Converting 3D Models to Floor Plans in Vectorworks Made Easy

 In this episode, Jonathan Pickup demonstrates how to convert a 3D model into a floor plan using Vectorworks. He explains the importance of structuring layers correctly and modeling the correct heights. By following his step-by-step process, you can create accurate floor plans and avoid unnecessary walls and roofs. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced Vectorworks user, this episode provides valuable insights for creating professional floor plans. Join Jonathan Pickup and learn how to transform your 3D models into functional floor plans.

Vectorworks - Quick Roof Faces

I was helping someone the other day to make a complex roof quickly, using roof faces. This is how I do it. 

Architect Special Interest Group January 2017 (am)

In this session we looked at creating an exploded view of a project, we looked at strategies for creating roofing options, and a discussion about textures (where you want to the same style of texture but with different colours).

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Should I Learn SketchUp?

I teach a lot of people. So I hear a lot of comments, concerns and questions. A common question is about SketchUp. Should a Vectorworks user learn this? I admit that SketchUp looks very seductive, but you can model everything you need in Vectorworks, so why bother?
This is a simple design that you could probably generate after going through chapter 2 of my Vectorworks Essentials Tutorial Manual. All it uses is simple extrusions, but it does not convey the feeling of the outdoor space.

Vectorworks Tip #174 - Saved Views

Saved views are very useful for restoring a view of your project. They control the view, layers, classes, zoom, rendering, etc. It is a really quck way to jump from anywhere in the project to a specific view.

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Vectorworks Tip #095 - Modelling - Create Surface Array

Create Surface Array - This is a very powerful way to create complex 3D forms. This command takes your 3D objects (extrusions or solid models) and arrays them across a Base Surface (which has to be a NURBS surface). If you try to use the wrong type of objects, the command will not work.

For Vectorworks manuals, visit:
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podcast140 Changing Wall Lengths in Vectorworks 2013

This is a small but useful change to wall technology. It will allow you to quickly update your plans without having to select dimension, or without having to drag your walls.

SHORT SHARP TRAINING (monthly) issue 1202 Introduction to 3D Modeling in Vectorworks

The manual for Short Sharp Training issue 1202 is now online. The topic is Introduction to 3D Modeling in Vectorworks.

Vectorworks has several ways to work in 3D, but there are some basic principles that you have to understand.

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Creating a Gable roof with Vectorworks 2010

This is the starting shape for the roof, the plan of the walls. We want a roof with two roof planes, and a gable to the left and right.

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3D Modeling in Vectorworks Builds trust with your Clients

I'm a huge fan of working in 3D (modeling) in Vectorworks, and I think it is one of the fun areas. But is there more to it than just having fun?

I think there are so many reasons to model your projects, that there really is no other way. Some of my clients think of plan drawing first, and then modeling, if they have time. This is so wrong. I believe they should be thinking of creating a quick model for the conceptual model, and the developed design, and then think of plan drawing (2D) for the construction drawings.

I wrote a blog recently on Conceptual Design and ran a webinar, which I recorded. The aim of the webinar was to show why it is better you create a model of your concept. It is really quick. If you watch the webinar movie, you will see that in twenty minutes I have enough information to check my concept against the set-back or recession planes, check the proximity to neighbors and create a solar study. These things are not just for fun, they help you to make a choices. You can look at these constraints and make your choices about your concept, in a very small amount of time.

How does this build trust? Well, if you were following the client's brief, but it was clearly wrong, you could use the concept model to show them why you needed to make some changes. You could show them how much better your concept would be, and you could show them with models and movies. You can take them along with you.

As the project moves into the early design phase, you should still be showing the client the model. Some of my clients create detailed models for buildings.

My clients have found that when they create rendered views of building and landscape projects, their clients respond much better to their proposals.

One of my landscape clients found that creating rendered views of projects had a huge impact on their business. Before providing rendered views, about 40% of clients would be converted from concept drawings to on-site construction. After providing rendered views, they found that 90% of clients would be converted form concepts to on-site construction. That is a 2.5x increase in on-site work, with the same number of clients.

This image is from the office of Albert van Vliet Architectural (albert@watchdog.net.nz). The building is modeled in Vectorworks 2009 and rendered in Artlantis.  Albert states that when you work on a project it is essential to bring the clients along with you. The clients are often spending substantial sums of money on a building, thus they really want to know what they will be getting.

The images supplied to the clients help  Albert van Vliet Architectural to develop trust with the clients.  The clients no longer have to image what they are getting, they can see what they are getting.  Albert reports that from a business point of view, there is no better way than modeling the buildings in 3D.

I have spoken to several clients about this topic. So far, all of them support this concept. I was chatting to a client last night and he could not believe that there was any other way to work. Using Vectorworks in 3D at the very beginning of the project may be a change in your business model, but there are many people that are already doing this. If they are in your market, they are getting better results, they are getting paid more promptly, and they are creating more trust with there clients.  Can you afford not to?

If you want help moving your business to 3D, contacct me, I've helped 100's of clients.

Model View Tool, broken, or a waste of time?

I have just been trying to use the model view tool.

This tool is an old one and dates back to the time before we could make live sections and elevations on sheet layers. I saw an email where a Vectorworks user was having trouble with it.

I haven't used this tool for ages, so I thought I would have a play with it. There are a couple of challenges with it. First it uses layer links so that it can rotate the layer links to the chosen orientation. The problem with this is that layer links are not as powerful as viewports. The other problem is that you can't look at the model view with Top/Plan view turned on. You get the roof in plan, while the walls are in 3D.

Instead of using the Model view tool, you are better to make your own viewports on sheet layers.