Help suggesting a new way for an Architect!!

[HawkPoint3D]

Can anyone suggest software that would be useful to use with a Wacom tablet? I have an Architect that does everything on gridded sketch paper then passes it off to a CAD jockey to redraw.

Anything out there that can replicate that workflow, EXCEPT, have him use a Digital pen and Wacom tablet to sketch instead. Then maybe I can export the digital copy out to DWG..etc.

Thanks for your help!!

 

Dave

[Crazy Homeless Guy]

Not what you are asking, but I wouldn't be overly confident the architect will go for it. Even though Wacom's are fun, it is not the same as lying in bed and sketching, or sketching on an airplane, or at a bar while having a martini. Maybe it was his idea, and I am wrong.

 

All that said, I think Alias might make some vector based sketch tools. I can look it up tomorrow if you are interested.

 

Just my 1 cent.

[HawkPoint3D]

Alias....Hmm....do tell!!

[gordo3di]

I agree with crazy homeless guy... A tablet doesn't give the same feel as sketching (to me anyway) unless maybe he got one of the higher end ones where you draw on the screen itself...

 

Other than that I guess I have to ask is he using this for sketching/drawing which will be passed down to a cad guy or is he trying to do the cad work himself... I personally have always enjoyed painting programs over vector for sketching but I haven't found any cad/vector programs that worked well with a tablet. Aside from autocad years ago with their million button tablets.

[HawkPoint3D]

He sketches to scale on a 1/4" gridded paper all details and sections. then he passes these off to a CAD person to redraw. Total waste of time in my opinion.

[gordo3di]

Ha... Im trying to become an architect so I can understand his relentless desire to draw EVERY detail but I hear your pain... If I had my choice I think something like thishttp://www.wacom.com/cintiq/index.php If there is any lag though he may not like it... How about a tablet pc so he can work with a painting program or cad as he wishes... I mean this would mean he can replace the mouse with a pen which he might like better

[BillyElNino]

You'll never get the accuracy required if you transfer sketches in anyway apart from manually measuring and inputting into a CAD program.

 

Anything else would be a compromise if the end use is for construction drawings and details. The best solution is to tell the guy that he needs to learn AutoCAD as he is wasting everybody's time and money. Or maybe see if you can force him to take early retirement or go on a course.

 

(Harsh but fair).

 

I understand completely if Architects want to sketch designs and concepts but when you get senior technicians sketching details and sections for a junior to CAD up its a total waste of time and something I have been on the receiving end of in the past.

[Nic H]

architectural sketches with a wacom would be awful

i hope he says no,

[Crazy Homeless Guy]

Total waste of time in my opinion.

 

This is very telling. "In my opinion." Granted he may be stuck in his ways, you need to make sure you understand what his needs are, and why he is working the way he does.

 

I think the tool below has a possible place within an architectural office, but my initial gut reaction is that it is way to advanced for your designer to use. If he does not feel comfortable on the computer now, he is probably not going to be comfortable using this piece of software.

 

Anyway, this is Alias Studio. It allows you to gesturally sketch line work that is then interpreted into vector lines, and even elegant curves, that can then be passed off to the technical team to turn into a function model, which could lead to CAD/BIM.

 

It is used heavily in automotive, and industrial design now. Currently, I do not know of any architectural firms using it as part of their design process. Though I would not be surprised if some are.

 

 

Actually, I think I got more or less a reduced version for free with my Wacom. This looks like the interface. It may be more tuned to what your designer could handle.

 

Edited September 3, 2009 by Crazy Homeless Guy

[Crazy Homeless Guy]

I don't believe this available quite yet, but is on its way....

http://www.dgp.toronto.edu/~shbae/ilovesketch.htm

[litleboy]

just the design work flow by it self represent a problem before any computer is mentioned. we live in a 3 dimensional world and most of the people (designers) design in 2d and then they just complete the rest of the form by extruding or complementing the original shape. Perfect world will be a way to design directly on 3d ( I don't mean on a computer)

The best solution is not to use a computer or cad, is to try a bunch of combinations. the one that have worked bets for me is to draw a small perspective by hand, then draw the general shape in CAD in 2D, and print it. and I start from there to sketch on the print. I always try to not to go far in my hand design because I easily lose the scale, so I'm constantly printing and sketching on the print. but sometimes I do start directly on 3d software and then switch to CAD to detail. in my case I produce my own CAD drawings but if I had to send my design to be produced by someone else I will have to change my work flow. I have friends that they just cant work on CAD because they are to use to the 24x36 printed plan and they cant feel the scale on a screen.

 

But its always about the learning curve of a new work flow and be able to balance (if its worth it) the time to implement on the current and future projects.

 

I was hired to teach CAD to a group of sales people in charge of budgeting, they just couldn't justify the time it took them to draw in CAD, they where much faster drawing by hand, and for them CAD was just for presentation( just to make it look pretty)