Newbie questions - help appreciated!

[kainfury]

Hi !

 

I'm new on this forum.

I have been learning photoshop by myself for many years now, and I have been able to get a few contracts to make technical floor plans into concept plans for customers. I have never used AutoCad and I am not very familiar with it.

 

Usually, I get the technical floor plans from an architect. These plans have been made with DataCad (which is in the same family as AutoCad I think). I get these plans under a .pdf format.

 

The question is for you guys out there who use AutoCad: Is it normal that sometimes the dimensions are not 100% accurate? For example, the interior walls have to be 4inches wide. However, sometimes when I measure them in Photoshop (by converting the dimensions in piexels) they are, say, 3.7 or 4.2 inches. Is that normal?

 

Also, here is an example of concept plans that I do. I'm still a newbie at this, but I plan to improve my technique to get more contracts. Please give me your opinion on my work. Thanks.

 

PS: Floor plan is only a part of the whole plan. This is just as an example.

My outlines have improved since this elevation picture also. I can't publish the lastest elevation I've made beacuse the project is not accepted yet.

 

[IceAged]

Welcome

I can't say I've heard of anyone using Photoshop to measure architects plans. I would expect there to be some discrepancies simply because Photoshop is an illustration program first and foremost, and not a drafting tool. However, errors do indeed crop up in plans, and it is not unusual to see subtle differences between AutoCAD plans and their associated elevations, (I notice them on virtually every single project I work on)!

Your first image gets the point across, but does little to make the building look appealing. Photoshop has a wealth of features and I think your work would benefit from using them - try to loosen up a bit rather than relying on the fill tool and pre-defined textures. Study old elevations that have been hand drawn/painted, and you'll see even the ugliest building can be made to look appealing. I'd also refrain from using photos of people as I think they look too 'slapped' on, (white cut-outs or even simple scribbles usually look more effective)

Hope this isn't too overly critical... I prefer your second image as it is a lot warmer and 'textured' - looks more hand drawn.

[kainfury]

Hey thanks!

 

This is very appreciated.

Like I've said, I know I need to improve, and I'll still work on it.

 

Thanks again for your review.

[dean@pikcells]

also to add, i think you need to adjust your shadows to match each other. your people / plant shadows and match the direction of the shadows on the building.

 

Dean