landscape design software?
Adam Schwartz
to design 3D landscapes and gardens? I'm looking for one that will allow me
to place walkways and retaining walls, as well as 3D models of various
plants. If there is no free one, what is the best program for this under
$30?
Thanks,
Adam
NewsUser
karen
"Adam Schwartz" <swor...@NOSPAMmchsi.com> wrote in message
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KrisHur
was ok. Somehow the disk was damaged, looks like a hot match was placed on
it, and it stopped working. So while I wasn't thrilled, I went out and
bought the new version (2001)--a complete piece of garbage.
Me too, you can't even buy a good one, I have Broderbund's Total 3d
landscape. It's crap.
Graph paper and colored pencils are the best I've found.
If you can find it the 1996 version of LandDesigner, it wasn't so bad--but
wasn't really great either--plants are cartoons and the colors very limited
but the program was easy to use once you sat down with it for an hour or
two.
"NewsUser" <n...@valid.address> wrote in message
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Mark H.
design software. After try several and doing a fairly thorough evaluation
tonight, here are my two cents in the hope that it helps some other poor
soul out there who enjoys the dreaming and planning much more than the
work or results.
The Sierra Land Designer is bad. I have not tried the latest (V7), but...
Some say the 1996 version (before Sierra bought it) is okay.
I have that version, and while not bad, it also very lacking.
On to the free CAD software. The ones I tried were free (i.e. able to save
and print your plans, no time limits). The problem with the CAD programs
is (1) they are not designed for landscape specifically (i.e. no symbols
or pictures of trees, etc); and (2) they are farily complicated to be
immediately intuitive (although this is primarily due to the overwhelming
options and power presented). Expect a 4-6 hour learning time.
CADStd Lite was the simplest to use. Drawing objects are simple to
learning. Major drawback: no color or fill patterns. Just line types.
.
TurboCAD Learning Edition (http://nct.digitalriver.com/fulfill/0002.16 )
is pretty nice. This is the software I finally settled for.
Warning: Like most CAD programs, the tools are very confusing.
If you stick to the menus instead of the icons at first, things are a little
easier. It also comes with lot of help, a manual, and a quicktour. The
manual
and quicktour are separate downloads, so be sure to get them.
If you really want to play with 3D, SoftCad 3D Lite seemed fairly powerful
and "easy" to learn. I did not spend a lot of time on it, just enough to
see
that one could do nicely render just about anything one wanted to.
Here are other free CAD programs that you might also try if you are not
satified with my choice: CADvance, Minos, Desi.
Lastly, there is Eve, a simple vector drawing tool that is just one simple
step above the solution most people recomment: crayons and graph paper.
Unlike crayons, hoever, you can save, modify, zoom in on an area.
In the end, I think that is all any of us are looking for in landscape
design
software. :-)
Mark
"NewsUser" <n...@valid.address> wrote in message
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NewsUser
CAD programs.
Karen
"Mark H." <mha...@nojunkmail.kc.net> wrote in message
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C.E.R.
hill and will one day be terracing it. So I've stored this information and
will refer to it when I get around to designing the slope. You've saved me a
lot of work. This group is great! And I didn't even ask the question!
Cynthia
"Mark H." <mha...@nojunkmail.kc.net> wrote in message
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S. Yoder
> I like others have been frustrated by the lack of decent landscape
> design software. After try several and doing a fairly thorough
<snip>
> Lastly, there is Eve, a simple vector drawing tool that is just one
> simple step above the solution most people recomment: crayons and
> graph paper. Unlike crayons, hoever, you can save, modify, zoom in on
> an area. In the end, I think that is all any of us are looking for in
> landscape design
> software. :-)
>
> Mark
If I may add to this thread as a person who uses CAD, specificaly AutoCAD
but others too, daily. <g> But please don't take me as an authority on CAD,
just a user.
No CAD program is easy to learn if you've not delt with that type of
"thinking". We drafter/designer/engineer types can be an odd lot. <eg>
TurboCAD is what I recommend to most folks looking for a CAD program to do
simple hobbist-type drawings. It's the program I used when teaching a
younger cousin who thought he might follow in my footsteps. CAD programs
geared more towards architectural drawings will probably have more of the
"pretty it up" features a gardener would be looking for.
Some of the CAD programs that aren't geared toward any specific discipline
have add-ons you can get, some free some not, to talior it more. On the
AutoCAD side there are things we call block libraries (other packages call
these things symbols). These are pre-drawn items that can be placed in the
drawing. When looking on the web for things like this, be aware of the
format the files are offered in and the version of that format as compared
to what your program can handle. For example I have several blocks/symbols
of trees in AutoCAD r12 DWG format that I found for free on the web.
TurboCAD Learning Edition will most likely be able to use these as it
states: "Open/Import File Types: AutoCAD DXF R14, AutoCAD DWG R14..." and
r12 is older. However, if they were AutoCAD 2000 DWG format TurboCAD LE
would not be able to use them.
[One of the best free DWG libraries was CADalog. You now have to pay US$30.
The other free one I like is CAD Depot http://www.caddepot.com/ . You can
also do a web search and find tons of smaller libraries.]
If you are interested in using a more AutoCAD-like program that is free,
look for IntelliCAD. No single person/company produces this program.
http://www.intellicad.org/
You may have to hunt a bit, but some sites do offer it for free. Do note
that if you are not comfortable with the likes of TurboCAD or similar that
this may be an extremely daunting program.
One program CAD program that's not free, but may be more suited to garden
layout is VectorWorks.
http://www.nemetschek.net/
I knew it when it was MiniCAD. It was very easy to learn and it was geared
towards architectural-type drawing. Their Landmark package is probably just
the thing. However it's going for US$1,295. <ouch> Definately not for the
likes of most of us, eh?
In the end, what do I use? Sierra LandDesigner, specificaly the 3D
Landscape program version 3.0. <sigh> I want 3D and doing it with AutoCAD
LT 2000 (what I can afford for home) is a pain. Oh 3D Landscape has it's
quirks and doesn't do everything I'd like it to (and is a major resource
hog), but that's what I prefer to use when using the computer. Now I
haven't tried any of the newer versions, so I can't say if they are better
or worse. Most of the time I keep a sketch book and use it for new ideas.
Then if I like one or two I'll mock it up in 3D Landscape.
BTW, I hope to have plans for a cold frame up shortly at the "CAD Files for
Woodworkers",
http://members.telocity.com/lorenh/
assuming what I came up with I can actually build this weekend (if I can
get my nose out of my hyacinths).
Enjoy,
Stef
--
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http://home.earthlink.net/~yodersj/ || Dos, Win, LT
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CADopia
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