Top CAD programs for Interior Designers: review | L' Essenziale ...

Undoubtedly? CAD software has become today an essential part of Interior Design business. If several decades ago it was impossible to imagine Interior Designer who cannot draw, today it becomes reality: more and more Interior Design students do all renderings by means of CAD software. We can discuss long hours the downside of this phenomenon and the benefits of ability to produce hand drawn renderings, however this is not the subject of this article.

If you look at job vacancies, you will see that even to get an Internship in the company Interior Design student is expected to have perfect CAD skills. We can like it or not but CAD is a must thing to learn nowadays to stay competitive on the market. However, many of professionals are actually stuck with the choice of software as there are so many available. This article is aimed to review all popular programs used today in order to help you to make the right choice. It is based on several opinions of real interior designers and architects and covers main pros and cons of each program.

Some programs are more sophisticated and will require to attend special courses or hire a tutor to understand the principles of it. Another programs are quite easy and you can actually learn them by yourself. There are a lot of books and online courses available, for example lynda.com, where you will need to pay a monthly fee to get access to tutorials and then study them at your own pace.

Archicad

As the name suggests this software was created mainly for architects, thus mainly focuses on their needs. It is perfect for creating architectural plans, elevations and sections.

Pros

2) Quick and simple to use, straightforward, no hidden settings

3) Great for creating technical drawings

4) Includes PDF maker

5) Allows to see changes made in 2D format to instantly see in 3D model

6) New Morph tool of the latest version (ArchiCad 16) allows to create complex geometrical forms

7) Large library of BIM components (Interior Design objects)

8) Choice of MAC or Windows

Cons

1) Expensive

2) Arhicad 16 is quite difficult to learn for new users

3) Limited possibilities for creating non standard objects with complex geometry (this was improved in the latest version by introducing Morph tool)

4) Lack of single key commands

AutoCAD

This is one of the most popular CAD software that interior designers use. It is available both in Windows and Mac versions and you can download a free trial from the Autodesk website. Although Autocad gives a lot of opportunities to a user, it is not an easy program to learn. You don?t need to be a techno guru, but you will need a lot of patience and determination, but as award you will be able to produce very realistic renderings.

Pros

1) One of the main pros of this software is its popularity ? it is used in many architectural and design companies

2) Allows to create detailed and sophisticated drawings

3) Ease of use for 3D visualization and animation

Cons

1) Expensive

2) Complicated for a new user and difficult to learn

3) Models created in Autocad are not possible to read in other programs

Autodesk Revit?

This is a special program created for architects allowing to design a building and its components in 3D.

Pros

1) Provides better understanding of architectural structure of the building

2) Allows to quickly create? plans, elevations and sections

Cons

1) In order to make great drawings one needs to study thoroughly the program which requires lots of time and desire to ?dig?

2) Expensive as all other Autodesk programs. Perhaps is more suitable and workable in terms of self-repayment for large architectural bureaus rather than small Interior Design businesses

Autodesk 3Ds Max

This software allows creating 3D models, animations and images. It is frequently used by architectural and Interior Design studios for rendering, simulation and visualization purposes.

Pros

1) High standard of 2D and 3D data exchange

2) Easy to learn

3) Large variety of available tools and plugins

4) A lot of helpful information in the Internet ? tutorials, courses, conferences and books

Cons

1) Quite slow

2) Poor compatibility with other modeling software

3) A lot of available functions makes it difficult to thoroughly learn this program

Chief Architect

This software was specifically designed for the home building industry. Its simplicity allows to use 3D design tool by novice computer users or by those who find other CAD software too complicated.

Pros

1) Simple to use and easy to learn

2) Allows to create schematic drawing within minutes

Cons

1) Very basic, doesn?t allot to create very complex objects

SketchUp

This is 3D modelling program acquired by Google.

Pros

1) Easy to learn and use

2) Big online library (called 3D Warehouse) of models (doors, windows, furniture, etc.). It allows designers to download and share free models.

3) Allows access to 3-rd party ?plug-in? programs with additional possibilities (e.g. near photo realistic renderings).

4) You can import photos of the things which clients already own and set them within the space

5) Available free limited version

Cons

1) Difficulties with 3D visualisation especially with complex models

2) Difficulties with modelling complex surfaces especially with curved, ?organic? forms. Detailing of such objects makes them ?heavy?

3) Absence of controlled point lights which is essential for Interior Design projects

4) Rendering in SketchUp is very basic, however it can be attractive as it imitates the hand drawings. For making photo-realistic renderings the program can be compatible with special programs -? ?Render? plug-ins.

Vectorworks

Unlike other CAD products which can be used for architecture and engineering, Vectorworks was specifically designed for Interior Design needs.

Pros

1) Successfully integrates 2D and 3D design

2) Very useful? worksheets feature ? allows to create schedules, material lists, cost sheets, etc.

3) Great tool for creating floor plans (2D drafting) .

4) Cost-effective

5) Supports a lot of formats (PDF, SketchUp, 3Ds, etc.)

6) Latest version includes some of the SketchUp functions, such as push/pull

7) Good lighting and texture effects.

Cons

1) Base price doesn?t include high-quality 3D-render

?

Each of the reviewed programs is great and gives user a lot of opportunities. If you still don?t know which program to choose, remember that CAD skills are important but not everything in Interior Design.? It is just a tool which helps you to visualize your ideas. So make yourself a coffee, decide which one is? better for you and start learning!

Can you state any other pros and cons of these programs? Which software do you use? Do you like it?

Related articles

?

Like this:

Like Loading...

Source: http://essenziale-hd.com/2013/03/11/top-cad-programs-for-interior-designers-review/

augusta national blake griffin pau gasol marlins park marbury v. madison 2013 lincoln mkz burger king mary j blige

Jeb Bush: Political reporters are 'crack addicts'

FILE - In this Feb. 26, 2013 file photo, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush speaks in Austin, Texas. Jeb Bush has long resisted pressure from supporters to run for president. Now the former Florida governor is signaling that he?s at least open to the idea, a shift that comes as he promotes a new book and as a divided Republican Party struggles to right itself. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)

FILE - In this Feb. 26, 2013 file photo, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush speaks in Austin, Texas. Jeb Bush has long resisted pressure from supporters to run for president. Now the former Florida governor is signaling that he?s at least open to the idea, a shift that comes as he promotes a new book and as a divided Republican Party struggles to right itself. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)

WASHINGTON (AP) ? Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush on Sunday likened political reporters to "crack addicts" and "heroin addicts" during a tour of morning talk shows that drew repeated questions about the still-distant 2016 presidential election.

Bush, capping a media-heavy week that sparked chatter about a presidential campaign for a third member of his family, tried to keep the conversation focused on his book "Immigration Wars." But as Bush wrapped up a conversation with NBC's David Gregory," he likened journalists and their questions about the 2016 campaign to drug addicts.

"Who's the hottest Florida politician right now? Is it you or Marco Rubio?" Gregory asked, referring to Rubio, a senator who is also a potential GOP contender. "Who are we more likely to see in the White House?"

"Man, you guys are crack addicts. You really are obsessed with all this politics," Bush replied.

The "Meet the Press" host interrupted, saying he'd been called a lot of things, but never a crack addict.

"OK, heroin addict. Is that better?" shot back Bush, the son of former President George H.W. Bush and brother of former President George W. Bush.

"We've got big challenges, and Marco Rubio, to his credit, is working on those. And he deserves a lot of credit for it, and I'm very proud of him," Jeb Bush said of his potential rival.

After Bush left the Florida governor's office in 2007, some urged him to jump into the 2012 race against President Barack Obama. But his brother's low approval ratings could have dragged him down, and there seemed little interest in a national campaign.

But with Republicans looking for a new message and messenger, Jeb Bush is signaling he's open to the possibility.

"I'm not saying yes. I'm just not saying no," Bush told NBC News last week.

Speaking Sunday on CNN's "State of the Union," Bush said, "When you asked me before 2012 ? Was I going to run in 2012? ? and I said no, I went through the process and decided it wasn't appropriate."

"Now, I've decided to defer any consideration of it until the proper time to make those kind of considerations, which is out, you know, more than a year from now, for sure," he said.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2013-03-10-Jeb%20Bush/id-06b86989c97f4c998cdc398568e11cfc

NFL.com Superdome Iron Man 3 Trailer Super Bowl 2013 Ray Rice sodastream dan marino

'Star Trek' Trailer And Poster Dive Deep 'Into Darkness'

The latest teaser trailer for "Star Trek Into Darkness" should strike you as familiar since there are many, many references from popular culture, including "Tron" and what many people are calling "Star Wars" influences. (Side note: Wouldn't it be cool if J.J. Abrams directed a "Star Wars" movie? It could never happen though.) Anyway, the [...]

Source: http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2013/03/11/star-trek-into-darkness-trailer-and-poster/

vernal equinox mr rogers jamie lee curtis spring equinox audacious pollen count mexico city

Arkansas bans abortion at 12 weeks, earliest in U.S

LITTLE ROCK, Ark (Reuters) - Arkansas adopted the most restrictive abortion law in the United States on Wednesday, mostly banning the procedure after 12 weeks of pregnancy as both houses of the state legislature overrode the governor's veto.

The law, the Arkansas Human Heartbeat Protection Act, will likely go into effect in August, if it survives expected legal challenges.

The Republican-controlled House voted 56-33 on Wednesday to override the veto by Democratic Governor Mike Beebe, which followed the state Senate's override on Tuesday. In Arkansas, lawmakers can override a veto with a simple majority vote.

Arkansas will have the earliest abortion ban in the country, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a research group that supports abortion rights.

The measure prohibits most abortions at about 12 weeks of pregnancy, once a fetal heartbeat can be detected by a standard ultrasound. It includes exemptions for rape, incest, danger to the life of the mother and major fetal conditions. Doctors who violate the prohibition would have their licenses revoked by the state medical board.

"This bill seeks to limit those abortions that are done for birth-control purposes," said Jerry Cox, president of Family Council of Arkansas, which supports the measure. "This is the strongest pro-life bill passed in Arkansas since the (Supreme) Court handed down the Roe v. Wade decision in 1973."

Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood Action Fund, said her group was deeply disappointed.

"The majority of Arkansans ? and the majority of Americans ? don't want politicians involved in a woman's personal medical decisions about her pregnancy," she said.

SHIFT TO STATEHOUSES

Battles over abortion in the United States have largely shifted from the federal courts to statehouses.

States in 2011 passed a record-breaking number of new abortion restrictions, 92, and in 2012 passed the second-highest number, 43, according to Guttmacher.

This year, for example, the Indiana Senate passed a bill that would make the state the ninth to require an ultrasound prior to an abortion.

In Arkansas, the fetal heartbeat bill was one of several bills introduced by Republicans this year seeking to restrict abortion. This is the first time the party has controlled both chambers since the Reconstruction era following the Civil War.

Under another law that took effect February 28, Arkansas bans most abortions after 20 weeks. That measure also became law after legislators overrode the governor's veto.

In both of his veto override letters, Beebe questioned the constitutionality of the bills. He said the bills contradicted the 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling that legalized abortion until a fetus could viably survive outside the womb. A fetus is generally considered viable at 22 to 24 weeks.

CHALLENGE EXPECTED

The ACLU of Arkansas was expected to challenge the 12-week ban in court.

Holly Dixon, an attorney with the ACLU of Arkansas, said that if the 12-week ban is successfully challenged in court, then the 20-week ban would still stand.

Previous Arkansas law limited abortions after 25 weeks.

Laurie Lee, a resident of Cabot, Arkansas, said that the newly passed 12-week law is a reflection of the will of the people of the state.

"I am encouraged as a woman and a mom," she said. "I'm thankful to the men and women of the Arkansas legislature for standing on the promises they made to Arkansans to vote according to the views and morals of the citizens they represent."

But in Little Rock, Karen Sykes said she believed the law was overreaching.

"When I chose to have a baby out of wedlock, I didn't ask the government if it was OK, because it was none of their business," Sykes said. "Arkansas women are intellectually and emotionally capable of making our own decisions."

(Reporting by Suzi Parker; Editing by Corrie MacLaggan, Gary Hill, Leslie Adler, Steve Orlofsky and Lisa Shumaker)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/arkansas-bans-abortion-12-weeks-earliest-u-001230293.html

Pink Floyd 12 12 12 Concert miley cyrus miley cyrus amazing race Cam Cameron Ada Lovelace

Business Data Modeling And Planning Software Company Anaplan Raises $33M From Meritech, Shasta And Others

After acquiring Vue Analytics, Anaplan, which provides a cloud-based solution for businesses to model and plan for sales, operations, and finance; is announcing $30 million in new funding led by Meritech Capital with existing investors Granite Ventures and Shasta Ventures participating. We've also learned that Anaplan will e closing another $3 million in funding as part of this round, bringing the total to $33 million. This brings the company's total funding to $50 million.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/lKG4m7rxeR4/

punxsutawney egypt soccer riot facebook ipo facebook ipo mike kelley puxatony phil josh harvey clemons

Samsung Galaxy S3 Among 20 Phones To Receive CyanogenMod 10.1 Android 4.2.2 Update

CyanogenMod, a free, community built, aftermarket firmware distribution for Android operating systems offers customized versions of the latest OS that can be installed on devices independent of its original firmware. Such ROMs are often used in order to attain specs and features not available on official firmware distributed by vendors of the supported devices, or in order to get OS updates much quicker that they are released by vendors.

The latest version of its more stable ?Monthly? release for Jelly Bean has been pushed out fairly quickly since its initial CM10.1-M1 release in mid-January. Then seen on only a handful of phones, M2 is now available for the following 20 devices:

Acer Iconia a700

Google Nexus S (crespo, crespo4g)

Google Nexus 7 (grouper, tilapia)

Google Galaxy Nexus (toro, toroplus, maguro)

Google Nexus 4 (mako)

Google Nexus 10 (manta)

Google Nexus Q (steelhead)

Hardkernel Odroid-U2

HTC One X (evita)

HTC Incredible 4G LTE (fireball)

HTC Evo 4G LTE (jewel)

HTC One S (ville)

LG Nitro HD (p930)

LG Optimus LTE (su640)

LG Spectrum (vs920)

Samsung Galaxy S (captivatemtd, galaxysbmtd, galaxysmtd, epicmtd)

Samsung Galaxy SII (i9100g, hercules, skyrocket)

Samsung Galaxy SIII (US variants d2att, d2cri, d2mtr, d2spr, d2tmo, d2vzw)

Samsung Note (quincytmo, quincyatt)

Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 (p3100, p3110)

Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 (p5100, p5110)

While some mobile carries have begun pushing out the Android 4.2.2 update, some others see their most popular phones still suck on even Android 4.1.1. For example, Sprint has rolled out its Android 4.1.2 update for the Galaxy S3, and Verizon recently announced that it will soon roll out 4.1.2, while AT&T, U.S. Cellular and T-Mobile have yet to do so, according to Gotta Be Mobile.

Samsung Galaxy S4: What are they waiting for?

Since the release of Android 4.2 in November 2012, such phones as the LG Nexus 4 and Samsung's Nexus 10 have tasted ?A new flavor of Jelly Bean,? as the OS?s slogan from Google suggests.

Meanwhile the progression of the highly anticipated release of the Samsung Galaxy S4 has many predicting that the Korean-based Company and mobile carriers alike may be holding out on updating a number of their more popular devices until the S4 is on the market or much closer to being released.

A rumored April or May release for the smartphone may see consumers waiting for the phone?s debut ? as it is expected to run Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean natively ? as opposed to waiting for an update for an older OS on an older device.

With Samsung reportedly working toward a lofty sales goal of 100 million handsets in 2013, the company may be attempting to shift focus from its old phones to its new device that is already projected as its bestselling for the year.?

Source: http://www.ibtimes.com/samsung-galaxy-s3-among-20-phones-receive-cyanogenmod-101-android-422-update-1112455

oscars red carpet jennifer lopez wardrobe malfunction hugo hugo nfl combine 84th annual academy awards beginners

Look, no hands! Galaxy S 4 may track your eyes

Devin Coldewey , NBC News ? ? ? 11 hrs.

Users of the upcoming Galaxy S 4 (which was teased in a video Monday) may get to test out a whole new kind of hands-free experience. It's possible that Samsung's latest phone will utilize powerful new eye-tracking technology.

The system, first reported by the New York Times' Bits blog, would monitor the user's eyes and take action accordingly. For instance, when a person's gaze reaches the text at the very bottom of the screen, the phone could automatically scroll down.

There are other possibilities as well: The phone could pause a movie when you look away, or allow you to put in your unlock password with just your eyes. Such features have been demonstrated in other eye-tracking rigs like the Tobii Rex peripheral, but no mobile phones have anything like it.

Indeed, it's hard to imagine it possible ? although with a high-definition camera on the front side of the phone, it would just be a matter of writing the software to detect and track the user's face and eyes. It sounds fancy, but Samsung isn't one to skimp on specs.

It may sound like a feature for incredibly lazy folks who don't want to even move a finger to go to the next page, but eye-tracking is very useful for the millions worldwide who are disabled, missing limbs, or otherwise unable to operate a phone normally. So while it may be just a neat trick for the tech-savvy among us, it could be of huge value to more than a few people.

The Galaxy S 4's eye-tracking system and other innovations will be described in detail at its launch event on March 14. We'll be reporting live then, but will also keep on the lookout for further leaked features in the meantime.

Devin Coldewey is a contributing writer for NBC News Digital. His personal website is coldewey.cc.

Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/technology/gadgetbox/look-no-hands-galaxy-s-4-may-track-your-eyes-1C8687458

Bb&t Lane Goodwin Romnesia eminem eminem yankees Tagg Romney