like any of the previous version or a professional CAD program.
If you design experience is limited to creating a word document then you will probably find this version easier to use than the previous versions or a professional CAD program however nothing works the way you would expect if you are used to real CAD software.
The major drawback to this program is that there is absolutely no way to get your drawings into a format that is useable for permit applications or building. Try building off of a 8.5x11 drawing and you'll quickly be pulling out your hair. Blowing up the drawings is an option but it doesn't produce very good quality.
If you just want to play with some simple ideas and then pass your ideas on to an architect this program will probably work for you. If you want to design your own house and build it then forget trying to use this program.
Hope this helps
#4
Wow thanks, thats a really good review. I just glanced over it since I am at work. I think I might take a peek at the Data Becker Complete Home Designer 5.0. I am just looking for something cheaper to play around with and be in the ballpark as far as accuracy goes. I am sure most of my room will be built as I go, but I wanted a general direction to aim, and a rough idea on materials. I will read your reviews again in detail tonight, but thanks again!
#6
I found a good deal on a used version of Punch Pro Design Platinum so I think I am gonna give that a try. You have used Punch? What did you think?
I am really surprised a Home Depot or Menards type of store doesnt partner up with a software company to do a user friendly accurate version to sell. I bet it would be a big seller. Oh well maybe by the time I am ready for my next project.
I am really surprised a Home Depot or Menards type of store doesnt partner up with a software company to do a user friendly accurate version to sell. I bet it would be a big seller. Oh well maybe by the time I am ready for my next project.
#7
g_funk3,
Yes, I have tried it but I didn't like it. I can't afford to use that or anythig on that level. For what I do, I need to ensure accuracy and these low budget design software cannot meet the needs on the level that I must provide for my clients, contractors and city officials.
If you just want to play with some simple ideas and then pass your ideas on to an architect these programs will probably work for you. If you want to design your own house and build it then you need more than these programs can provide.
As mentioned in my previous post, there are reasons to use low budget software but as I have a business for residential building design, the tools or software that I require, far excede anything that the low cost software can do.
Hope this helps!
Yes, I have tried it but I didn't like it. I can't afford to use that or anythig on that level. For what I do, I need to ensure accuracy and these low budget design software cannot meet the needs on the level that I must provide for my clients, contractors and city officials.
If you just want to play with some simple ideas and then pass your ideas on to an architect these programs will probably work for you. If you want to design your own house and build it then you need more than these programs can provide.
As mentioned in my previous post, there are reasons to use low budget software but as I have a business for residential building design, the tools or software that I require, far excede anything that the low cost software can do.
Hope this helps!
Last edited by Doug Aleshire; 12-06-04 at 05:11 PM.
#8
Sorry to be a pest. But for ease of use, and best bang for low budget which would you recommend between Punch Pro Platinum, and Cadpro Platinum. Thae cadpro website had a nice demo and it looked easy enough to use, and looks like it would be sufficient for what I want to do with it. But I am wondering for a couple bucks more is it worth getting the Punch software instead?
Thanks
Thanks
#9
g_funk3,
No problem.
Honestly, for doing a basement, I'd break out pencil and paper. It's cheaper and faster. If you really need this software for a basement project, I would say go with what you think is going to be good. This is a judgement call on your part. I have played with Punch but not Cadpro.
As I said I am not an advocate of these and it has nothing to do with taking away business from me as it has always brought business to me.
How the low budget software is marketed is designed to get you to buy it! Learning to use it takes time but the ability to design your own project to your liking is what they are for. Then show this to the professional is a good idea.
As in your case, it is your design and you will be doing it. Choose the software that you feel is best.
Hope this helps!
No problem.
Honestly, for doing a basement, I'd break out pencil and paper. It's cheaper and faster. If you really need this software for a basement project, I would say go with what you think is going to be good. This is a judgement call on your part. I have played with Punch but not Cadpro.
As I said I am not an advocate of these and it has nothing to do with taking away business from me as it has always brought business to me.
How the low budget software is marketed is designed to get you to buy it! Learning to use it takes time but the ability to design your own project to your liking is what they are for. Then show this to the professional is a good idea.
As in your case, it is your design and you will be doing it. Choose the software that you feel is best.
Hope this helps!
#10
Hey Doug - what software do you use?
I use AutoCad, as you know. For quick work, I sometimes use sketchup, which does 3d models fairly quickly and interfaces some with AutoCad. Some of my students are getting into Rhino, however I don't think it's much for actually producing working drawings.
I've been thinking that the future is Autodesks' Revit, or something very similar, but its EXPENSIVE! (as is AutoCad.) Revit is a parametric building modeler - which makes producing drawings quick and with less need to coordinate drawings (read: fewer errors).
I don't think Revit works well for interior design or renovation work though, at least, I haven't figured out how to do that yet. It's best for additions or new buildings.
I use AutoCad, as you know. For quick work, I sometimes use sketchup, which does 3d models fairly quickly and interfaces some with AutoCad. Some of my students are getting into Rhino, however I don't think it's much for actually producing working drawings.
I've been thinking that the future is Autodesks' Revit, or something very similar, but its EXPENSIVE! (as is AutoCad.) Revit is a parametric building modeler - which makes producing drawings quick and with less need to coordinate drawings (read: fewer errors).
I don't think Revit works well for interior design or renovation work though, at least, I haven't figured out how to do that yet. It's best for additions or new buildings.
#11
Trance,
I use Softplan. Primarily a residential construction based program but others do use it for commerical as well. Not cheap - $3,000. There's others more expensive and others less. It just depends on the needs that you have. Since what I do demands a good program, I can't afford not to keep upgrading and learning each time that happens. My choice to get this one was based more on what it had to offer versus others. Not so much the price but what I reviewed and what others told me. This software is designed for providing great 3D's without going to a 3rd party software. It does excellent in allowing me to make the walls or whatever I want with amazing accuracy. Automatically create roof systems, wall framing, material take offs, does opening and electrical schedules as long as you program that project with all the known details. You seem to understand all this so you know what I mean.
You can look at this gallery for some quick 3D's - nothing fancy but you get the idea. http://dougaphs.smugmug.com/
AutoCad is not really set up for as easy operation as Softplan but it is an issue of what you have and the ability to use its functions. Learning curve is a another issue. These expensive programs provide many options and it is amzing to see what others produce. Even the low cost programs have a learning curve, not as lengthy but they do lack what others expect they do.
I think I covered the bases in the previous posts. It's hard not to be bias but I try and provide honest answers that will help, not hinder ones selection.
Did this answer your question?
I use Softplan. Primarily a residential construction based program but others do use it for commerical as well. Not cheap - $3,000. There's others more expensive and others less. It just depends on the needs that you have. Since what I do demands a good program, I can't afford not to keep upgrading and learning each time that happens. My choice to get this one was based more on what it had to offer versus others. Not so much the price but what I reviewed and what others told me. This software is designed for providing great 3D's without going to a 3rd party software. It does excellent in allowing me to make the walls or whatever I want with amazing accuracy. Automatically create roof systems, wall framing, material take offs, does opening and electrical schedules as long as you program that project with all the known details. You seem to understand all this so you know what I mean.
You can look at this gallery for some quick 3D's - nothing fancy but you get the idea. http://dougaphs.smugmug.com/
AutoCad is not really set up for as easy operation as Softplan but it is an issue of what you have and the ability to use its functions. Learning curve is a another issue. These expensive programs provide many options and it is amzing to see what others produce. Even the low cost programs have a learning curve, not as lengthy but they do lack what others expect they do.
I think I covered the bases in the previous posts. It's hard not to be bias but I try and provide honest answers that will help, not hinder ones selection.
Did this answer your question?
#12
I spent a bit of money on a room design program and what a waste, if you are a "non" expert like myself, it is totally useless. I have been a graphic designer on computers for years, so I don't think I am computer challenged.
If people just want to do a simple floor plan and layout for basics, the Ladies Home Journal has a very simple interactive feature on their site called "Arrange a Room".
We recently moved to a contemporary from a traditional and just getting the furniture to work was a chore and this helped a bunch.
If people just want to do a simple floor plan and layout for basics, the Ladies Home Journal has a very simple interactive feature on their site called "Arrange a Room".
We recently moved to a contemporary from a traditional and just getting the furniture to work was a chore and this helped a bunch.
Last edited by Doug Aleshire; 01-04-05 at 05:47 PM. Reason: No e-mails/url's allowed within signature
#13
I have 3D Home Architech. It is very easy to use, has a lot of bells and whistles, but it pretty limited for anything more than a floor plan. I'm glad I have it because it was useful to have a nice floor plan when I updated some of the wiring and replace my furnace.
When I started thinking about a basement remodel, I realized its short comings, so I bought Design Cad 3D Max version 14 on ebay for about $30. The current version retails for about $100. It is a much more capable program but much more difficult to use. It is more like Autocad than 3D Architech.
They are fun to play with, but as was stated earlier, if the goal is to get something accomplished paper and pencil is a probably quicker .
When I started thinking about a basement remodel, I realized its short comings, so I bought Design Cad 3D Max version 14 on ebay for about $30. The current version retails for about $100. It is a much more capable program but much more difficult to use. It is more like Autocad than 3D Architech.
They are fun to play with, but as was stated earlier, if the goal is to get something accomplished paper and pencil is a probably quicker .