3D home design Software

bats

Which is the best 3D home design software out there from the point of ease of use and startup. I'm building a house and I can't read plans very well. I need to be able to see in 3D especially the interiors. Thanks

Just Bill

One of the best is Chief Architect, quite pricey for home use. Less expensive but from the same people is Better Homes/Gardens designer, available at office supply stores. There some really inexpensive ones, but they don't do a lot and are poorly done.

Willie T

SketchUp by Google. Far and away the best deal out there, hands down.

__________________
"True eloquence consists in saying all that is necessary, and only that which is."
François Duc de La Rochefoucauld
Willie T

bats

Thank you for your suggestions. I think I'll go in for Home Designer 9. I tried sketchup but found it a bit cumbersome and I could not for the life of me make the shape behave the way I wanted it to.

Jim F

How do they compare for ease of learning?

Willie T

SketchUp was VERY easy once I began to pay a little attention to the tutorials.

I downloaded a trial version of Chief Architect, and found it to be one of the most confusing CAD programs I've encountered. And I have owned several other CAD programs, including Turbo CAD and every version of AutoCad from Rev.12 through 2000i.

SU is super simple if you use the turorials.

__________________
"True eloquence consists in saying all that is necessary, and only that which is."
François Duc de La Rochefoucauld
Willie T

ConstantChange

I second Google SketchUp.

nap

I've been playing with Sketchup a little bit and I will say, I have to agree with bats comment so far. It seems like I draw a connecting line between two points and then I rotate the work and the lines are going all over the place.

I suppose it's just like the old joke about how to get to Carnegie Hall; practice, practice, practice.

DangerMouse

I've always used AND LIKED Punch! Pro for it's ease of use. http://www.punchsoftware.com
It has a small learning curve and most things you need are easy to find.
It also does landscaping. Also has 'see-through' wall mode, and 'helicoptor' mode so you can rotate the whole plan around. 'walk-through' mode too! Also plumbing, electric, HVAC, etc.

DM

__________________
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]Click
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
to see some of my original magic tricks and trick boxes!

Willie T

Actually, the "trick" is to do the tutorials. That's pretty much all there is to it.

Very simple, straight-forward tips that quickly get you past some of the seemingly frustrating behaviours of the program make the tutorials an absolute MUST.

Not using the tutorials is like trying to start a car without the keys. And makes about as much sense. SU is EASY and SIMPLE to figure out and use.... but NOT all on your own.

One word........... TUTORIALS.

__________________
"True eloquence consists in saying all that is necessary, and only that which is."
François Duc de La Rochefoucauld
Willie T

epson

You can try looking into softplan architectural design software. It’s a stand alone software package and it’s up there in price but it is a very good architectural package which lets you see in 3D, do landscaping, rendering of your house, etc…

Here’s a link to their site: http://softplan.com/

DangerMouse

That looks like good software, quite similar to Punch!Pro. Po)

DM

__________________
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]Click
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
to see some of my original magic tricks and trick boxes!

epson

Very good software I have used it in the past and it’s very easy to use…

nap

I have this problem. My dad always told me I am smart enough to not have to read the instructions and generally he is right, especially when so many instruction manuals are now written in China. The use of English is deplorable and they often add more confusion than they remove.

and yes, I have started cars without keys before as well.

I'll have to go back a step and actually try to learn it. Thanks.

DangerMouse

And you did the time in county lockup for GTA too?

Po)

DM

__________________
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]Click
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
to see some of my original magic tricks and trick boxes!