"AutoCAD" VS "Architectural Desktop"...

[Hussam_CG]

hello renderers !
I want to ask about the main differences between the tow CAD programs :
"AutoCAD" and "Architectural Desktop"...
I'm an architecture studet ,what do u advice me to use for my architectural projects ? and why ?
what do u use mostly for architectural designs ?
what is the unique features for each program,...?
hope for soon replies, cos I'm getting confused of what is the best program to work with,,
take care,

Hussam

[Dynedain]

stick with autocad

architectural desktop runs on top of autocad and is pretty much useless for the kinds of work you will be doing in school

[Hussam_CG]

hi Dynedain,
would you explain your point more please ?
I heard Architectural Desktop has a lot of features that autocad doesn't have..., but why to stick with autocad ?

[travistlo]

I disagree, Architectural Desktop will save you alot of time creating floorplans, elevations, even models. The problem with it, is there is a learning curve. It also helps alot with creating construction documents. Plus what ever you can do in ACAD you can do in ADT.

If you need to do renderings, 3d models, etc, ADT is fairly annoying to use. I would use Viz for modeling. But for architectural drafting, ADT.

travis

[czoog]

Why not use Autodesk Revit? I've used it everyday for the past 4 years now for all things architecture, schematic design through construction docs, rendering, etc.

It is light years ahead of ADT in terms of ease of use and functionality. It was purpose built from the ground up to work and think like an architect. In revit you work on a building infomation model, elevations, sections, plans, schedules, 3d views, are just different ways to look at the same infomation. Make a change in elevation, that change is instantly reflected every where else. It is completely bi-directional and 100% parametric.

It also nice that we can render any project from any view at anytime, using the slightly cheesy accurender engine built in, or export out to dwg, and link into viz to render with Vray!

I'm currently testing a beta update to Viz's file link manager that allows viz to read and convert Revit materials to Viz materials, which I then convert to vray mat's and render away! Make a change in revit? just export the dwg overtop the old one and reload the link in viz.

woo... do I sound like a fanboy or what

anyway for more info: www.autodesk.com/revit

and the forums are at http://www.augi.com/revit/default.asp?page=376
you have to join, but it's free

good luck,

-Z

[Dynedain]

in school your professors will be pushing you in theoretical design in ways that EZ-3D software like ArchDesktop or Revit don't handle very well. Also in school you won't be doing construction documents and so forth, and so the advantages of the 3D building information model applications start disappearing.

If you are just going to be learning how to do basic floor plans with very little design, then by all means, use ArchDesktop or Revit...but if you are going to be focusing on design, then just use ACAD, and/or 3dsmax as needed for 3D work

[czoog]

If you are just going to be learning how to do basic floor plans with very little design, then by all means, use ArchDesktop or Revit...but if you are going to be focusing on design, then just use ACAD, and/or 3dsmax as needed for 3D work

It is a common misconception that revit is an ”ez 3d modeler” and therefore can only do boxy buildings. Revit can model just about anything you want, but it's real strength is it's parametric and fluidity in the design process. You can really be flexible with your design. You have the freedom to explore shapes with committing to a shape. No need to erase and try again, just push a pull what you need or change some parameters. You even can set things up with math formulas that drive parameters that drive shapes.

An example, S.O.M. is using revit to design and document the Freedom tower at the world trade center, it will be the worlds tallest building, if only for a little while. The entire complex, pleated and torqued curtain wall system is made up a just 4 revit families stacked on top of each other. The degree to which each piece is twisted and rotated on 3 axis is driven by an extremely complex formula. So what they are left with are 120+ floor plate, none of which are exactly the same. It is truly amazing.

-Z

[ene.xis]

hi hussam
i m an architect norwadays with some good amount of work and i use ADT.
i must say that i can t say wich is the best program for u...this is something u must grasp and reflect...i can tell u that u must grasp it considering ur skills. u must understand that if u use autocad in order to fully use another software u will have to learn it...wich might take sometime and persistency too fully understand the software...
i suppose that autocad might be a good choice for student work....but other softwares r better for big project hadling...
not sure it helped....but....

[Hussam_CG]

thank you so much for your replies guys,
that was so helpful,
now , czoog gave my a new idea ,and it's about trying Autodesk Revit (thanks)>> ,
does it have the same workflow of autocad ?
I still want to ask you this :
let's suppose that I have all those programs :AutoCad, Architectural desktop,Revit, VIZ (forget about the money).. then, what do u suggest that should be installed on my machine to work with?
plus that I don't only work on college projects, I do some visualizations to my own designs,and for some clients (arch offices)..
what programs do u advice to work together ? (except 3ds max of course)
take care,
and thanks in advance,

Hussam

[czoog]

Well, Revit is completely different than AutoCAD, actually the less you know about AutoCAD the easier time you will have learning Revit. It is really that different.

Anyway, my workflow goes like this: Model and assign materials in Revit (much of that is automatic) then export out a 3d dwg, then link that dwg into Viz. Viz will read all of the Revit material and convert them to Viz “architectural materials” which I then convert to vray materials and edit them to suit. Then just render away with Vray. If the model in Revit changes, just re-export another dwg overtop the original and everything updates in viz.

What is nice about Revit, is that everyone in my office “models” from the start, every project we have starts life a building model. So it's not just me modeling everything, that gives me more time to concentrate on lighting, materials, and “fluff”.

Here is an WIP image of the model in Revit, then rendered in Viz with vray.

-Z





Ps I know about the black stuff on the soffit, the bottom of my soffit wall is messing up the soffit.

[Revit-Mastah]

I think you should start learning Revit now it is the future of Architectural Design Software.

[siliconbauhaus]

if you are looking for a programme for modelling why not look at SketchUp?

very easy to use and you can dump the model out to dwg format and render it in max/viz

http://www.sketchup.com

you can get a free demo there and the programme is less that 500$

[plastic_]

archicad wasn't mentioned yet, IMO it kills revit and acad/architectual desktop, for both plans and modeling.

[ihavenofish]

the biggest issue i have with all these fluff architectural drafting/modelling sofware packages is that, unless you are happy with the final render output from them. whats the point?

if you are rendering in max/viz, why not just model there. youll get better results usually (like the dup faces on the soffit would be noticed right away) and save yourself the cash on all the extra features that you dont really need.

autocad r whatever (nothing's really changed since 12 that's important to drafting) is quite fine for drawing your floorplans etc. its quite easy to export these to max and build a nice 3d model from them. ocasionally i used the acad solids for complex boolean objects, but the export is so bad that i tend to remake them in max anyway.

the only redeaming point for these new all in wonder cad monsters is that when you update the 2d plan, the 3d is supposed to update. this seems to only work if you make "industry standard" houses and never go beyond them. otherwise, you end up manually updating anyway (have not tried the very latest versions, maybe its better now). for me, i mean, i havent used studs and drywall in a project in ages. you can quite easily set up an xref pipeline with max to get the same kind of quasi automatic updating.

there is only one peice of software i have used that has a quite beautiful 2d - 3d associative toolset, and its very expensive and not really intended for basic architectural stuff. this is CATIA.

later

[percydaman]

we use file linking and form-z. Seems to work okay, though the program is very new to me and I keep wanting to just model that damn thing in max.