“We are very pleased to offer the benefits of cloud computing directly to our UK customers through Vectorworks Cloud Services,” said Martyn Horne, product development manager at Computers Unlimited, the Vectorworks distributor for the United Kingdom and Ireland. “Coupled with the new mobile app, Vectorworks Nomad, this capability adds a very useful and new dimension to the Vectorworks workflow and product portfolio.”

01 - Vectorworks Cloud Services (VCS) is now available in some European countries and the UK and Ireleand.

Vectorworks Cloud Services offers users greater convenience, collaboration and freedom for accessing their designs from any location, at any time. Offered exclusively for subscription-based members (users) Vectorworks Cloud Services frees up desktop computing power and enables greater collaboration with remote team-members, clients and consultants on both desktop and mobile platforms.

“Vectorworks Cloud Services will be a nice opportunity for Danish Vectorworks users,” said John Hansen of MikroGraf who represents Vectorworks in Denmark. “Smaller firms, in particular, will benefit from the backup and presentation features of this inventive service.”

Vectorworks Cloud Services was launched in the United States and Canada on April 2, 2012 as a free trial. To learn more, please visitwww.vectorworks.net/cloudservices.

ArchiCAD 16 introduces a comprehensive ecosystem of solutions which tie together Graphisoft’s various BIM software packages, addressing mobile as well as cloud solutions. The two largest new features of this release are ArchiCAD 16’s new Morph Tool modeling technology and Graphisoft’s introduction of BIMcomponents.com, a cloud-based repository of native ArchiCAD, GDL-based, BIM components.

“Building projects–by their nature–contain numerous custom building components and structures that may require modeling capabilities beyond the standard BIM tools,” said László Vértesi, VP of Products at Graphisoft. “ArchiCAD 16 introduces direct modeling capabilities and cloud-integration to help users create and find the custom objects, components, and structures they need to make their BIM models complete.”

Explicit Modeling

ArchiCAD has long been a BIM leader in parametric modeling capabilities within AEC but this release introduces the Morph Tool, bringing what is commonly referred to as “direct modeling” (or “explicit” modeling as compared to “parametric”) capabilities to its modeling powers.

01 - Graphisoft's new ArchiCAD 16. Introduces new Morph Tool for direct modeling and new BIMcomponents.com portal.

The new Morph Tool brings to ArchiCAD 16 popular modeling techniques such as Push/Pull and direct modeling transformations in an intuitive graphical way. The Morph Tool is an optimal solution for creating custom BIM components, custom structures, and custom elements of the built environment as well as custom-designed building interiors.

BIM Components in the Cloud

Building components is one of the most dynamically developing segments in the BIM industry and Graphisoft has addressed this trend with a user-friendly approach that encourages users–not just advanced scripting-capable third-party developers–to produce and share BIM components for the community of ArchiCAD users to tap into.

The new BIMcomponents.com website is a cloud-based community website hosting thousands of GDL-based BIM components. Users can create, search, upload and download custom BIM components of their choice. The fully-integrated web portal makes sharing and obtaining BIM components simple.

EcoDesign Becomes Integrated

Graphisoft is introducing in version 16 a fully integrated EcoDesigner. The built-in Energy Evaluation functionality of ArchiCAD 16 is similar to the former standalone EcoDesigner product but is based on entirely new technology (eg: zone-boundary based building model geometry analysis, analytic weather data input option, etc.). This technology allows architects to perform reliable dynamic energy evaluation of their BIM model within ArchiCAD relying on BIM geometry analysis and accurate hour-by-hour online weather data of the building’s location.

Together with ArchiCAD 16, GRAPHISOFT also delivers important workflow and productivity updates to its growing portfolio of solutions. These include an upgraded BIM Server™, Cloud-integrated model sharing service for BIMx users with an active maintenance contract, and support for the IFC 2×3 Coordination View Version 2.0 for facilitating OPEN BIM.

ArchiCAD 16 will be released on May 30, 2012, with shipment to customers beginning within a few weeks after the official release. Following a tight release schedule, all 26 local versions are planned to reach the market by the end of Q3 2012. For more information about ArchiCAD 16, please visit: http://www.graphisoft.com/archicad. For a live demonstration of ArchiCAD 16, please register for the upcoming “BIM Components at Your Fingertips” webinar on June 19, 2012.

AR-works

The AR-works technology consists of a plugin for Vectorworks, an AR-works Viewer application and a physical Marker–a printed graphic used to trigger the experience. The only requirement to view the model is a computer with a webcam. If you do not have a webcam the model can still be viewed in “on screen” mode.

The client or architect can experience the model in the Viewer by turning and rotating the Marker in their hand, as if the virtualized building was sitting in their hand.

01 - AR-works is a new "augmented reality" (AR) plugin for Vectorworks Architect.

Viewing the 3D model in AR-works has several options for interaction. You can interact with it by holding the model in your hand and moving it around. You can read the building’s form by removing components like floors and walls or you can slice through the model across various axis to look inside the model.

AR-works is being offered at a special introductory price of 299.99.USD. It will normally go for 649.99.USD.

To learn more visit them online here.

Hillmar’s book acts as a guide to help users draft lighting plots more easily. In an easy-to-follow, insightful manner, Hillmar takes readers on a journey through the methods and techniques he uses to develop engaging plots.

“The new edition of Light Plot Deconstructed highlights some of the new features in Vectorworks 2012 that improve the lighting designer’s process of drafting the light plot,” says Hillmar. “In addition, reader requests drove the expansion of several topics, including a new section on using viewports to create ‘cardboards’ and other specialized views useful to the theatrical electricians in realizing the plot in the theatre.”

Light Plot Deconstructed is written for professional designers, as well as designers in education (students, instructors, schools). It is intended for use with Vectorworks 2012 software and is most applicable for Vectorworks Spotlight and Designer users. The book is a part of Nemetschek Vectorworks’ self-paced training options, designed for people who like to learn on their own and at their own pace. For more information and to purchase Vectorworks tutorials, please visit www.vectorworks.net/training/guides.

With Autodesk Inventor Fusion for Mac, designers can freely explore complex complex shapes and forms, enabling rapid design changes with fewer limitations. This updated technology preview includes these capabilities:

• Surfacing Suppport – users can now work seamlessly between solids and surfaces, expanding their confidence and capabilities to tackle design changes. Translators for Parasolid, Rhino, IGES and AliasDesign have been enhanced
• Simplified Wizards – Simulation users now have one button simplification of designs. This makes simplifying common geometry fast and easy and ensures that mesh and solves times are as fast as possible
• Ease of Use Improvements – New menu marking, sketch ease of use and modeling ease of use have all been improved

01 - Autodesk Inventor Fusion for Mac. A new Mac-native ground-up mCAD modeling program for emerging mechanical engineers and design professionals.

Inventor Fusion for Mac Technology Preview 2012 is fully interoperable with AutoCAD and Autodesk Inventor software, enabling customers to choose the modeling approach that is right for the task at hand. The Apple OS X compatible version of the technology preview expires on 1 January 2013. That means users can embrace and enjoy this new Mac MCAD product now until the end of the year.

To learn more and signup to get it go here.

Nemetschek Vectorworks has had a flurry of news this past two weeks and now the company has announced it is shipping its first native Chinese-language version of their entire product line for the mainland Chinese market. Previously, Nemetschek had an English-language version available in Hong Kong. The new Simplified Chinese language Vectorworks product line-up will be useful to international users who are doing work in China abroad as well. There will be a series of Vectorworks Chinese Launch events starting on 16 April 2012. We will publish more news on the matter soon. For more info now, visit them online.

Dashwood Expands Stereo3D CAT Products

The award-winning Stereo3D CAT 3D calibration and analysis software from Dashwood Cinema Solutions has been updated to version 1.1, with new features and both reduced price and free versions.

“We are very excited to bring elements of this professional tool to the masses at absolutely no charge,” said Tim Dashwood, founder of Dashwood Cinema Solutions. “The full version of Stereo3D CAT has been used on major Hollywood and IMAX 3D projects with amazing results and now a free subset of those same features are available to anyone with a Mac, a compatible capture device and an HDMI1.4a 3D camera. Customers will experience a dramatic improvement in the quality of their 3D work, and I think it will also become a valuable training tool for budding stereographers.”

The free version of Stereo3D CAT includes the same parallax line guides, left/right solo, anaglyph, split displays, QuickTime playback and Stereo3D Visualizer of the full version; however, it limits resolutions to HD and screen sizes to 3DTV or mobile devices. There is much more news on this so read more on Dashwood’s website here.

Lightworks Design News

Lightworks, the world’s leading supplier of rendering solutions for developers has announced a new partnership with Design Simulation Technologies, a developer of educational software for the design and analysis of complex mechanical assemblies.

SimWise 4D is an analysis tool for design and engineering professionals which combines rigid body dynamics simulation and FEA (finite element analysis) into a single, integrated environment. Simulation Technologies has licensed the Lightworks Author product and integrated it with its recent software releases. For more information about SimWise visit: www.design-simulation.com

Vectorworks in the Cloud

Vectorworks Cloud Services will allow desktop and cloud-stored CAD files to be synchronized automatically, enabling collaboration and remote work scenarios. As we have detailed in our feature, there are four components to the new cloud services offering: Vectorworks Cloud Services Server, Vectorworks Nomad for iOS mobile devices, a desktop version of Vectorworks Cloud Services which serves as an organizing and synchronizing application, and finally a Vectorworks Cloud Services web portal that enables collaboration, viewing and several other basic functions. (see image 01)

01 - Here is an image of Vectorworks Nomad app running on iPad.

With a Vectorworks Cloud Services account users select which files to upload to the cloud. Changes to these files will be automatically synchronized to the user’s private storage in the cloud, allowing them to browse, view, annotate, and share designs from the Web, iOS devices and email.

“The cloud offers important benefits in efficiency and collaboration to the design workflow, enhancing the value that Vectorworks products already offer on the desktop,” said Sean Flaherty, CEO of Nemetschek Vectorworks. “Vectorworks Cloud Services will provide the freedom and flexibility designers need to successfully meet the challenges of working in today’s mobile world. In particular, the ability to perform calculations in the cloud will be a significant advantage to our users.”

The Vectorworks Cloud Services server renders 3D views (in viewports) in various rendering modes, including higher-resolution Renderworks modes, thereby serving as a cloud-renderer. The cloud-based workflow shifts calculations needed from the desktop out into the cloud server where besides rendering it can generate sections and calculate BIM data. The results are automatically sent back to the desktop once completed.

Service Select members in the US and Canada can try out the service for free now, until 30 April 2012. Later this year the service will be available in other countries. To learn more visit here.

What’s New

A big new feature in AutoCAD 2013 are the new tools to connect with Autodesk 360 cloud-enabled services. This will allow AutoCAD 2013 users to access their data anywhere and collaborate with colleagues in remote locations. Free-form modeling has become more robust and modeling in general enhanced across both surface, solid and mesh model typologies. Powerful point cloud support allows you to import scanned data with up to 2 billion data points, helping you start your project with existing environments.

01 - The new AutoCAD 2013 has been announced by Autodesk. The release is simultaneous on both the Mac and Windows platforms.

There are some interesting new social connection capabilities in AutoCAD 2013. Besides the Autodesk 360 options you can now bring in Inventor files and maintain intelligent and associative relationships between AutoCAD and Inventor files. AutoCAD 2013 gains new built-in Facebook and Twitter connection tools for sharing your designs. And you can import and aggregate 3D model data from the top CAD industry model formats including PRO/Engineer, CATIA, SolidWorks, NX, and Rhinoceros.

There is new AutoCAD Apps on Autodesk Exchange, a programming interface and full interface customization. Autodesk 2013 has built-in 3D rendering tools and the program support 3D printing capability for physical 3D prototyping.

3Dconnexion wants 3D mouse users to show non-3D mouse users just how awesome it is to use a 3D mouse for their CAD and 3D design work. They have teamed with GrabCAD website to promote a video competition. Entrants are challenged to create a demo video promoting the use of 3Dconnexion mice. The competition has just started and ends 18 April 2012. To learn more visit this page.

Nemetschek Launches Creative Minds Competition

Nemetscheck Vectoroworks, Inc., has announced the start of its Creative Minds Monthly Design Competition in the United States. The “charrette style” competition introduces a new concept every month to be answered with any kind of design response–architectural design, product design, landscape design, entertainment design and others.

The competition challenges designers to explore multiple design options for documenting and presenting a response to a design challenge. The competition is open to anyone within the US and submissions can come from an individual or a group of up to four people. Each month’s winner will receive a 150.USD Visa gift card, along with the opportunity to be showcased in Vectorworks’ traveling exhibit, which will be featured at venues such as the AIA National Convention and Design Exhibition. All winning entries will also be showcased in the online “Creative Minds” publication.

To learn more and enter this competition please visit the following website:

http://www.vectorworks.net/creativeminds/

The latest version has GPS integration so you can tap the power of location services in the iOS or Android operating system. You can setup geo settings for spatial orientation. Also new is 3D viewing.

01 - AutoCAD WS 1.4 is out and has several new features including printing capabilities.

AutoCAD WS 1.4 now allows you to access preconfigured or freestyle 3D views, which can be viewed in solid or wireframe mode. And you can plot your prints remotely from within the app using HP’s ePrint & Share service. Finally, there is the ability to plot your design to PDF or DWF and share them via email.

To learn more visit: https://www.autocadws.com/

Vectorworks Landmark Tutorial Manual provides explanations of Vectorworks Landmark concepts and techniques for users of all levels. The topics covered apply to both residential and commercial projects.

01 - The new Vectorworks Landmark Tutorial Manual, Third Edition, by Jonathan Pickup.

“When people get started with Vectorworks Landmark, they often struggle with the complexities of planting,” said Pickup. “The goal of this manual is to make it as simple as possible, to get away from the mystery of how you can make a plan and get the information from the plant database, and to show people how quick and easy it can be do things like landscape budgeting and planting plans.”

The manual takes users through a series of exercises to reinforce the learning of Vectorworks Landmark features and workflow capabilities, starting with a very simple exercise on landscape budgeting. Content and exercises build in complexity, and b the end of the manual the user will be able to use the plant database, create custom plants, edit the plant graphics and import drawings from consultants.

Further Details

This tutorial book is part of the Nemetschek Vectorworks’ self-paced training options, designed for people who like to learn on their own and at their own pace. For more information and to purchase the manual, which is 75.USD, please visit this page.

IMSI/Design has had pdf2CAD for Windows for a bit longer but now the company’s product is made for Mac as well. The software tool converts engineered drawings saved in Adobe PDF format into DXF files which can be opened and edited using numerous CAD tools, including the company’s own TurboCAD and its popular new TurboViewer mobile applications for Apple iOS devices.

The software can also convert to HPGL format, directly from PDF. It supports batch processing to convert multiple files at once. The software concatenates characters to form editable words and lines of text and it maps fonts. Price is usually 199.USD. To learn more visit here.

KeyShot updated to 3.1

Luxion has updated KeyShot to version 3.1. Version 3.1 features an all-new rendering and animation set of options. This release introduces a patent-pending animation system, plus a revamped user-interface and over 600 plus materials. It also supports network rendering and new compatibility with 3DConnexion 3D mice.

01 - KeyShot 3.1 now supports a next-generation support for metallic paint textures where the user can control the dispersement of individual metallic flakes. (image courtesy of Luxion.)

With version 3.1 there is a next-generation of metallic paint support that contains visible metallic flakes, whose distribution can be individually controlled. This and many new features round out version 3.1. Learn more here.

Event: Bonzai 3D Organic Modeling Webinar

AutoDesSys will host tomorrow (16 February 2012) a Bonzai 3D webinar focused on organic modeling. The event takes place online at 1:00pm EST and last one hour. You can learn more and register here.

Columbia Events

Vectorworks Core Concepts Course.

Monday, March 12 and Tuesday, March 13, 2012. Hands-on training will get you up-to-speed on core concepts behind this popular CAD/BIM program. The cost is 700.USD. You can register and learn more here.

Vectorworks Intermediate Concepts Course.

Wednesday, March 14 and Thursday, March 15, 2012. This continues on from the previous two days and advances knowledge of Vectorworks. The pre-requisite for this course is the Core Concepts course and you must have taken it within the past two years. The cost is 700.USD. You can register for this course here.

Virtual Events

Vectorworks Virtual Core Concepts Course.

This is the same course as above but taught virtually over the Internet. It begins on Friday, March 23, and extends to March 23, 2012. Virtual Training is a five-day course with three hours of training each day, where you can choose to attend classes in the morning or evening, freeing up the rest of your day. The cost is 850.USD. You can register for this event here.

To learn more about Vectorworks in general visit them online at: www.nemetschek.net

Donald Ward, Vectorworks expert and trainer at Nemetschek Vectorworks, Inc., will be presenting at the event. Don has been with Nemetschek Vectorworks for six years, initially as a support specialist working directly with customers. Since 2007, he has been conducting Vectorworks classroom and on-line training courses at all levels, as well as presenting Vectorworks at numerous industry events.

Vectorworks UG at the Apple Store

Again, this event takes place at the SoHo Apple Store in New York City and is a presentation of the NY Vectorworks User Group. It’s free and you can register for it here.

Graphisoft’s ArchiCAD 15 won Construction Computing Magazine’s BIM Product of the Year in 2011 and now the company has released a white paper titled, “Get There Faster with ArchiCAD.” The white paper examines five critical areas to explore before making final BIM software selection. The sole purpose of the white paper is to provide accurate, reliable information about critical issues related to BIM and how ArchiCAD technology addresses these issues.

The key issue areas are:

• Improve profitability
• Enable agile and competitive workflow
• Provide real-time collaboration
• Easy-to-learn and simplfied 3D workflow
• Optimizes use of computer hardware power
• Keeps IT costs low
• Is a secure and proven BIM product

The white paper shares expertise from six design leaders. The company says, “we want to teach and educate in an effort to help architects make informed technology decisions.”

You can download the BIM white-paper here.

LumenRT 2 for SketchUp on Mac and Windows has an entirely new, state-of-the-art real-time rendering engine. The program boasts a complete physical simulation of light, physical and accurate reflections, time-of-day (TOD) real-time rendering adjustability, precise anti-aliasing and motion-blur, software shadows, superb water and underwater effects, realistic skies and advanced material rendering.

01 - LumenRT 2 has stunning real-time lighting rendering capability. (image courtesy of e-on Software)

Some specific new features in version 2 include:

• Standard quality mode generates fast lighting using global illumination
• Accelerated processing of scenes with visual feedback
• Export SketchUp time-lapse animations support
• LumenRT material editor lets you adjust materials directly inside SketchUp
• Create animations of unlimited length
• Low-quality real-time rendering mode for slower graphics boards

e-on Software said the product, currently compatible with SketchUp, is being ported to other 3D platforms, but did not announce which ones. For this major release the company is publishing a free trial version or LumenRT 2 for Mac and Windows, immediately available for download at: try.lumenrt.com

LumenRT is the only solution that combines real-time rendering with a full, physical simulation of light, letting architects and their clients accurately experience the true volume and lighting of their designs.

LumenRT 2 is a plugin application for SketchUp and works on both the free and Pro versions of SketchUp. The product retails for 295.USD with an introductory price of 195.USD. It is supported on SketchUp on Mac OS X platforms (10.6+) and Widnows XP, Vista and 7. Users of LumenRT are eligible for a free upgrade to LumenRT 2 until February 29, 2012. The free trial version is fully functional for up to 15 days. Output for the trial version is watermarked.

To learn more visit LumenRT here.

AutoDesSys will be hosting a Bonzai 3D webinar today at 1pm-2pm EST. The free webinar is an introduction to the SketchUp competitor, a conceptual modeling tool with a Class-A NURBS modeling engine and the power of formZ’s legendary modeling capabilities, packaged into an easy-to-use conceptual tool.

Like formZ, Bonzai 3D has the ability to plug into the power of AutoDesSys’ RenderZone rendering software for photo-realistic imagery making. To register for this seminar go here now. To view previous webinars online, on-demand, go here.

Vectorworks News

Nemetschek Vectorworks, Inc., has some good news on its global CAD/BIM product line. For starters Vectorworks 2012 is now available in Japan through its Tokyo-based distributor, A&A Co. Ltd.. You can learn more about that here.

There is also some news about Vectorworks-based design firms winning awards, as in Lukas Schweingruber und Rainer Zulauf from Schweingruber Zulauf Landschaftsarchitekten.

For French-based architects and designers CESYAM is launching a Vectorworks 2012 Tour Across France.

No Autodesk Vista Support

In a surprising twist Autodesk is ending formal support for Microsoft Vista operating system-based computers with its new and currently shipping versions of its software. The new policy goes into affect January 1, 2012.

Autodesk will continue to support Microsoft Windows XP operating systems. Based on the company’s research there are a large amount of customers currently utilizing XP-based systems, while the same research reveals little reason for support of Vista. The company reports that most Vista customers have migrated up to Windows 7.

More information on this topic can be found here.

The book is officially titled “Entertainment and Lighting Design with Vectorworks Spotlight: First Edition.” Kevin Lee Allen is an award-winning lighting and scenic designer whose work includes theater, film, television, museums an corporate environments.

The book explores the use of Vectorworks Spotlight, the leading CAD design program in entertainment lighting markets, with the use of the Renderworks program for producing final renderings. “It is definitely going to be my course texbook for this semester because, despite my students having different needs than entertainment designers, it specifically lists the most important tools, commands and workflows and talks a little about each one,” said Chris Dopher, Entertainment Design, Instructor, FIT.

The new manual is intended for use with Vectorworks 2012 software and is most applicable to Spotlight 2012. It is a part of the Nemetschek Vectorworks’ self-paced training options, designed for people who like to learn at their own pace. To see all the Vectorworks training options, including this book click on this link.

This week the company previewed Autodesk Inventor Fusion for Mac. As part of the Inventor product family, Inventor Fusion is primarily a 3D mechanical CAD modeler application designed to engage emerging young engineers and designers.

Kevin Schneider, Sr. Product Line Manager for Autodesk Design, Lifecycle and Simulation Product Group, noted that Inventor Fusion is the first dedicated mechanical CAD product from Autodesk that is a Mac product.

01 - Autodesk Inventor Fusion for Mac. A new Mac-native ground-up mCAD modeling program for emerging mechanical engineers and design professionals.

“When we look at the next generation of designers and engineers,” says Schneider “we see their expectations of choice and software is very different than the current generation.” Autodesk told Architosh that the company is adapting to trends that show that the future generation of engineers and designers are increasingly coming both to and out of college with an affinity for Apple’s platforms.

While Autodesk Inventor is the company’s Windows-only full-fledged professional mechanical CAD product, Inventor Fusion for Mac is a simplified entry-level product that has been written from the ground-up on Mac OS X. It has a ’state-of-the-art’ modern user-interface and advanced modeling functionality.

The formal release of the product is aimed for the first quarter of 2012. Professionals and students interested in the Mac-based Inventor Fusion can learn more at a special page on Facebook setup by Autodesk (http://www.facebook.com/InventorFusion)

Final pricing has also not been set but those who engage in the public technology preview can try out Fusion for the Mac for free. You can sign up here.

The new ArchiCAD STAR(T) Edition 2012 is based on the robust BIM technology of ArchiCAD 15, but with a feature set and price tailored to the needs of small architectural practices, home builders, and building contractors.

ArchiCAD STAR(T) Edition 2012 is a full-featured BIM program, containing all the tools necessary to creating a building information model of your design and then documenting the project fully as well as generating a list of materials. The latest release features the core functionality of ArchiCAD 15 plus:

• Intelligent Element Connections – automatic connections between building structures and elements to help create the creation and maintenance of the BIM model while preserving the flexibility architects need
• 3D Design Space – 3D guidelines and editing planes to help the creation of the BIM model in the natural 3D environment including axonometric and perspective views
• Latest DWG-DXF file exchange capabilities with the 3rd party applications of consultants

ArchiCAD STAR(T) Edition 2012 is available in International English, German and Austrian versions. Other localized versions will follow during Q1, 2012. To learn more visit them online here.