Vectorworks Query

April 23, 2008 – 12:10 pm

Call for assistance from a SA Member

Has any Landscape Architect out there used or is using the program Vectorworks - Landmark?

I am researching the pros and cons of this program in comparison to Autocad for a student group of mine, and since I have never used Vectorworks - Landmark,  I’m in need of some info and recommendations from those who have or do presently.

If you are able to answer any of these queries - please respond:

Do you find it as an effective tool as Autocad for detailed drafting? (explain)

Does it have the capabilities to produce graphically attractive drawings that are comparable to photoshop or illustrator? (explain)

Can drawings from Vectorworks be imported into photoshop or illustrator?

What are the advantages of using Vectorworks?

What are the disadvantages in comparison to the above mentioned programs?

Is Vectorworks easy to learn?
Is it well technically supported by suppliers?

Thanks for any help anyone can give me, it’s really appreciated.

TG

PS: Hit the “5 Comments” to the right to see the responses from landscape architects.

  1. 5 Responses to “Vectorworks Query”

  2. Hi TG

    As a sole practitioner I have been using the Vectorworks/Landmark combination for about 2 years. I can’t comment on a comparison with AutoCAD as I have only really used a small cut down version they call AutoSketch. However, in terms of its general CAD functionality it seems to be up there with the rest.

    In terms of its graphic capabilities it can produce great graphics, as you can set transparancy levels for each drawing layer (not quite the same as AutoCAD Layers but similar). However, if you also get the Renderworks add-on it can do full 3d rendering as well as complex shadow analysis.

    To import into photoshop I think you would need to use the inbuilt jpg or pdf converter. It has no problems with importing AutoCAD files.

    Landmark also has an inbuilt Plant Database which is easy to customize and links directly to the plant drawing tools - so planting plans become easy to produce graphically. With the inbuilt graphic tools and drawing management system it is a simple process to produce one set of plans that then work for presentation (colour, overlays etc) or construction (simple B/W). It also has built in landform modelling as well.

    Technical support is excellent out of OzCAD in Sydney.

    Like all CAD systems there is a learning curve, but I think that the basics of Vectorworks is realtively easy to learn. However, no program is perfect but I am a Vectorworks convert.

    I am happy to provide more informaiton if you need it direct. You can get my contact details from the AILA.

    By Stephen perry on Apr 23, 2008

  3. G’day TG

    I too am an almost sole practitioner in a small multi-disciplinary practice. I had only hand drafted or had a draftsperson draw my work in Archi-Cad so it was a steep learning curve to learn CAD from scratch for a person who went though Uni when there were no computers used even for word processing. Despite this I worked with a CAD trainer for about 4 sessions and lots of trial and error and was producing competent drawings within a year.

    I now enjoy the capabilities of Vectorworks and see it as “fun” compared to manual drafting. I have not fully explored the capabilities of the software but my architect partner who also uses it says it is comparable and even superior in some respects to Archi-Cad. It is also cheaper to purchase and run over time.

    Support from OZCad in Sydney is superb.

    Rob Fallon

    By Rob Fallon on Apr 24, 2008

  4. Response from Melbourne

    We are a well established practice of around 12 staff and have used Vectorworks as our primary drafting software for over a decade from the time it was called Minicad.

    We are a Mac office and started with this program in the days when Autocad abandoned the Mac platform. We retain a couple of PC’s and an Autocad licence but they are rarely used.

    It is good to hear of an academic taking an interest in Vectorworks because few Australian students or graduates have any knowledege or skills with Vectorworks even though it is widely used (and taught) in US and Europe.

    It is used by several Melbourne architectural and landscape practices so there is ready employment for students with Vectorworks skills.

    Graduates or others trained on Autocad generally need a period of retraining but this is not too daunting because Vectorworks is easier to learn and more intuitive and naturally graphic for producing design drawings.

    The other benefit is the licence cost is lower, (than the other industry strength CAD programs.) though still significant.

    File exchange with other CAD programs is a constant issue but getting better all the time. The Landmark landscape add on tools are not heavily used by us because we developed most of our systems and techniques before they were very useful.

    Export to all the Adobe programs you mentioned is possible but we avoid it as much as possible because reasonably graphic sketch plans are possible in CAD and that can then be taken on to documentation when required. “Prettying up” in the other programs takes time and is a bit of a dead end.

    By Bruce Echberg on May 5, 2008

  5. Response

    TG
    am basically a sole practioner.
    I have found vectorworks fairly intutive to learn and am basically self taught although i would reccomend periodic training to get the most out of some of the features and to refresh or find out the ten different other ways of doing the same thing.
    I find it very graphic and have used it for concepts, sketch design, documentation and presentation drawings.
    Quite often hand draw scan and import with little drama.Use it on both a mac and PC platform, prefer the Mac platform a few more features that aren’t available on the PC platform.
    In summary i think it addresses the needs of our profession better than Auotcad (not used) and the microstation (used) of the world.

    cheers

    n.

    By niall simpson on May 6, 2008

  6. Hi all,

    I am also interested in the industry views on the CAD programs available.

    I teach the technology units at University of Canberra.

    We are seeing a number of students self teaching a number of programs over the standard suite used at the University.

    My question is: Does proficiency in one cad program (eg AutoCad) give a good graduate enough skills to self learn another program like vector works?

    All advice from practices appreciated

    Thanks

    By Andrew MacKenzie on May 12, 2008

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