Need help finding autocad files

[Derek Youssi]

Hey everybody!

 

I'm trying to put a few more quality projects in my portfolio, but I want to show employers that I worked from autocad files, like I would be doing in the field.

 

I can't seem to find any autocad files to work from though. I can find a million and one sites and topics on autocad, but can't seem to find any files out there that I can use to create some renderings.

 

Anybody konw where I can get some?

[rotten42]

what kind of stuff are you lokking for?

[Derek Youssi]

Any architectural buildiing really. I'd prefer plans of a corporate type structure, but since the purpose is to both learn to model from CAD drawings, and to demonstrate my ability to do so, it doesn't matter too much what the building is.

[rotten42]

sorry...I don't have anything. I do mostly interior work.

[John Dollus]

http://www.wolseytheatre.co.uk/public/pages/technical_plans.html

 

http://library.thinkquest.org/CR0214980/download.html

 

But definitely check with the site operator to make sure it is okay to use them to practice on.

[Kanashimi]

are you looking for 3d or 2d cad drawings?

[Eric]

Well, I can't release any of the autocad drawings our company has produced, or any that we have access to.

 

My opinion is that as long as you can create quality 3D renderings that look like whatever source you're provided with, be it napkin sketches, photo-copies, paper plots, pdf files, etc., you should be good to go.

 

My experience has been that my coworkers (architects) don't know much about my workflow, nor do they particularly care how I do what I do. Yes, I do work from Autocad files, but I have also done renderings simply from a designer's sketches that were drawn on a long plane flight and faxed to me the second he landed at his destination airport. I've also done some simply based on ideas that were verbally conveyed to me.

 

Now, if you are actually trying to build up experience and develop your own abilities with modeling from Autocad, that's a different story. You might see if you can get your hands on some good pdf files that are still vector graphics, and open them up in Illustrator, and then bring them into Max.

 

If a potential employer is so hung up on the ability to work from Autocad files, then ask them if you can get a set of plans and elevations for a small project they've done and allow you to model the building in 3D, but only model it - don't do a full 3D color rendering for free, and don't give them the model unless they hire you!!!