TECHNOLOGY

     Summer of 01 I made a major step up in technology:.. ArchiCAD .  Created by a group in Hungary twenty years ago, it is either the best or one of the best CAD programs for architecture.  Not just an electronic drafting board, ArchiCAD is based on the Virtual Model.  The building is actually constructed in 3D space:  Walls, Doors, Windows, Floor, Roof, etc.  From the model all the drawings are taken:  Floor Plans, Elevations, Sections, Renderings...even flybys, VR panorama scenes and more.   This is now my workhorse software.   Version 8 arrived December, '02,  with major improvements in modeling, navigation and production.

Rendering comparison.

    Kept current as a backup should the need arise, TurboCAD Pro v8 is very handy.  It does a good job with 3d modeling and rendering as well.   It is a generic CAD program with a few architectural features.   If you need a simple 2D CAD program take a look at DeltaCAD.  Very easy to use and inexpensive. 

     For more difficult 3D modeling and rendering jobs, trueSpace5 is hard to beat.  It will do organic shapes easily, has atmospheric effects, animation, fly-through, and so on.   It is not a CAD program.  2D drafting can be done in TurboCAD, imported into truespace and the model built up from there.   

Something new:  A model from ArchiCAD can be imported to trueSpace, converted to a 3Dexplorer file and then viewed in 3D with a viewer downloaded free on the web.  This is a practical use of virtual reality.  With textures, lights, shadows and limitless viewpoints controlled by the viewer, it's easy to get a good feel for the design.

     For  landscape creation in 3D and basic modeling and rendering, animation, fly-throughs, Bryce5 does an nice job.  Great water, skies, terrain, trees, etc.

     Paint Shop Pro v7 is the economical alternative to Photoshop.  Very easy to use, but still a powerful image editing tool.  Renderings from the other programs can be touched up as required.

     Adobe Acrobat V5, full version.  This converts just about anything to the .pdf file format which can be read by the free Acrobat Reader.  This is the closest thing we have to a universal format.   Most of the drawings sent to clients are pdf.  

     ClearFax can convert a rendering to a fax that can be read very well, if the receiving fax printer is in good working order.

Frontpage 2002 makes it possible to create and maintain this website.

Windows XP.

     By combining all of these programs just about anything can be designed and rendered in a professional manner.  I'm still amazed at what can be done compared to when I started twenty-five years ago.   It's all on computers now.  Back then we had a pencil or a pen and a drafting table.  Models made with foam core board were pretty crude and hard to email.  Color renderings were often inaccurate with strange perspective.

HARDWARE

     I use an  Athlon 1.2Ghz, 20 GB and 80 GB, 512MB computer with an HP CD-Rewriter, Zip Drive, and double monitor display, 19" and 17".   

Also a notebook, P111, 1.0Ghz, 256 MB, 10GB.

My printer is an Epson 1520 large format, 13.5" x 21" printable area, photorealistic on the right paper.  The dedicated fax line is hooked up to an HP OfficeJet.

New...Fuji FinePix 3800 Digital camera.  Very handy.  See "Last Morning of December" in the Graphics Gallery.

     Much can be done by faxing drawings back and forth.  CAD drawings can be converted to pdf and emailed as can renderings.  All of which is a great time saver!