When you want to develop your drawings in detail, you can use your 3D model to start the process by converting your model to a line drawing. Then you can add details and information to the model.
Read More... (you must be a subscriber to follow this link)
Read more about subscribing here...
Monday, January 31, 2011
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Vectorworks Workshop Sessions for February 2011
Every month the Vector-workout Subscription has a series of online workshops. In February, the main topic is to draw a swimming pool, with steps and a border as a series of 3D objects and apply these to a site model.
The aims of the sessions are to gain an understanding of 3D modeling and how this can be used with a site model to create cut and fill.
There are Beyond Beginner sessions that will be looking in detail at screen plane, layer plane, and working planes. Working planes are becoming fundamental to working in 3D and these sessions will answer all your questions.
You have to be a subscriber to attend these online sessions. Book here...
archoncad Newsletter February 2011
We have posted our latest Vectorworks newsletter on online, and it includes an article about Training to Build Your Business.
You can find all our newsletters here, online, under archoncad newsletters...
You can find all our newsletters here, online, under archoncad newsletters...
Friday, January 28, 2011
Casting Shadows on Image Props (Plants)
By Default, image props do not show shadows, but you can edit the text to make them show shadows.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
5 Short Vectorworks Manuals List on archoncad.com
We have been busy at work, making it easy to find our training manuals. Today, we added 5 manuals to the short manuals page:
- 010 Dealing With Complex Roofs
- 015 Site Modeling
- 017 Creating a Solar Study
- 025 Creating a Room Finish Schedule
- 040 Modeling and Creating Drawings for a Joinery Unit
Roofs can really slow users down if they do not understand how flexible the standard Vectorworks roof is, there is so much you can do with it. In this tutorial we will look at a couple of roofs, and see if we can make the standard Vectorworks roof do want we want. Then we will look at using the roof face command an how we can use this to make the roof we want. I will show you a technique for making it faster, and we will look at roof framing and creating a truss roof. This manual comes as a PDF and is 29 A4 pages.
A site model is a way of looking at 3D data (spot levels or contours) in a way that allows you to see complex 3D models and 2D representations. VectorWorks uses the 3D information to create the models based on the data to help you understand the 2D and 3D nature of your site.
We will edit our site model to make it suit the existing site better, then we will change the site using site modifiers, 3D loci and landscape walls.
When you are designing a building or landscape feature, you may be concerned about the affect of your structure on the surrounding buildings and landscape. Some of my clients have been asked to provide evidence that the building design does not adversely affect the neighboring properties.
What is a solar study? In basic terms, it is where we use to VectorWorks to show where the sun is coming from and where shadows fall. In architectural terms, we would use the solar study to check the shadows from our building and how they affect neighbors. We worked on one project several years ago, where the client was worried about shadows from surrounding buildings affecting their tennis tournament. We had to model the surrounding site and apartment buildings to make sure that during June, there were no shadows on the Number 1 Court at Wimbledon. Solar studies are common with large buildings, and we hear from several clients now that solar studies are expected from by some councils for domestic projects. This manual comes as a PDF and is 16 A4 pages.
You can use VectorWorks to create a room finishes schedule. You could use another program to do this, like Word or Excel, but then you would loose the link from the plan and room names to the room finishes. Vectorworks uses a space object to store all the finishes information. This manual will help you learn about space objects and how to use these to assign finishes to the object, how to edit the room finishes, and how to to create the schedule of finishes. This manual comes as a PDF and is 15 A4 pages long.
This is a case study on making a joinery unit. We will model the joinery unit quickly, to create a concept drawing. Then, we will create a detailed model that will give use all the parts to make the unit. We will use classes to control visibility, and we will use viewports and sheet layers to create the panel drawings.
Monday, January 24, 2011
Controlling Massing Model Graphics
You can control the graphic on a massing model, but you can not use the Attributes Palette. The graphics on a massing mode are controlled by the classes on the massing model.
Read more about subscribing here...
Monday, January 10, 2011
Vectorworks Course for Museum and Exhibit Designers - be quick
I have a course for exhibit and museum designers staring on Tuesday this week. So, there is nit much time if you want to get started. There is a blog that tells you all about the course.
Read More...
Read More...
Friday, January 07, 2011
Setting Attribute Defaults in Vectorworks
Thursday, January 06, 2011
Creating a Drawing from a Joinery Unit in Vectorworks
I'm well into my notes for this month's CPD Manual for my subscribers. We are looking at drawing a commercial joinery unit form scratch, and using the model to create drawings.
The aim of the manuals is to show how fast it can be to create a 3D model for the display unit. After all, it is made out of sheet material, so it will be quick to draw and extrude. With Vectorworks 2011, there are really fast ways to model the unit, using working planes and the Push/Pull tool.
After playing with the model, we can use viewports to create the drawings. If we edit the model, the viewports are easy to update.
We will be drawing this and discussing the best methods for creating the model online.
If you are a subscriber, book now...
If you want to be a subscriber, join here...
We will be drawing this and discussing the best methods for creating the model online.
If you are a subscriber, book now...
If you want to be a subscriber, join here...
Training First, or Work First?
I have been contributing to a discussion on upgrading to Vectorworks 2011. I suggested better training, and the responder said, work first, then training. Another responder suggested training first, then work, because when you get busy you do not have time for training.
A few years ago, before the recession, the number one reason from clients for not training was a lack of time. Yes, they would love to be more efficient, yes, they would like training, but they are just too busy at the moment. When thing quiet down, then they will have time for training.
Now that we have a slow-down and clients have more time, they do not have the money to invest in training. So, now I hear clients saying that they need to get work in first, then they can afford training. I can see it now, when they get enough work in, they will say that they do not have time for training.
My answer is to get the training now.
What about the cost? Well, you can read the blogs, no charge. You can watch youtube movies, no cost.
You can join my Vector-workout Subscription. The monthly change is very reasonable, about the same as a meal at a mid-range restaurant. There are 36 back issues to read, that should keep you happy for a while, and a new manual and online training each month.
Subscribe here...
A few years ago, before the recession, the number one reason from clients for not training was a lack of time. Yes, they would love to be more efficient, yes, they would like training, but they are just too busy at the moment. When thing quiet down, then they will have time for training.
Now that we have a slow-down and clients have more time, they do not have the money to invest in training. So, now I hear clients saying that they need to get work in first, then they can afford training. I can see it now, when they get enough work in, they will say that they do not have time for training.
My answer is to get the training now.
What about the cost? Well, you can read the blogs, no charge. You can watch youtube movies, no cost.
You can join my Vector-workout Subscription. The monthly change is very reasonable, about the same as a meal at a mid-range restaurant. There are 36 back issues to read, that should keep you happy for a while, and a new manual and online training each month.
Subscribe here...
archoncad newsletter January 2011
I have posted my newsletter for January 2011 to all the users that I have on my list. If you didn't get the newsletter, you can see read it here...
Saturday, January 01, 2011
Make 2011 the Year of Training
At this time of the year, my wood shed is empty (it is summer here now), and it is time to cut fire wood and stack it in my wood shed ready for the winter. It always makes me think about how to train my clients better, because I know they need the training before they can use the new skills.
This year, I had to re-build my wood shed. The old shed was really old, and made out of sub-standard timber. So, it has rotted over the years. I have put off re-building it, but I can't any longer, it was falling to pieces. This year was a good year to re-build, nearly all my wood was gone, so the wood shed was really empty. I have re-build the shed with 4"x4" treated timber and I installed a gutter to remove most of the rainwater that used to pour into the shed.
Now it is time to cut fire wood and fill up the wood shed. We will not be needing a fire for five months or so yet, so why cut the wood now? The wood needs to dry to be useful, and it needs several months to get really dry, so it burns well.
What do this have to do with Vectorworks? It is an analogy about training. You need to get training ahead of the time you need it. You need to practice your new skills to get better at them. When you need these skills, they will be practiced and honed to a sharp edge.
I have taught a lot of people, not always Vectorworks. Those that practice between sessions make fantastic progress, those that don't struggle. Always, they need the training before it can be useful and they need practice before they become effective users.
Make this year the year you put training as a priority. Make your yourself more valuable by building your skill level. I can help. I have manuals, courses, online support, and an amazing subscription service to help you.
Happy New Year!
I wish everyone a Happy New Year! Make 2011 a great year for you, your family, and your business.
Friday, December 31, 2010
archoncad web site updated for 2011
At the end of last year, I asked my subscribers to rate my performance for the year. All my users said that the service I provided for the subscription was beyond their expectations. Some users told me they had never seen a service like it before, and many scored me 10/10. So for my subscription, there were no complaints.
However, there were several complaints about my archoncad web site, which isn't really part of the subscription. They noted that my web site as confusing, disjointed, and looked tired. I have to agree. I have wanted to update my web site for some time now, and this has given me a lot of useful feedback. I have not finished adding all the short manuals to my web site, but there are 11 short manuals currently listed.
I have spent some time over the holiday period to update my archoncad web site and my Vector-workout subscribers web site. They are now clean, more consistent, and they should make it easier to find what you want. The archoncad website is still branded as the archoncad web site, and the subscription web site is now branded as the Vector-workout.com Subscription Service.
See the new home page here...
See the new Vector-workout subscription website here...
However, there were several complaints about my archoncad web site, which isn't really part of the subscription. They noted that my web site as confusing, disjointed, and looked tired. I have to agree. I have wanted to update my web site for some time now, and this has given me a lot of useful feedback. I have not finished adding all the short manuals to my web site, but there are 11 short manuals currently listed.
I have spent some time over the holiday period to update my archoncad web site and my Vector-workout subscribers web site. They are now clean, more consistent, and they should make it easier to find what you want. The archoncad website is still branded as the archoncad web site, and the subscription web site is now branded as the Vector-workout.com Subscription Service.
See the new home page here...
See the new Vector-workout subscription website here...
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Vectorworks Tutorial Manuals
I was reading a thread on the Vectorworks email list the other day. The user was having trouble with a concept in Vectorworks. By the time the user had asked his questions, waited for answers and asked further questions, they must have wasted several hours. The answers to most of the questions were in the Vectorworks Essential Tutorial manual.
I realize I should have told the user this are the very beginning, but I was not aware that the user had my manuals, and in the past I have been told off for promoting my manuals instead of answering the user's questions. But the reality is that if the answer is in one of my manuals, it will be fully explained with screen shots, detailed descriptions and movies. In this case I did not answer the user, but at the end of the thread, the user noted that the answer had been there all along.
The moral of the story is that if you have one of my manuals, look for the answer in there, if you find the answer, it will be a full and detailed answer, and it will save you a lot of time waiting for an answer from others.
If you do not have any of my manuals, get them, they have a lot of information in them. If you are upgrading your Vectorworks, you might be tempted to not buy one of my manuals, after all, you have been using Vectorworks for some time. But, what if you do not know everything, wouldn't it be worth it to have some additional information.
Check out my manuals here...
I realize I should have told the user this are the very beginning, but I was not aware that the user had my manuals, and in the past I have been told off for promoting my manuals instead of answering the user's questions. But the reality is that if the answer is in one of my manuals, it will be fully explained with screen shots, detailed descriptions and movies. In this case I did not answer the user, but at the end of the thread, the user noted that the answer had been there all along.
The moral of the story is that if you have one of my manuals, look for the answer in there, if you find the answer, it will be a full and detailed answer, and it will save you a lot of time waiting for an answer from others.
If you do not have any of my manuals, get them, they have a lot of information in them. If you are upgrading your Vectorworks, you might be tempted to not buy one of my manuals, after all, you have been using Vectorworks for some time. But, what if you do not know everything, wouldn't it be worth it to have some additional information.
Check out my manuals here...
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Gingerbread House with Vectorworks
The First Gingerbread house in Vectorworks!
Here is the final ginger bread house test. We wanted to make sure that it all worked.
Here is the final big house.
This has been great fun. I modeled the house in Vectorworks, used viewports to create all the parts of the house, so they could be printed and used as the cutting templates.
Then it only took us several hours to make the gingerbread, cook it, cool it, ice and decorate the house.
Seasons Greetings and a Happy New Year!
Here is the final ginger bread house test. We wanted to make sure that it all worked.
This has been great fun. I modeled the house in Vectorworks, used viewports to create all the parts of the house, so they could be printed and used as the cutting templates.
Then it only took us several hours to make the gingerbread, cook it, cool it, ice and decorate the house.
Seasons Greetings and a Happy New Year!
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Blog for Vector-workout Subscription Service
The blog has been available for a few days and already my subscribers are enjoying it...
G'day Jonathan,
Just like to say that I like the set up and layout of your blog for subscribers. Really well presented and set up, nice work. I hope you You pick up more subscribers with the new layout. - Derek (Aust.)
This is from one of my subscribers. He is a regular attendee to the online sessions, so it is nice to hear that he likes what I am doing.
Click here to see the blog... (you must be a subscriber to see this follow this link)
Read more about Vector-workout Subscription.
Friday, December 10, 2010
Creating a Custom Color in Vectorworks 2008-2011
With Vectorworks 2008, there was huge change to the color palette. From now on we are not limited to 256 colors, and you can arrange colors in palettes to make them easier to find.
To create your own custom color, you just need the color information (CMYK, or RGB numbers) and the attributes palette.
Go to the Attributes Palette.
Click on the Solid Color Fill part of the palette, just under the Fill style button.
Click on the Standard Color Picker button, the first button.
Subscribe here...
Thursday, December 09, 2010
online webinars for Short Sharp Training - December 2010
As part of the Vectorworks Support subscription, we have monthly online meetings. The December meetings will be a round up of all the topics we covered this year, especially looking at the extended movies in the manuals that we did not have time to cover during the online sessions this year. I also want to show you the plans I have for the beginner and expert meetings, and we will be starting the expert meetings this month, looking at the start of customising Vectorworks.
Book now for the online sessions in December 2010, round up and Q&A.
Presentation 30 minutes. Q&A about 30 min.
Session 1 Monday, December 13th, 2010, Time: 4:30PM - 5:30 PM NZST Register: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/808693474
Session 2 Wednesday, December 15th, Time: 8:30 PM - 9:30 PM NZST Register: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/747305730
Session 3 Friday, December 17th, 2010, Time:10:00AM - 11:00 AM NZST Register: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/379363443
NEW! Expert Sessions
These new sessions are for users that know much of the basic use of tools, but really want to get into the detals. We will start with some vectorscript. We will look at customising Vectorworks, and some simple script building. Each session will be the same, you only have to attend one session.
Monday, December 13th, 2010, Time: 8:30PM - 9:30 PM NZST Register: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/374125763
Wednesday, December 15th, 2010, Time: 10:00am - 11:00am NZST Register: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/397880602
To attend you must be a subscriber to attend these webinars. See this blog for more details.
Book now for the online sessions in December 2010, round up and Q&A.
Presentation 30 minutes. Q&A about 30 min.
Session 1 Monday, December 13th, 2010, Time: 4:30PM - 5:30 PM NZST Register: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/808693474
Session 2 Wednesday, December 15th, Time: 8:30 PM - 9:30 PM NZST Register: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/747305730
Session 3 Friday, December 17th, 2010, Time:10:00AM - 11:00 AM NZST Register: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/379363443
NEW! Expert Sessions
These new sessions are for users that know much of the basic use of tools, but really want to get into the detals. We will start with some vectorscript. We will look at customising Vectorworks, and some simple script building. Each session will be the same, you only have to attend one session.
Monday, December 13th, 2010, Time: 8:30PM - 9:30 PM NZST Register: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/374125763
Wednesday, December 15th, 2010, Time: 10:00am - 11:00am NZST Register: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/397880602
To attend you must be a subscriber to attend these webinars. See this blog for more details.
Tuesday, December 07, 2010
Introduction to Vectorworks for Exhibit and Museum Designers
If you are working in Museum or exhibit design area, you might be wanting you use Vectorworks, but do not know how to get started. I have been talking to museums for some time, and I now have a course outline, exercises and a calender organized. This course has been tested at the main New zealand museum called Te Papa, using an online classroom training system, so I know this works.
This course is designed to teach you Vectorworks from the beginning, so if you are working in the museum or exhibit design areas, and you haven't got up to speed with Vectorworks, this is the course for you.
The course is offer in two parts, so you can choose which one you need to attend. Choose part 1 if you are a beginner, and choose part 2 if you have some knowledge of Vectorworks. Each session approx. 60 mins duration online, with approx. 60 min homework each session. Each session has a limit of 4 people which will allow time for some individual training.
View calendar...
Course Outline
Part 1
Session 1 - Getting started
This session gets you started with Vectorworks. You will learn the basic interface of Vectorworks and the basic concepts for using Vectorworks.
Session 2 - Creating a Simple object
In this session we will apply the basic learning to creating a simple object and making drawings from this object.
Session 4 - Creating Text and Dimensions
Drawings without text and dimensions are useless, so in this session we will learn how to deal with text and dimensions.
Session 5 - Drawing in 2D
This session is designed to bring together all the skills from the previous session. This session will test your Vectorworks skills, but if you complete your homework it is achievable.
Session 6 - Introduction to 3D Modeling and Planar Graphics
Session 7 - Drawing a Simple Building
In this session we will learn how to draw walls and insert door and windows.
Session 8 - Creating Drawings From a Simple Building
This session, we apply the strategies we learned from sessions 2 and 3 to a building, including how to create internal room elevations.
Cost $249.50US
View calendar...
Part 2
Session 9 - Introduction to Worksheets
Worksheets are so important. They allow you to count and report items in your exhibits. This sessio is needed to get you started.
Session 10 - Importing DXF and PDF Plans
You often have to work with other consultants, or with existing information. In this session, we learn how it import and manage this information.
Session 11- Converting Imported Plans into BIM
After we have imported the plans, we can make the building in to a model. This will allow us to walk though the model, as well as using the model to create floor plans, elevations, and sections.
Session 12 - Creating 3D Views and Walk Throughs
Now that we have our model, we can set up 3D views of the exhibit, and make a walk-though movie of the exhibit.
Session 13 - Symbols and Image Props
In this session we will learn how to make a photo into an object for the exhibit. This could be a painting, sculpture, or jewelry. These techniques will speed up your exhibit production, and allow you to create a report of all the objects. If you use a rail system for your exhibits, we will use this an an example for creating symbols and image props.
Session 14 - Attaching Data to The Exhibit Pieces
Building on form session 14, we will attach information to our exhibit pieces, so we can count or report them.
Session 15 - Textures and Rendering
Making textures and rendering is really fun, and you can see what you exhibit will look like.
Session 16 - Questions and Answers
This session is to wrap up the training and answer any outstanding questions. You will need to complete a final project to pass this course.
Course starts in the new year. Each Session approx. 60 mins duration online, with approx. 60 min homework each session.
Cost $249.50US
View calendar...
This course is designed to teach you Vectorworks from the beginning, so if you are working in the museum or exhibit design areas, and you haven't got up to speed with Vectorworks, this is the course for you.
The course is offer in two parts, so you can choose which one you need to attend. Choose part 1 if you are a beginner, and choose part 2 if you have some knowledge of Vectorworks. Each session approx. 60 mins duration online, with approx. 60 min homework each session. Each session has a limit of 4 people which will allow time for some individual training.
View calendar...
Course Outline
Part 1
Session 1 - Getting started
This session gets you started with Vectorworks. You will learn the basic interface of Vectorworks and the basic concepts for using Vectorworks.
Session 2 - Creating a Simple object
In this session we will apply the basic learning to creating a simple object and making drawings from this object.
Session 3 - Creating Drawings
This session expands on the concepts we learn about in session 2, but we learn a lot more about viewports.
Drawings without text and dimensions are useless, so in this session we will learn how to deal with text and dimensions.
Session 5 - Drawing in 2D
This session is designed to bring together all the skills from the previous session. This session will test your Vectorworks skills, but if you complete your homework it is achievable.
Session 6 - Introduction to 3D Modeling and Planar Graphics
In this session we will make a simple 3D object using 3D modeling and planar graphics.
Session 7 - Drawing a Simple Building
In this session we will learn how to draw walls and insert door and windows.
Session 8 - Creating Drawings From a Simple Building
This session, we apply the strategies we learned from sessions 2 and 3 to a building, including how to create internal room elevations.
Cost $249.50US
View calendar...
Part 2
Session 9 - Introduction to Worksheets
Worksheets are so important. They allow you to count and report items in your exhibits. This sessio is needed to get you started.
Session 10 - Importing DXF and PDF Plans
You often have to work with other consultants, or with existing information. In this session, we learn how it import and manage this information.
Session 11- Converting Imported Plans into BIM
After we have imported the plans, we can make the building in to a model. This will allow us to walk though the model, as well as using the model to create floor plans, elevations, and sections.
Session 12 - Creating 3D Views and Walk Throughs
Now that we have our model, we can set up 3D views of the exhibit, and make a walk-though movie of the exhibit.
Session 13 - Symbols and Image Props
In this session we will learn how to make a photo into an object for the exhibit. This could be a painting, sculpture, or jewelry. These techniques will speed up your exhibit production, and allow you to create a report of all the objects. If you use a rail system for your exhibits, we will use this an an example for creating symbols and image props.
Session 14 - Attaching Data to The Exhibit Pieces
Building on form session 14, we will attach information to our exhibit pieces, so we can count or report them.
Session 15 - Textures and Rendering
Making textures and rendering is really fun, and you can see what you exhibit will look like.
Session 16 - Questions and Answers
This session is to wrap up the training and answer any outstanding questions. You will need to complete a final project to pass this course.
Course starts in the new year. Each Session approx. 60 mins duration online, with approx. 60 min homework each session.
Cost $249.50US
View calendar...
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