Replies

1. 
   DonaldCBrown | Mar 01, 2007 02:40am | #1

   Rob-

   You say nothing about what you want to do with "design software." Neither do you say what computer operating system you use, so it's impossible to give a sensible suggestion.

   Sketchup is free, there are excellent free tutorials, and it is relatively easy to use (relative to full-blown CAD programs such as Autocad, that is). But you already know that with your vague familiarity with Sketchup.

   This issue comes up frequently on this forum, so I suggest you search for past discussions of the available choices.

2. 
   Kaleo | Mar 01, 2007 10:52am | #2

   I am like you and hate thesde CAD questions, Because all you get is sketch-up this and sketch-up that.

   I love Vectorworks. It is like most true CAD softwares and is real easy to use and dimension with. But it also has great rendering abilities. You can produce photorealistic renders with it. I have never used AutoCAD, but it is the industry standard.

   Kaleo

   http://www.kalafinefurniture.blogspot.com

3. 
   Rich14 | Mar 01, 2007 06:10pm | #3

   Rob,

   There are lots of reasons Sketchup comes up so often in these kinds of threads.

   1. It is excellent.

   2. It is free.

   That's pretty hard to beat. I have the commercial version, which cost me $600 and it was worth it for a house design project. The free version is so capable for projects such as designing furniture that the "features" left out from the professional version are not important.

   Rich

4. 
   kenshep | Mar 01, 2007 06:13pm | #4

   http://www.openoffice.org

   This is Sun's answer to MS Office except it is free.  There is a drawing program included for free.  Database, wordprocessor, presentation software and a math equation editor thrown in too.

   It is useful for 2-d type drawing ala drafting class in high school.  I assume 3-d is possible for those more patient than I.

    Plus the $150 you save not buying updates to MS Office every few years can be spent in the shop.

   I have found the software completely compatible with MS Office files.

    

   Regards,

   Ken

   "Do as you would be done by." C.S. Lewis

1. 
   pzaxtl | Mar 20, 2007 05:18am | #7

   and if you're running it in Linux it is even better.  I use WinXP but don't really like it -- nearly anything else is much better (read, more stable, more efficient and less buggy).

5. 
   Toolguy | Mar 01, 2007 08:43pm | #5

   Rob

   I Have been using Ashlar-Vellum's Graphite and have found it to be very east to use, go to  http://www.ashlar.com and get a trial.

6. 
   treefarmer | Mar 20, 2007 02:30am | #6

   I'm not going to tell you anything different I'm afraid. But I think you still might find an answer here.

   I have 20 years of detailed piping/mechanical design experience using a wide array both CAD and graphics software. Primarily Autocad, but also Microstation, 3DSmax, Raydream Studio, all the Macromedia products...too many others to mention...you get the picture. 

   I use Autocad every day professionally for at least 4-6 hours.

   I use Sketchup for all my woodworking....nuf said....:)

   Good luck,

   Bo Babcock