Suggestions on Software Please

[tilegirl]

Hello.
I am getting ready to do some design work with a Historic Preservationist for both residential and commercial. This will probably incorporate new construction projects as well. My background is in historic preservation, hard surfaces design, interiors, and kitchen and bath design. I have used 20/20, which is basically for cabinet design. I have not much experience in general design software, and was wondering if someone could tell me what they would recommend? I would like to find something that I could scan pictures into. I would also like something that had access to historic architectural design elements such as items with a radius like arches over windows and brackets,etc. It needs to present to the client a visualization of the drawing in something like a 3-D format. It will probably be used in some cases as a working drawing as well by the builder or GC. These are probably basic questions, I know. I am just not sure where to start.
Any suggestions or comments?
Thanks,
Renae

[Antisthenes]

Rhino , always

[F700ES]

SketchUp Pro for your 3D work and maybe AutoCAD LT if you need to produce nice clean 2D plans and elevations. Both work well together.

[Antisthenes]

progecad smart is free. and 100% autocad compatible

http://www.download.com/progeCAD-2008-Smart/3000-6677_4-10777485.html

[F700ES]

[Antisthenes]

then get the 100$ flavor... i doubt Caddit is going to sue anybody, other than their parent organization defending against autodesk saying they can't use the dwg format.

[F700ES]

[Antisthenes]

i think that is what the court is finding nobody can 'own a file format'


http://www.cadalot.co.uk/icad/faq.htm

here is some more technicals on intellicads abilities and a comparison.

smart is not offered any longer except on free download sites. and the pro is very easy to find a

[F700ES]

[Antisthenes]

No format can be owned, ideas being owned goes counter to the laws of mathematics.

DWG is so widely used much like DOC format for any company to 'claim' it would be anti-competitive under current law especially if you want to let others compete. (see the xml format and the MS suits with EU and US for president), your personal opinions aside.

monopolization has already caused enough harm and you would have people pay for rights to use a corporations 'IP'

sorry this is the 2000's not the 90's even the RIAA realizes this and the battle against DRM continues so we can have a more open world every day.

i think intellicad charging members money and not being as open source as people would have hoped may be a more contributing factors than anything autodesk did.

[F700ES]

Sure it can. Your argument is not valid. There is intellectuality property and only the ones that want to leech off what others have done think that there is none. Sorry but there is. AutoDesk owns DWG much like Adobe owns PDF, AI and PSD.
You are twisting the facts to suite your own opinion.
If I create a work of music or a file type and copyright it I own it for the period that the law allows. Now I should have the right to allow others to use or distribute it as I see fit but giving copies or reverse engineering it without my permission is wrong.

BTW DOC is not owned by MS. They just chose to use it way back when.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DOC_(computing)

Again, your argument is weak.

[Antisthenes]

the argument is not mine it is that of the US law and fair use and anti-competition clauses, study law?

how do you think there are 100+ companies that also are able to make PDF and not run into any trouble for it?

lighten up bro. what can be done will be done and it is better to not defend or place road blocks that prevent progress.


these are good reads i came across while researching

[caddit]

[F700ES]

[caddit]