Autodesk this week announced its new AutoCAD 2023 product line. This report covers its new Mac version with streamlined workflows, automation and much more.
AutoCAD 2023 for Mac and AutoCAD LT 2023 for Mac are now available.
What’s New
Like the Windows version, a subscription to AutoCAD 2023 for Mac and AutoCAD LT 2023 for Mac includes access to the AutoCAD web app and AutoCAD mobile app, which allows users to work in AutoCAD anytime, anywhere on any device. AutoCAD mobile app is available on both Apple iOS and Google Android.
Autodesk’s Trace features are analogous to using physical trace paper laid over real drawings where you designers can iterate and make suggested changes. Trace layers in AutoCAD work in a similar way. Trace is new to the desktop version of AutoCAD this year and enhanced throughout the AutoCAD product line on web and mobile.
AutoCAD 2023 for Mac and for Windows includes a new cross-platform 3D graphics system.
Collaborators can provide markup on Trace and where users can see the markup in context and respond to the markup in the DWG file. Trace works across devices so a user in the field can provide markup for a user back in the office, with updates to Trace layers streamed in real-time or near-real-time over the Internet.
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The count function on AutoCAD for Mac automates the counting of blocks or geometry to save the user time and reduce manual errors. Count also provides visual feedback as seen in the image below and like AutoCAD on Windows enables counting within a user-defined area.
Collaboration
A new Share function now allows users to share their drawings, including all related xrefs and images, with a team or client, or collaborator directly from within AutoCAD for Mac. Working similarly to the old XTRANSMIT command, using Share improves the process.
The user can now select various levels of access to the shared drawing, such as “view-only” or “edit” and send controlled copies of drawings to others depending on what access rights the receiver has.
You can also generate Share links from the desktop and the web app.
CUTBASE Command
New in the 2023 release of AutoCAD for Mac is the CUTBASE command. This command lets the user copy selected objects to the clipboard along with a specified base point and then remove them from the drawing.
New Cross-Platform 3D Graphics System
The AutoCAD 2023 release for Mac includes a new cross-platform 3D graphics system. The new system leverages all modern GPUs and multi-core CPUs to offer a smoother and faster navigation experience for larger drawings. This graphics system is available in Shaded and Shaded with Edges visual styles on by default. In our report on the Windows version of AutoCAD 2023, the new 3D graphics system is also noted but also includes Wireframe visual styles, which we assume to be the case on the Mac version as well. We believe this is just an oversight in the press information.
Moreover, the Mac version itself includes a new graphic engine, which provides better display effects on some high-end GPUs, including clearer and smoother lines and curves, hatch pattern display at smaller scales, and improved selection highlight effects.
Learn More
All current subscribers. can download the latest new AutoCAD 2023 for Mac by logging into their Autodesk Account. A 30-day trial is available as well. Click here to learn more.