Mac CAD, Modeling, and Render Apps
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- nwm
Can anyone recommed good Mac programs for CADing, rendering, and 3D modeling. Ones that work well together and give high quality results.
Radiosity is must.
I know Vectorworks claims to do all of these things. Does anybody know if it does them well.
Thanks.
- nwm0
Blender doesn't really look aimed at architects.
I guess I wasn't too clear: I want programs to make mostly static architectural documents - hidden line renders and good looking photorealistic stills.
- unfittoprint0
I'm an architect but unfortunately I work only with PC software [AutoCAD, MAX].
you may find more answers here [maybe]...
http://www.architosh.com/
- ********0
Sketchup is pretty cool as well.
not sure about radiosity tho..
but it is very nice for impressionistic presentations!
check the gallery samples:
http://www.sketchup.com/gallery.…
- nwm0
VIZ 4 and AutoCAD are what I use at work, and they both seem fine.
We used FormZ in school and although the modeling was much better than in VIZ, the rendering is pretty weak (or was in the last version).
I've been on the architosh page, and it's certainly informative, but it still doesn't seem clear to me exactly what kind of output I can achieve with each product.
Thanks for the help though unfit.
- nwm0
Sketchup does look pretty cool, but I'm wary of that cartoonish look.
Even with the radiosity on Viz 4 a more subtle effect can be achieved.
I don't know too much about the technology behind these programs, so it's hard for me to read specs and know what can be done - I feel like the images in the galleries are (oddly) not as good as what could be done.
- ********0
you know what rocks for realistic lighting?
CINEMA4D.
not nescessarily architecturish... but the new HDI-renderer is frigging amazing!
and then there is also THIS:
http://www.maxon.net/pages/produ…
vectorworks C4D.
- ********0
HDRI i mean.. :
http://www.maxon.net/pages/produ…
and check this example of HDRI:
http://www.maxon.net/pages/produ…
!!!!
- nwm0
Wow!
I like that Vectorworks - C4D thing.
I have been thinking of going with Vectorworks for CAD and Modeling, but I hadn't seen a good render add-on...until this C4D fella.
I don't quite understand how the two programs hook-up though.
- ********0
it's so slick, it's just sick:
'C4D Vectorworks' is the way to go my man.
- unfittoprint0
nice stuff..... hmmmm.
*starts frantic browsing...
- nwm0
That's nuts.
Do you know of anything else in the same league. For comparison.
- asujoe0
I am an architect and work exclusivly on Macs for the past 8+ years. I and during that time have used a variety of programs. For the last 5+ years i have work with ArchiCAD. And i love this program. It has the 3D aspect you were asking for and is great for putting presentations together, and is vey effiecent for putting together CD's. I highly recommend this software to any archtect on any platform.
- asujoe0
ArchiCAD
I also use Sketchup from time to time for sketching, programing, and diagraming.
- unfittoprint0
nice to see some fellow architects on the NT community...
- nwm0
Thanks for all the tips guys.
Is there a great advantage to Archicad over Vectorworks? Those do seem to be the two most popular, and the reviews of both are good at MacWorld and Architosh.
I'm attracted to this idea of using Vectorworks and rendering with C4D - as was pointed out earlier in this thread.
Yet for some reason Archicad seems like a more professional app. From someone who has never used either though that's a completely superfical view.
- unfittoprint0
for all you Mac owners, there's a survey from AutoDesk to bring AutoCAD to the OS X...
http://www.thinksecret.com/news/…
in my humble opinion, still the best CAD software, regardless of the platform...
- asujoe0
Really don't know enough about vectorworks to give you a good comparision between the two. And i stopped using autocad so long ago that i don't really care if they bring it to the mac outside of that it would hopefully inprove competetion in the mac cad marketplace and make better all around programs.