The 2026 release refines its multi-disciplinary approach by integrating 2D drafting, 3D modeling, rendering, and data management within a single environment. Its hybrid modeling system allows users to move fluidly between conceptual sketches and detailed construction models, while maintaining compatibility with industry standards such as IFC, DWG, and Revit files.

The latest version introduces improved graphics performance, faster section and viewport updates, and enhanced AI-driven drafting aids that automate routine layout and annotation tasks. A reworked resource browser and more consistent UI elements make file management and navigation smoother. 

The integration with Twinmotion and Enscape continues to strengthen real-time visualization workflows, supplementing Maxon Cinema4D native online rendering.

A Vectorworks Architect scene (created by the author) rendered using Enscape Renderer, which can live sync with the BIM solution.

Overall, Vectorworks Designer 2026 is a highly flexible design tool, appealing to users who value versatility and independence from more rigid BIM ecosystems. Its strength lies in combining creative freedom with increasingly capable BIM functionality.

This review focuses mostly on its use in the architects’ office but its capabilities in interior design, landscape design, lighting design, and site design make it especially useful for firms with multiple disciplines in the office framework.

Vectorworks Overview

Vectorworks was originally developed in the 1980s as MiniCAD on the Mac platform. It began its journey as a 3D modeling program and one of the very first high-quality professional CAD and 3D modeling software systems for the burgeoning MacOS platform. By the mid-1990s, MiniCAD had quickly become a favorite CAD tool for architects around the world, from the UK and US to Switzerland and Japan, architects on the Mac loved its famed ease-of-use and conformity to the Apple MacDraw UI way of doing things. The software became famous for how easy it was to use, but also for its graphical capabilities. All of those things remain today.

For architects on Vectorworks, they have long enjoyed the software’s hybrid 2D/3D nature, including its BIM-orientation in the last decade of its development. Architects feel the tool works the way architects want to work. It conforms to a WYSIWYG philosophy. The final product for architects is construction documents in sheet sets, and what you see is what you get in Vectorworks. Using its viewports technology, drawing sheets are composed (or pasted up) onto sheet layers (equal to paper space in AutoCAD lingo). Viewports enable users to zero in on exactly the parts of drawings and 3D BIM models they want to show on composed drawing sheets, setting scale and visualization attributes governing line weights and foreground and background rendering options (more on that later). Users can also copy and paste in image files (jpegs, etc), PDFs, and text to fully compose sheets as they want them to be.

For those who don’t know Vectorworks Architect, let me summarize at a high level its features:

Drafting and Modeling

• Comprehensive 2D drafting and sketching tools.
• Push and Pull 3D Modeling Tools (similar to SketchUp) but using solids modeling.
• Advanced Parasolid-based 3D modeling tools: Solid modeling, NURBS modeling, Direct and Parametric editing features.
• Conceptual and massing modeling workflows for early design.

Vectorworks Architect’s modeling toolset is built on the world’s best 3D geometry kernel (Parasolids) and enables architects’ comprehensive freeform modeling capabilities once they have invested in the training.

A freeform modeling example from a project by the author, using Vectorworks’ native rendering capabilities.

As an example of freeform modeling, the image above of a bell tower shows a simple example of what is possible with the program. Textures can be added to supplement those already included in the program, or they can be created from sources such as photographs of natural materials.

BIM and Data Management

• Comprehensive BIM authoring environment with IFC import/export functionalities.
• Extensive file exchange features, including Revit, SketchUp, Rhino, and AutoCAD.
• Fully parametric intelligent building objects (walls, doors, windows, roofs, etc).
• Automated worksheets and reports from BIM objects.
• Dynamic data assignment and data visualization.
• Materials, accurate quantification, and embodied carbon energy tracking.

While the youngest true BIM solution in the Nemetschek Group’s arsenal of BIM platforms, Vectorworks Architect 2026 has at times led the BIM industry in various leading-edge BIM capabilities, as we will discuss again in this review with its advanced Depth Cue features. But beyond its famed graphics capabilities, Vectorworks today is the only BIM solution on the market that can enable users to export backward to previous Autodesk Revit versions, and it offloads (and automates) those tasks to Vectorworks Cloud servers.

Documentation

• Automatic sections, elevations, and details.
• Sheet layers and the industry’s most advanced viewport technologies.
• Smart title blocks and revision management.
• Advanced dimensioning and annotation tools.
• PDF, DWG and export options.

Vectorworks’ title block technology has been around for awhile, but it shouldn’t be forgotten. Once installed, changes to the title block are automatically applied to all sheets. It is a big time saver and helps eliminate mistakes. Change an issue date, or a name, any change in the title block, and all 200 sheets are updated instantly. No one has to go through each sheet and update it.  

Visualization

• Real-time shaded views and Redshift rendering.
• Renderworks (Cinema 4D engine) for photoreal output.
• Integrated Enscape, Lumion, and Twinmotion via LiveSync rendering.
• 3D perspectives, animations, and presentation boards.
• Real-time walkthroughs in 3D for client presentations.

Real-time shaded views are not so unique to Vectorworks, but the program executes them very well with its many onboard rendering engines and options. Its visualization strengths make designing fun and can make a project come alive for clients. Users can fly around, zoom in, zoom out, and see how all the parts of a design fit together, discover issues and conflicts, and then resolve them.

Collaboration, AI, and Automation

• DWG, RVT, IFC, and SKP import/export.
• Multi-user Project Sharing.
• Vectorworks Cloud Services.
• AI command and tool search.
• Early-stage auto-dimensions and drafting assistant.
• Python scripting and Vectorscript.
• Marionette visual scripting (like Grasshopper) for custom parametric object creation and manipulation.

It should also be said that Vectorworks Cloud has numerous automation features where users can offload time-consuming processes from import and exporting to and from Revit, to stakeholder file sharing with markup capabilities and more.

Vectorworks Architect 2026: What’s New

AI Tools in Version 2026

Vectorworks 2026 introduces new AI (artificial intelligence) features, among them updates to its previous AI technologies. These moves mark the company’s first substantial step toward machine-assisted design within a CAD/BIM environment.

Vectorworks AI Visualizer was previously released back in 2024, but has received enhancements in version 2026. The latest improvements boast faster editing and image quality, particularly sharper image quality, a new dark mode, and a cleaner layout with tooltips. Vectorworks AI Visualizer is an integrated generative tool that produces conceptual imagery directly from project data or text prompts. It enables designers to explore massing, lighting, and material concepts early in the design process without leaving the application or relying on third-party rendering software. This feature bridges the gap between sketching and visualization, accelerating the transition from idea to form.

MORE: Deeper Dimensions—Vectorworks 2026 Redefines BIM Visuals and Data

Complementing that is the Vectorworks AI Assistant (Preview), a context-aware help system built on a proprietary dataset rather than general web content. It interprets user queries in plain language, identifies relevant commands or workflows, and provides direct links or actions inside the software. This is a great tool for new users or anyone not familiar with recent updates.

Overall, Vectorworks 2026’s AI features remain in an early stage but are distinctly purpose-built. They emphasize augmenting design thinking and workflow efficiency rather than replacing manual drafting.

New Depth Cueing

The new Depth Cueing features give elevations, sections, and 3D views a sense of depth. That is one way to look at it; another way is that it allows one to focus on a particular area of the building or space. One can show a rendered elevation that shows the part of the building behind the elevation faded, so the viewer focuses on the important part. At first, it seems mostly for presentations. As always, a picture is worth a thousand words/text. Even in construction drawings, pictures make the project easier to understand.

So rendered elevations, sections, and interior views don’t have to be just for client presentations; they can also be part of the construction documents. Depth cueing adds a new way of looking at the project.  It is fairly easy to use. Of course, the first step is an accurate model. Scrolling around the model in shaded view makes finding the right view easy and fast, or one can just pick a simple front or side view. A viewport is made and placed on a sheet layer. It can be rendered in color/shaded or hidden line. Then, from object info, select background rendering and depth queuing becomes an option. Here, sliders let you adjust the depth of the fully rendered area and the background fade.  The truly interesting feature is that this view is not just a bitmapped image but also includes vector lines.

Depth cueing in action on the author’s residential project showing the atmospheric and depth-producing qualities of the new features.

There are several selections to be made: textures, colors, anti-aliasing, and whether to draw edges on or off.  Selecting draw edges does just that; the lines can be thickened to emphasize the building outline as a viewport, and one can then add notes and dimensions.  While it may seem primarily a presentation feature at first, it can be used to create highly informative elevations and sections.  It also needs to be mentioned that shaded views are very light; they add very little to the file size.  Here is a tool that will be used on projects large and small, though bigger models will require longer processing times.

2D Detailing for Walls, Doors, and Windows

This makes the link between 3D and 2D drawings much tighter. One can now control how doors, windows, and walls display at different levels of detail with far more granular control. This means fewer redlines, fewer inconsistencies, and less time cleaning up.

Door and Window Assemblies Tool 

This new feature is a new way to combine doors, windows, panels, and wall infills into one parametric object. If you’ve ever struggled to model complex openings and then had to patch them together in 2D, this will make life easier.  It is not just a 2D tool; it’s a powerful 3D smart component for your more complex facades and storefronts.

Worksheet Improvements

Worksheets can now be sliced, linked, and spread across pages with better headers and formatting. For big projects with long door or window schedules, or apartment types, this makes documentation cleaner and easier to manage.  It is also worth noting that on many projects, Excel is used to generate large lists of items such as apartment types and features, schedules, and code compliance requirements.

Mixed assemblies are now easy to create, edit, and manage, including with styles. They can also include panel wall segments.

These large Excel worksheets—which can have live-links to the native Vectorworks worksheets and work bi-directionally across both Windows and Mac platforms (a feature no other BIM tools have built in)—can take up pages in length. In the past, users would use the program’s viewport features to manually split them into parts and arrange them on sheets. This is no longer necessary with the new splice feature. And when you splice a worksheet, its fixed header rows can automatically appear at the top.

File Health Checker

Think of this as a diagnostic tool for your project files. It finds hidden geometry and inefficiencies and suggests cleanup. (see image below). Large files will stay lighter and more stable. Note: this feature is only available to subscription users. Probably worth the price of a subscription by itself.  Large files with lots of junk in them can wreak havoc on your workday, causing computer crashes and corrupted files.

Cloud Processing for Revit Imports 

If you work with consultants who send big Revit models, you’ll appreciate this. Instead of tying up your computer while the file imports or exports, you can offload the work to Vectorworks Cloud Services and keep working. And here is something that is unique to Vectorworks.

Vectorworks Cloud can import or export to various past versions of the Revit file format, making it a cloud-based automated pipeline for handling a range of Revit file formats. This is huge because Revit itself is only “forward compatible,” meaning it can generally open older versions, but even then, there can be issues. However, Revit has no “Save As” function to save a file to a previous version. Welcome, Vectorworks Cloud, to the rescue. If a Vectorworks firm receives a Revit 2024 file, they can use Vectorworks Cloud to export backward to an earlier version without issue.

Massing Model Enhancements

There are a small number of meaningful 3D modeling updates that offer more flexibility in early design phases, especially for mixed-use buildings. Floor heights and usage data can now be applied right in the massing model, making feasibility studies more realistic.

Sustainability Dashboard

This is a brand-new tool that tracks embodied carbon, biodiversity net gain, greening factors, and more. It is discussed in length in this Architect feature here. Not every office will use this right away, but it’s a clear step toward meeting regulatory requirements and client expectations on environmental performance. Now, a requirement for large projects in California, for example. Preparing a true sustainability report is time-consuming because all project materials must be documented.

The new File Health Checker palette automatically scans, flags, and resolves common geometry and resource issues, helping maintain clean, high-performing models. Image courtesy of Vectorworks.

This tool will make it easier, but it is likely to be used primarily by consultants or large firms in the more immediate future.

So those are the major new features in Vectorworks Architect 2026. The Sustainability Dashboard is a rather bigger deal than just its application to sustainability and green building. The reason is that the Maryland-based BIM-CAD company created a foundational new software platform for taking any kind of data in a Vectorworks file (specifically object data or data attached to objects) and enabling a new way to visualize it. Today, it is sustainability data, but in the future, Vectorworks users will likely be able to craft their own custom dashboards around data that is exactly meaningful to them.

Vectorworks for Large Firms

One area that needs to be cleared up is the perception of Vectorworks as a “small-firm tool”. In the United States, especially, this is an outdated view. Globally, Vectorworks-based international and design-oriented practices scale successfully to the enterprise level and are a mainstream BIM platform. You can read about some of them in case studies here. One such global enterprise is Starbucks‘ internal design and development division. While not well-known, this publication has been aware of this Fortune 500 enterprise’s use of Vectorworks for years.

In several regions—particularly parts of Europe and Japan—Vectorworks holds a major share of the architectural market. In Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Australia, and Japan, Vectorworks Architect is widely used as a primary BIM platform by architects. The reasons are largely cultural and technical: these markets favor flexible, design-driven workflows and open BIM interoperability (IFC and BCF standards), which Vectorworks has emphasized for more than a decade. These markets don’t suffer from the negative network effects germane to markets with a near-monopoly solution.

Closing Thoughts and Recommendations

Vectorworks Architect 2026 doesn’t reinvent the program; it refines it in ways that directly benefit its users. There has been a considerable amount of code work in the past year applied to foundational capabilities that will help roll out new abilities in the near future (such as the tech behind the new Sustainability Dashboards).

Vectorworks continues to cede no ground to competitors in the domain of “graphics abilities.” The new Depth Cueing technology is unique and ahead of the industry. Drawings look better, data is cleaner, and files are more stable—especially now, thanks to the new File Health Checker.

In terms of recommendations? For offices already invested in Vectorworks, these are meaningful improvements. Vectorworks remains a flexible, all-in-one tool that balances design freedom with robust BIM and documentation. Part of the appeal of Vectorworks is that users aren’t supposed to start a project in Rhino or SketchUp as they do in Revit-based offices. Vectorworks’s Parasolid-based geometry kernel, paired with built-in Push-Pull modeling, sketch to modeling features, and Python-based Marionette (remember, this is like Grasshopper scripting) algorithmic-aided design (AAD) features, means users have everything they need in one tool.

For many architects around the world, that’s a combination that is hard to beat.

Pros

1. Integrated 2D + 3D workflow. Strong hybrid drawing system. You can sketch, model, and document in one file without leaving the environment.
2. Design-centric modeling. Freer geometry creation than Revit or Archicad. Easier to iterate conceptually or produce presentation models.
3. Depth cueing and new 2D detailing tools make drawings look better with less effort.
4. Door & Window Assemblies simplify complex modeling.
5. File Health Checker (subscription only) and cloud processing keep large projects manageable.
6. Sustainability Dashboard helps prepare for environmental regulations.
7. Worksheets and reporting are easier to manage on big projects.
8. Built-in rendering. Cinema 4D-based Renderworks is included, so photorealistic output needs no external engine. 
9. The integration with Twinmotion and Enscape provide real-time visualization workflows.
10. Cross-disciplinary scope. One package covers architecture, landscape, lighting, and interiors. Attractive to firms that handle multiple project types.
11. Lower cost of entry. Subscription price is below Revit or Archicad, enabling firms to apply those savings to more powerful hardware. 
12. Simpler licensing and independence. Works offline, no enforced cloud tie-in.

Cons

1. Requires decent hardware, which may not be cost-effective for larger firms with many employees doing simple tasks.
2. Some advanced features, like file health checker and AI help, require a subscription, and cloud services available to all are limited without a subscription.
3. In the North American market, there are fewer consultants using open BIM workflows, and this gives Vectorworks users a bigger challenge. 
4. Speed and stability on large BIM models. In the domain of handling extreme geometry and full multidisciplinary BIM at scale, Vectorworks tends to perform slightly behind ArchiCAD (for architecture-centric large models) and behind Revit (for large team/collaboration-heavy BIM). 
5. Full-cycle BIM data management. Vectorworks has strong 3D modeling and documentation, but weaker parameter consistency and object-based data integrity.

Advice: The new Depth Cue features make this a must-have update for existing users who are heavily leveraging Vectorworks’ 3D and BIM capabilities with rendered views. And the same can be said for users leveraging Vectorworks’s worksheet tools. For folks only thinking about using Vectorworks or considering it more for a 2D architectural environment, we have said this before that no other program offers this much in features and capability for the cost. At the value level, Vectorworks leads the industry’s top tier. 

Price:  Depends on licensing type, including monthly, annual subscription, and  Service Select membership. Vectorworks Architect is USD 1,530 per year.  Click here for more info.

Volume of New Content =  4 —   The volume of new features in this Vectorworks Architect release is less than in recent annual updates, likely due to foundational technology development time, such as the tech behind the new Dashboard technologies. 

Quality of Execution =  4.5 —  As usual, most of the new features are beautifully executed, including the new worksheet splitting feature, a favorite of the company’s staff. The author notes that Vectorworks does require robust hardware for the best performance on larger models. Improvements to the Vectorworks Graphics Module (VGM) are ongoing. Architosh does not have a performance test method for Vectorworks. 

Underlying Technologies =  5 —   Vectorworks Architect 2026 supports both Windows and MacOS at advanced levels—meaning it leverages OS-specific technologies to optimize performance across graphics and underlying OS features. The BIM platform is also built on Parasolid, the world’s most advanced industrial-strength modeling kernel (engine). And its mobile tool (Nomad) is built on Unity, which is Apple’s choice behind its Apple VisionPro headset. Vectorworks has the most modern (young) code base in the entire top-tier BIM industry for BIM 1.0 era (desktop era) tools. 

Future Proofing =  4.5 —  Its underlying technologies are particularly advantageous to leveraging future Windows on ARM mobile computers, along with changes to Windows CAD and BIM solutions that are moving away from OpenGL to combinations of DirectX or Vulkan. Vectorworks’s underlying VGM gives the company flexibility to optimize OS-specific graphics APIs on both Mac and Windows.

The post Product Review: Vectorworks Architect 2026 appeared first on Architosh.

So here we go with some of my favorites not necessarily in any order, but first:

What is Vectorworks?

Vectorworks is a product line of distinct industry and general CAD products. One of them, Vectorworks Architect, is a BIM tool for the architects and designers, while Vectorworks Landmark is a CAD and BIM tool for landscape architects. Vectorworks Spotlight is a leading and growing CAD tool for stage set and lighting designers in the entertainment industry, and Vectorworks Fundamentals is a general CAD tool for anyone. There is another premium product called Vectorworks Designer which bundles all these industry tools into one package and Vision and Braceworks are supplemental software tools for Spotlight customers, largely.

Vectorworks Architect 2019 is a stand-alone program that supports most, if not all, of an architect’s needs. It will take the architect from design concept through client presentations to final construction documents without having the need for any other programs. It is designed to be intuitive and follows the concept of what you see is what you get. It is designed to be a program that the architect himself can use without having to go back to school or hire specialized BIM designers and drafters.

What makes Vectorworks unique?

What I like about Vectorworks is that while it has an extensive array of BIM-dedicated tools for creating detailed Building Information Models (BIM) it does not limit the designer. That is, an architect can use a combination of the basic 3D modeling tools—and they are very capable—or the basic tools like walls, doors and windows and the designer can go off in any direction.

01 – An elaborate ceiling design in 3D using the flexible modeling and object tools in Vectorworks Architect. (image: John Helm / Architosh. All rights reserved)

Look at the ceiling above that I did some time ago for an interior designer. It uses many of the tools that come standard with Vectorworks without having restrictions imposed by dedicated software. This is one of the most uncommon aspects of Vectorworks Architect as a BIM tool—its unique flexibility.

3D Site Model Sculpting

I’ve never been that good at creating site models, even though Vectorworks has some great tools that make it fairly easy. So, I have often wished I could just sort of sculpt the site model rather than have to work with all those messy contour lines. Now they have made that possible.  You can create a model from contour lines or just start with a flat model. Then push and pull the model up and down as you please to shape the site that fits your design.

02 – Push and pull modeling has come to site modeling in Vectorworks 2019.

This ought to make landscape architects go nuts with pleasure and architects can easily create that mound that hides the ugly parking area. Vectorworks already has Push and Pull modeling, as every leading tool should, but now the company has brought that simplicity and engaging modeling play to landforms.

Symbols in Elevation and Sections

In Vectorworks, you can easily create an elevation or section of your model. But in the past, interior elevations were a bit messy as the sinks, toilets, cabinets, etc. would show up in full detail as would “sections” through doors and windows. That made for a cluttered drawing that was not all that legible. The way around the problem was to “explode” the section and then erase the unwanted detail. But, of course, this eliminated the automatic updating when changes were made to the model.

03 – New powerful view options for Symbols in Vectorworks 2019 will help architects immensely in sectional views in particular.

Now by selecting the amount of detail you want on each symbol, the drawing is clear, uncluttered, and best of all updates along with drawing changes. A big drawback to this is that most symbols will have to be edited in order for the various views to be simplified.

Sections and Elevations

Vectorworks uses section lines to create both sections and elevations. So, an elevation is created by making a section through the model without cutting the building as one would do making an actual section. Several improvements have been made which allow one to show or not show various features either in front of or behind the cut plane. This is controlled mostly by turning on or off various classes.

04 – Vectorworks Architects offers full control over elevations through controlling what you see both in front and behind a cut line, controlled by classes and various settings.

You could, for example, show cars parked in front of the elevation but not anything else, or show the landscaping behind the building leaving out other objects. You can also control line weight, color, line type and fill.

next page: Vectorworks Graphics Module, QR Codes, BIM and more…

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What is Vectorworks

Vectorworks is the BIM design tool for all designers, architects, landscape architects, stage lighting designers, or anyone who designs almost anything. It is a stand-alone program that supports all of an architect’s needs. It will take the architect from design concept through client presentations to final construction documents without needing any other programs. Historically, it has been unique in that respect, particularly concerning being an in-depth presentation/drawing package that also happens to be a deep advanced 3D modeler. It is designed to be intuitive and follows the concept of what you see is what you get (WYSIWYG). It is intended to be a program that the architect himself can use without having to go back to school or hire specialized BIM designers and drafters.

3D Modeling

How creative do you want to be? As I said above Vectorworks can take you from the concept to completion. There is no need to model schematically say, using SketchUp because you can do it right in Vectorworks. This video will give you an idea of the possibilities and also show you how the new multiple drawing views feature works:

V1 – In this video, you can see the new modeling features in Vectorworks Architect 2018. 

It is also an excellent tool for just doing block layouts that later turn into buildings or creating a simple design for a curved railing, as in the example below. Or for more sophisticated designs you can get into subdivision modeling which will allow you to create shapes without limits.

01 – Designing your own railings in Vectorworks Architect 2018 with complex modeling shapes.

Multiple Drawing Views

This is the one feature that many people have been asking about for a long time. You can have almost as many views of your project going on at the same time as your eyes and computer can stand. You just click an icon then split up the screen as you choose. Now you can watch your 3D model change as you modify the floor plan. There is no more need to switch back and forth between saved views while updating and making changes. Is your time worth anything? Really, how much time have you lost just sitting there while your computer loads up the model after you made some changes in window sizes and you want to see how it looks? I’m guessing lots.

02 – Vectorworks 2018’s new Multi-Views transforms working with models in this BIM application.

Live Editing of Elevations and Sections

Elevations and sections are fundamental to the work of an architect, and now they can be edited live. This is a great new feature. I understand that it required a considerable amount of work to implement it, and the time spent has made a significant tool much better. It is now possible to edit an elevation while actually looking at the elevation. So if you want to say line up some windows vertically, you can do it live while looking at the elevation, and the floor plan and every other instance of the windows are updated. That is much better than having to go back and forth between the floor plans and the elevation. It is another one of those features that not only save time but makes the work more pleasant. And of course, it helps pay for the upgrade in money/time saved. The only downside here is that refreshing the original viewport can take a bit of time depending on the capability of your computer and the size of your project.

Resource Manager

This is one of those things that makes Vectorworks shine. Why? Well because when working in the digital environment, it’s the things that are already drawn that makes the work go faster. The problem in the past has been keeping track of them and finding when you need them. The Resource Manager was here last year, this year it has been improved. What it does is allow easy access to thousands of pre-drawn items. They could be chairs, appliances, wall types or really anything. You can make up your own or import others. But the best part is the search feature. Search for what you need and bam they pop up. Then just click on the one you want, and you are done.

03 – The redesigned Resource Manager gets even improved in the latest release.

Title Blocks

This year they have improved the title block feature making it more inclusive and automated. But even more important is the concept. What I mean is that going back years as mentioned above, Vectorworks has been the what you see is what you get BIM program. In Vectorworks, you quickly set up your sheets the way you want them, and that is how they will print out. In the end—and for the present—no matter how much we talk about BIM, virtual building, CDE, AR/VR, animation flybys, etc. we still send printed copies of our drawings to the job site. And each one of those drawings typically has a border and a title block that gives dates, names, who is responsible and addresses. So, making that easy to do is to be expected.

05 – New automation features improve title blocks in version 2018.

next page:  Import Revit, Renderworks, OpenGL and more….

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As a practicing architect and longtime reviewer of Vectorworks software, this year I’ve had the chance to both use and test the latest version for several months now. Here’s my review.

Virtual Reality

I will start with virtual reality (VR), because my interest in that got the attention of the people at Vectorworks, and so they let me in on the feature as it was being developed.  We have come a long way since the days of pencil sketches and watercolor renderings. As a side note, I would say that the pencil sketch is still often the easiest and fastest way to convey an idea or develop a concept.  (Note to young architects and students, don’t throw away your pencils and think you can do it all with a computer.)

01 – The new web view and VR features in Vectorworks 2017 add great value to AEC professionals and all designers working with environments. In this view (web view mode) a client can fully explore a model environment.

However, with the use of computers we have been able for some time now to design in 3D and make detailed virtual models of our designs.  The question is how do we best show these models to clients and others who have an interest in the project? VR is taking off now, and one can travel the world and immerse oneself virtually in all sorts of environments.  In keeping with the movement, Vectorworks has now included in all their products (2017 versions) a feature they call web view and VR (virtual reality).

MORE: Samsung Gear and HTC Vive Lead VR Survey But Magic Leap?

So what does this thing do—how does it work?  Simplicity is the keyword.  You the designer can take your 3D model, your BIM, of your latest project to the level of detail you want.  Then while online click on the new export feature that sends the model to the Vectorworks Cloud.  Or you can save it locally.

02 – The same URL link that is sent to a web view participant can also be opened on a smartphone. Drop it into Google Cardboard and VR (virtual reality) mode is enabled.

03 – Here is web view on a tablet device, the kind that are very popular on the construction site. It works the same as desktop mode but with added responsiveness utilizing the device’s hardware.

After a bit of a wait, your model will pop up in your internet viewer.  Now you can explore the model in 3D.  You can send the link to a client, and by clicking on the link they can also view the model in 3D.  But here comes the fun part.  Copy the link and open it on a smartphone then click on the Virtual Reality icon. Now the image of the model will change to a stereoscopic view.  Put the phone in your Google goggles, and you are in.  That is, inside the model.  You can walk and look around all you want; you can go up and down stairs.  Of course, there are a few limitations.  It’s not going to be high definition, and there are some limits on the size of the model.  There’s a bit of a learning curve to export the model and get oriented and in the right location when you start viewing.  But really the sense of actually being in the space and being able to walk around is incredible.  I should also mention that this seems to be somewhat of a WIP (work in progress), so there are a few issues that need to be resolved in upcoming revisions.

Renderworks

Renderworks is the rendering add-on that has been an extra feature sold at extra cost until now.  This year they have made it part of the program across the entire set of Vectorworks Design Series product line.  On some level, I am surprised the company did not do this a long time ago; adding Renderworks now brings photorealistic rendering into the core offering just in time as rival 3D CAD and BIM packages are all doing that in their latest releases or already have.

04 – All versions of Vectorworks 2017 now ship with Renderworks included. This means the Cinema 4D engine is behind every version.

05 – A sample rendering by the author of a real project in Vectorworks Architect 2017.

Vectorworks can be used as a 2D only program, but that misses the point; readers at Architosh following executive interviews on this company may recall discussions about why many Vectorworks users have held up in transitioning to 3D BIM workflows. Ideally, when you design in Vectorworks you should be working in 3D.

The model of your design does not come without effort but the tools in the program make it pretty painless. The thing is that once you have the model, not being able to render it—well, it leaves a lot out. Now all users are able to render with Renderworks.

File Sharing

If you don’t know what it is—well, simply put—it is a way for more than one team member to work on the same file at the same time.  The lack of file sharing was mentioned in the past as one of the hang-ups with Vectorworks moving into bigger projects and larger practices. Their way of doing it is intuitive and does not require much of a learning curve.

Team members will just check out a layer to work on and when finished update their work to a master file. Last year I mentioned that objects could not be checked out, well now they can be, along with layers; so much for that complaint. But the really big news with file sharing is that now it can be done in the cloud, using any one of the popular apps like Dropbox for example. There is no need to set up an office VPN; just share the master file in the cloud and work from home while your fellow workers toil away in the office. You can make last minute changes in the coffee shop before your client meeting or expand your office staff in minutes by using off-site staff or joint venturing with other architects that might be in another city or even another country.

next page: BIM, BIMobject and much more

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Taking Design Beyond the Computer Screen

Here is a quote from one of the programmers:  “We are making Virtual Reality available to everyone…we are taking design out from behind the flat computer screen and placing it all around the viewer making the design a very real physical experience. The shape and forms surround the viewer and this is available at any time—for anyone.”

In keeping with their ever expanding list of tools for architects, engineers, set and lighting designers, landscaped architects, and designers of just about anything physical, Vectorworks will add this new feature that enables the viewer of a design to immerse herself in the design. And the ability to do this does not come with the usual heavy price tag.  There is no need to buy anything other than the Google Cardboard type headset which can be had for as little as $15 dollars. One would also need a pretty good smartphone. But most of us already have one.

How It All Works

So what does this thing do…how does it work? Simplicity is the key word. You, the designer, can take your 3D model, your BIM, of your latest project to the level of detail you want.  Next, while being online, click on a new export feature that sends the model to the Vectorworks Cloud. After a bit of a wait your model will pop up in your Internet viewer. Now you can explore the model in 3D. You can send the link to a client and by clicking on it the client can also view the model in 3D.  But here comes the fun part.  Copy the link to and open it on a smart phone then click on the Virtual Reality icon. Now the image of the model will change to a stereoscopic view.  Put the phone in your Google Cardboard headset and you are in.  That is…inside the model. (see image 01)

01 – The upcoming Vectorworks 2017 will feature new virtual reality features, including the ability to tap into the Google VR google trend.

You can walk around and look around all you want.  You can go up and down stairs.  Of course there are a few limitations. It’s not going to be high definition—at least not as high as the quality coming out of the dedicated VR hardware like Oculus Rift—and I suppose there will be some limits on the size of the model. There’s a little bit of a learning curve in order to export the model and get oriented and in the right location when you start viewing.  But really the sense of actually being in the space and being able to walk around in it is amazing.

Imagine the set designer can put herself in the audience and actually see what the spectators will see. The landscape designer can walk through the garden. The interior designer can put his client in the living room with all the new furniture in place and if the client hates it, he can save making a big mistake. The architect can walk through her design and get a real feel for it before letting the client do the same while giving herself a chance to make changes. Or let the client and his partner view the model using two different headsets and both can be exploring the new design at the same time. (see images 02 – 03) 

In my review of Vectorworks 2016 I mentioned the possibilities of virtual reality—“The next step is the use of visualization goggles to let the viewer immerse himself in our architecture before it’s built.” Well, I didn’t think it would be happening so soon.  Vectorworks just introduced this feature at their Design Summit this spring and in a recent press release. This is the tool that will change how we work.

02 – This is a view of the UI in the Web View/Virtual Reality technology in the upcoming Vectorworks 2017.

Never before in Vectorworks have users been able to actually put their clients right in the middle of a design, then let them look around in all directions. They can walk from room to room, even up and down stairs as if they were actually in the completed structure. The people at Vectorworks are not telling you to spend $3,000 on some dedicated VR hardware and upgrade to your computer. Oh, yes, the dedicated VR hardware is GPU intensive, and most folks would indeed need to update their GPU cards at the very least. So this is an advantage the Vectorworks folks can tout.

MORE: Vectorworks Design Summit 2016—What Was Cool This Year

OK, so back to reality. The system I have been trying out still needs a bit of work. But the folks at Vectorworks are like a bunch of mad scientists working on this thing day and night. I’m sure that by the time they come out with the official release version the kinks and wrinkles in the new technology will have been ironed out.

I should also mention that this new feature is not just for Virtual Reality. By putting it in the cloud a link to the model can be sent anywhere and opened with a typical web viewer (Internet browser) and then viewed in normal 3D. One can then orbit around it or walk through on the computer screen. That’s a nice feature by itself.

In Conclusion

Virtual Reality viewing of designs from buildings to gardens is the next big thing.  Computer gaming has made many, if not most of us, familiar with an immersive experience in which we feel as if we are in a place or a world that does not really exist.  Even though games are for the most part just a pastime they have really paved the way for much more important uses of the technology that has developed around them. That technology is rapidly changing the way we view things, from medicine to engineering and to all the fields of design.

Vectorworks is taking a big step in making Virtual Reality available to anyone who has their program. They are making it easy to export a 3D model that, once exported, is very user friendly. Any client can just put on his Google Cardboard headset and go “virtual.”

It may be the one thing that brings many of those reluctant to join the BIM movement into the community of designers already working fully in 3D today.

SaveSave

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That is, it was possible but difficult for more than one person to work on a file at the same time. Well it looks like they took my advice, mine and many others.  And they didn’t just make file sharing possible they made it easy and intuitive through a new Project Sharing structure.

Migration Manager

The first thing you will do when installing the new version is use the new Migration Manager command which can automatically migrate custom workspaces, preferences, templates, favorite files, and libraries to the new Vectorworks 2016 version.  This should be a welcome tool as it eliminates most of the tedious work of resetting everything when you upgrade to the latest version. Those frustrations are a thing of the past!

Project Sharing

From my initial look it will make team work easy and fun. They have taken a sort of social networking approach in which team members can communicate with each other while working on a team project. If you need extra layers, post a note and a team member can respond agreeing to make them. A complaint, which I might call an advantage, is that individual objects cannot be checked out for work, one must check out an entire layer.  That’s what makes it intuitive; Vectorworks 2016 users are familiar with the layer setup so the team manager can easily assign layers to team members.  I can imagine the confusion, without a lot of management, in rival BIM products where “work sets” can consist of just about any object.

Working Offsite

I immediately wondered if the new Project Sharing could also be used over the Internet; that is, could someone work on a project from home or from another office while others worked on it in the primary office?  I could not really try this myself but here is a quote from Christiaan Briggs, “I’ve been using Project Sharing over a VPN between my home in London and our office in London, both on very good internet connections. The save and commits were quick (much much faster than WGR updates for instance). Very workable in my opinion. On a slower connection you might have to go get a cup of tea but I suspect it would still be very workable.”

I would say that this also opens up some great opportunities for smaller offices to joint venture on projects they could not do on their own.  I can even imagine joint venturing with offices in other countries.  Yeah, I could be available, get your office working round the clock using different time zones.

The 100

What else has changed? They talk about 100 improvements.  Of course those improvements are spread throughout the various disciplines that Vectorworks 2016 covers so my focus will be on the big ones and those native to the Vectorworks Architect 2016 product.  Here is a short list taken from the Vectorworks, Inc., press pages:

• Project Sharing — is an intuitive means for teams to communicate and collaborate while working concurrently on the same Vectorworks design file.
• Subdivision Modeling — allows designers to transform primitive shapes like spheres and cubes into any form imaginable.
• Marionette — is the first and only cross-platform, Python®-based graphical scripting tool in the AEC, landscape and entertainment industries. Designers can create visual scripts that take advantage of Vectorworks software’s 2D and 3D modeling capabilities, integrating seamlessly with BIM environments.
• Energos — offers a dynamic, intelligent gauge of a building’s energy performance during the design process and is based on the Passivhaus calculation method.
• Point Cloud Support — allows designers using their preferred 3D scanning device to capture a physical location and import a 3D point cloud object into Vectorworks software to manipulate and measure.
• Roof Components and Styles — will interact with wall components ensure accuracy in the documentation of sections and elevations. Roof faces and roof objects now have the same component representation as walls and slabs, further extending the power of BIM.
• Landmark Site Modifier and Hardscape Tool Improvements — help landscape professionals and urban planners design more efficiently and be more creative with pavements and walkways, including sloping hardscapes.
• Several New Features Improvements — in our Renderworks module include an upgraded MAXON Cinema 4D® render engine, Caustic Capabilities with refraction of light through translucent surfaces, Ambient Occlusion that adds depth to designs with more realistic shadowing and the New Grass Shader, as well as new camera effects, such as depth of field, exposure, vignette and bloom, allow for more realistic and striking visualizations and animations.

Subdivision Modeling

No it’s not for modeling your latest tract house subdivision project.  Take any shape and manipulate it until you have created that impossible to build shape that will get you fired either by your client or your boss. But hey! how much fun did you have doing it?  I imagine Zaha Hadid wishes she had a copy of Vectorworks 2016…maybe she does…? (see images 01 – 02)

01 – an example of what one can accomplish with the new SubD modeling tools.

02 – Such forms are much easier now using the Subdivision modeling tools.

This is one of those features of Vectorworks 2016 that most architects won’t get a lot of use out of but it also shows the breadth of the program. Design a chair (see above) to be 3D printed or that 1960’s looking concrete free form structure from the Vectorworks 2016 demo video.  Why not take the program home and design some cool toys for your kids that you can 3D print!

Users, particular architecture students, will no doubt find many uses for the Subdivision modeling features new to version 2016, while many if not most architects, will have to spend time mastering these new modeling tools to find their utility over other modeling methods already in the program.

Marionette

There is one that brings a smile to my face.  They call it “Marionette, the first industry, cross-­platform, Python®-­based scripting tool”.  Why am I smiling, it’s because it will allow one to write a program that automates some repetitive activities within Vectorworks without actually writing anything; just pick and choose from a list of predefined bits of script that appear in graphical form. Connect the pictures with lines and there you go—you’ve “written” your own little program. (see image 03)

03 – Marionette offers Vectorworks 2016 users algorithmic graphic scripting that drives Vectorworks modeling and more.

While it is true that the next generation of architects may have interests, some of them, in coding, us older era architects could care less about learning how to code. But that is precisely why Marionette should call your attention. Marionette doesn’t just compete with the combination modeling powers of Rhino plus Grasshopper, it also enables your Marionette work to be saved as Vectorworks plugins (themselves tiny customized software modules). For this reason all Vectorworks users should consider the power of Marionette for automating certain types of time-intensive tasks.

next page: Point Cloud Support, Energos and More…

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That’s what they are telling us; there are 130 changes, improvements and new functions in total in this latest release. And a quick look at their web site will let you see that there is a lot to review. The gang at Nemetschek has provided several videos to make it easy to get a good feel for all that’s new. As usual my review will focus mainly on areas most used by architects, and I can’t really address them all. So I will look at some that seem most useful.

I have been using the program since the Minicad days. The reasons for using it then are pretty much the same now. It is an intuitive program and most architect’s projects can be accomplished in one file that ends up looking like a complete set of drawing sheets. Select the sheets to be printed and send them to your plotter or your printing service and the job is done. I’m working in Italy most of the time and when I have work back in California I just create a PDF set and send it to the local printer who prints and delivers it in just a matter of a few hours. But now I’m getting too personal. The point is that Vectorworks Architect has grown but continues to be easy to learn, functional and extremely flexible. As I have preached in the past an architect, interior designer, landscape architect or anyone else who needs to use a design and drafting tool shouldn’t have to go back to school to learn to use the tool or–as with some programs–really become more of a CAD technician than an architect. This is what has always attracted me by Vectorworks Architect; it’s a tool that is relatively easy to pick up and use and doesn’t require one to change the focus of one’s profession.

I have to say that my first impression of the latest installment was amazement. So I’m going to have to be careful. It can’t be all flowers, there must be a few thorns here and there. I will try to point them out as we go.

Great Depth but Still Simple Enough to Draw In

Vectorworks has become a program which has a great depth of possible uses, has a wide range of tools and fits into many design professions. In fact if you really look into everything the developers have done with the program lately you might decide that it is one of the most technically advanced programs around. But it still retains the possibility of being used for simple drafting projects. With a bit of study one can open up the program and just start drawing. Pick an icon from the menu and draw lines, rectangles, circles, walls et cetera, then hit the print button and print what one sees on the screen. It does not require one to spend a lot of time setting up a project just to start. Copy and paste, cut and paste, back up using control Z and other commands are familiar to anyone familiar with typical Windows commands and though I’m not a Mac user–I know I know…and here I am writing this review here for Architosh–I believe it’s pretty much the same there.

The advantage here is that if you are like me…a person who wants to be able to start using a program without taking a bunch of classes–you can do it. You can then progress to more complex features one step at a time. At that point you may benefit from online classes, books, et cetera.

The Help Files

Regarding progressing to more complex features, the help feature works well, and is very easy to use. Just open it up and search for what you want to do. It’s very inclusive so you can pretty much use it to learn as you go, but there does seem to be a few things missing. For example I searched for Model to Floorplan and it didn’t show up. It would also be good to have a printed manual to study and browse but it doesn’t seem to be the industry standard to include them these days and there are various guides that can be purchased separately. Such as those from Jonathan Pickup over at Archoncad.com.

And here is an idea, someone needs to create a list of all the things that can be done with the program. It seems a basic request, but I don’t think it exists. Anyway even experienced users can go on doing things in the same old way they always have not knowing there is an easier way or a new tool. It would just be a list without explanation letting us know what it can do.

 The Main New Features: Summarized

•  A new visualization engine which allows designers to work in a rendered mode
• OpenGL is now allows a consistent 3D view with no switching back to wire frame with larger models (persistent OpenGL)
• Revised walk through tool works with the new visualization engine
• A new twist and taper modeling tool set
• A new 3D X-ray Select tool that allows users to peer into models in OpenGL revealing wireframe make-up just in the X-ray visual loop
• A new ability to directly reference in DWG/DXF and DWF files in Vectorworks without importing the actual file
• A new Python scripting language support for extending the application other than Vectorscript
• Ability to create sections from the ClipCube that update viewports when the ClipCube plane is moved
• Self-healing wall joints, walls stayed connected when moved
• The ability to import images and now crop them within the program
• Mirror tool now has a preview feature

And of course there are a few more but this captures the sum total of major new features. Let’s now look into the favorites that stand out.

My Favorite New Features

New OpenGL Engine

Wow, this is a big change. I’m kind of a bottom line guy, in that all the technical stuff is great to read about but I just want to know if it’s going to help me get my work done faster and better. Well yeah this one does that. At least it doe for those of us who love working and designing in 3D. Your 3D/BIM model will now stay rendered as you move around it no matter how complicated the model. Press the B key and a round window pops up that shows whatever you put the cursor over in wire frame view; where you can also select what you see, move it or change it. (see image 01)

01 – Version 2014 features an all new OpenGL engine.

Along with this the WalkThrough feature has gotten much more fluid and easy to use. I almost can’t say enough about this. It’s just so fun to use and your clients will love it too.

MORE: Details on Vectorworks Graphics Module (VGM) in new Vectorworks 2014

Lately we are all thinking green, check out the solar modeling feature, OpenGL makes it easy to do a real time exam of how the sun will affect your building at various times of the year and hour. You can spend a couple of days scrolling around the model while sliding back and forth on the time of day and month watching those cute little shadows move around. Someone needs to write an app that gives you the best orientation considering solar heat gain, lighting, et cetera, automatically! I almost went insane doing it manually on a small project with three identical homes attached only at the navel, I mean garage.  You can read a good article on the new graphics module at the link above or here.

next page: More Favorite Features Discussed

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[Editor’s note: Our review was edited on 14 March 2013 on page 3.]

Arguably what makes this program particularly strong goes beyond just its well regarded ease-of-use and flexibility, but also its wide range of dedicated fields. It is truly a designer’s program and can be used for the design of just about anything from buildings, landscapes, furniture, products, stage sets, theater lighting and much more.

In our case we will be reviewing Vectorworks Architect 2013 for architects and other AEC professionals. This industry version of Vectorworks can be used for both schematic and advanced preliminary design, construction drawings and even a full IFC-compliant BIM (Building Information Modeling) workflow. If you don’t know what IFC is, it stands for Industry Foundation Classes and we’ll touch on that a bit more later.

Customer Service and 80 New Features

Before we begin let’s have a brief mention of Nemetschek Vectorworks (NV) customer service. This area strongly relates to the subject of how one goes about learning how to use a software program–a big deal for the editor here at Architosh who, correctly so, emphasizes that “ease-of-use” is an essential part of a true Mac-centric software design philosophy (and these days this means iOS also). The company has impressed over the years with the level of service staff actually involve themselves in within their own customer forums. Many times you get answers directly from the programmers who are responsible for the feature in question. And because they programmed the feature or even created it often the answers are highly illuminating and thought-provoking.

Speaking of features. There are 80 new features in version 2013. One of the best ways of learning about them is not just reviews like this one but the many descriptive videos and images about the major new features on the NV website. In this review we will be pointing out not all of them but those that were most impressive and key in this year’s release. Towards the end of the review, we will point some cons and issues not yet fixed or addressed in the program from past reviews. Let’s get started.

Just Call Me Frank

Gehry that is! Here is perhaps our favorite new feature. You know all those nice buildings he does with the warped surfaces requiring the use of a super high-end computer and CAD program. Well, now you can come pretty close to doing the same thing, or even do the same thing, with Vectorworks. Yes really, the new Surface Array feature lets one put windows, structural elements, surface treatments or even pictures of your kids on just about any surface shape you can come up with.

Create a surface using an arc, circle, oval, polygon, polyline, rectangle, rounded rectangle or NURBS surface, then create a second object to be placed across the surface…make a few decisions and clicks of the mouse…and instantly the design is distributed across the surface. One can then still make various changes and the array changes accordingly. Once done the original surface can be left in place or turned off to create a transparent affect. This really opens up some possibilities not just in creating exciting new designs for buildings, but in many other areas like furniture design, interior design and product design. (see image 01)

01 – The new Surface Array commands add advanced capabilities to Vectorworks’ modeling abilities, giving users a parametrized control over sophisticated curved surfaces.

It should be stated here that the new Surface Array features are not included in Vectorworks Fundamentals but are available in Vectorworks Landmark, Vectorworks Spotlight, Vectorworks Designer and, of course, Vectorworks Architect.

Parasolid-based Roofs

In Vectorworks 2013 the company completes its migration to Parasolid. Now all intelligent elements of BIM models are based on the Parasolid kernel. This world’s most advanced geometry modeling kernel powers the Roof tool completely and with superior results. It is now possible to create much more complicated plans and have the roof tool correctly generate accurate roof model forms. (see image 02 below)

02 – The Roof Tool is now powered by the Parasolids modeling kernel. This results in more advanced roofs without modeling errors.

Additionally, the roof planes function now accepts intelligent dormer insertions so users can create customized (parametric) dormers into individual roof planes and not just roof objects.

03 – The updated Rotate tool may seem simple but it is a very big improvement over what existed prior. This update makes it easy to rotate objects in 3D as well.

The improved Rotate tool adds very nice graphical feedback (see 03 above) which greatly aids rotation tasks. As you rotate an element a ghost of it appears as your cursor spins the element around. At certain logical intervals like 30, 45 and 60 degrees cursor queues pop up helping you settle your rotation.

Non-blocking Rendering

This is a feature that lets you keep on working while your viewports are rendering. It has potential, but you can imagine that with a weak computer everything is going to slow down. Anyway it’s high on the list of time savers given the proper computer.

next page: The Clip Cube and More

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In this review I am not able to address all of the improvements, added features, etc.  There are too many.   I am just going to sort of randomly pick out a few and comment on some that stand out at first glance.  The best way to see them all is to go to this site.  And you will notice that my comments are directed mostly towards the use of the features by an architect, because that is what I know best.

Working Planes: Handwriting is on the Wall

The first new feature that I noticed with affection is the ability to select a working plane by just clicking on it and then being able to work directly on it, adding text, cut outs, new parts and so on. (see image 01) I have up to now been too lazy to really use working planes choosing instead to sort of work around them.  This is a great new feature.  But on my computer at least I have noticed a bit of a time lag as the changes get updated in 3D.  This is one of the many issues that come up as a program gets more complicated.  Older computers have a harder time keeping up.

The handwriting in on the wall, that is if you select the working plan then type some text it will be on the wall or plane selected in 3D, this I believe could be done before but now it’s much easier.  Also dimensions can be added in a 3D view so it is much easier to show the height of an object for example.

Pushing and Pulling

This is not really new from 2011, but by easily selecting the working plane it also becomes easier.  One thing I thought would be fun and useful was to draw a curved line on a working plan in 3D and then pull it up to a height and turn it into a wall by extruding it.  That didn’t work.  Then I tried to change my curved object by offsetting it.  That didn’t work either.  What does work is to draw any shape in 2D then offset it using the close open curves (also works with straight lines) mode then use the push pull tool to stretch it up to whatever height you want.  It could also just be extruded at that point.  The thing that makes this interesting is the ability to easily create curvilinear shapes that can become walls or maybe areas of glass. (see image 01)

The Push Pull tool gains efficiencies despite it being fundamentally different because you simply do not have to select the working plane on an object now. That can be done in automatic mode, saving you many steps. You can also toggle that automatic mode off, a handy feature at times.

01 – Offsets and shape making in Vectorworks 2012. Note that text can be easily added to any plane by selecting it by just clicking on the plane, thereby making it the working plane and then typing text (see text on blue section, as well as imported image). 

You gotta love the ability to change the size and angle of tiles and hatches on the fly; wow this one is cool.  It’s great for anyone who does layouts of paving for example.  I almost made myself crazy doing this a few versions back working on the design of a small piazza in Italy.

next page: Collaboration

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Every real, as opposed to virtual I guess, project that we architects do has a site. The site might be an empty field or an infill one with existing buildings all around. It could also be an existing building with work done on the outside or even the inside. These days many of us are designing in 3D creating nifty little 3D models of our work that often just float around in space with no reference to the actual site. Or we may create the site and its surroundings virtually to have a place to put the model. But for the client and for the completion of the design process what could be more illustrative than to see the new structure on a photo of the actual site.

This can be done using Vectorworks importing a picture and then matching the exact angle and perspective of the picture with a 3D view of the Vectorworks model. It’s not too difficult if we know the exact position of the camera, the angle, the focal length, et cetera, of the imported picture. But I can tell you from my own experience that what might not seem too difficult can take hours of messing around and trial and error to get a result that even seems close to reality. This is assuming you know the details of the imported photo mentioned above, but what if the client just hands you a picture taken from some random location?

Cameramatch

Cameramatch solves all of these problems and once one learns how to use the program the “photo” of the site combined with the model of the proposed project can be accomplished in minutes using just about any random photo–not hours. Time savings on just one of these should more than pay for the 100.USD cost of the program and from then on it’s just more money in your pocket.

Now I have to admit that I have had a few start-up issues. The instructions, who wants to read instructions, are detailed and one must read them and follow them. One must also be familiar with the base program, which in this case is the latest Vectorworks 2011, by Nemetschek Vectorworks, Inc.. Cameramatch is also available for earlier versions. I have been at fault in both cases. I just got the new version of Vectorworks and I don’t really like following instructions. I know I’m not alone otherwise they wouldn’t have a ‘quickstart’ guide in just about everything we buy these days.

Here are before and after photos of a little house we are working on in the Czech Republic. It’s actually a teardown and rebuild of an existing structure attached to another house. The photo used was taken at random by the client. We have not even been to the site.

Cameramatch works by aligning a 3D view of a model in Vectorworks to a photo’s specific perspective. The general idea is you are going to model something in Vectorworks from the vantage point of a specific photo, whether you re-use that photo as part of your final visualization product or not.

In the top image below we start with the basic establishing of 3D reference points in the photo taken. (see image 01). In the second photo below you “align” your 3D model created in Vectorworks (or possibly created in another program and brought into Vectorworks) to the Camermatch object in the annotation space of the viewport. (see image 02).

01 – Cameramatch 2011. Locations of dots and lines indicate found perspective guides for the model.

02 – Cameramatch 2011’s process and interface. The 3D model aligns with guides established through the Cameramatch object.

This was just my second attempt at using the program; so don’t think that it’s the best that can be done with the program. Go to the site www.panzercad.com and look for some examples done by others to get a better idea of the true potential of the program. And after we make some revisions to this design requested by the client I will make a better version of this one.

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