Design Program

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kdmcon

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I was wondering if anyone has any suggestions to which design programs work best. Iam really heasitant towards the cheap versions at the office supply stores. Any info would be great.
 

Tazza

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Autocad is probably the best around but its VERY costly.
The cheapies or better yet, free ones on the net may give you all the features you will require.
 

skidsteer.ca

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Autocad is probably the best around but its VERY costly.
The cheapies or better yet, free ones on the net may give you all the features you will require.
There was a link to a free one on tractorbynet.com not to long ago. I downloaded it 80 mb but have yet to install.
Ken
 

Tazza

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www.visualimpactimaging.com is the program i am looking at. it seems good and a little less then buying auto cad. tell me what you think.
At $1100 it still seems high, but thats cheaper than autocad. I just hope if you do buy this software, you get some real use out of it.to justify the buy price. For me that would be out of the question as i would only be using it for myself so i would have no money coming in to pay for the software.
 
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kdmcon

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At $1100 it still seems high, but thats cheaper than autocad. I just hope if you do buy this software, you get some real use out of it.to justify the buy price. For me that would be out of the question as i would only be using it for myself so i would have no money coming in to pay for the software.
I found another program that seems a little more affordable and less risk. see what you think www.ideaspectrum.com
 

Tazza

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I found another program that seems a little more affordable and less risk. see what you think www.ideaspectrum.com
Just what are you looking at designing? This package seems to be used for designing landscapes only.
If you plan on drawing machinery or any other complex objects i don;t know if this one is for you....
My cousin uses Autocad, the things you can do with it is amazing, but the price tag is really scary too.
 
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kdmcon

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Just what are you looking at designing? This package seems to be used for designing landscapes only.
If you plan on drawing machinery or any other complex objects i don;t know if this one is for you....
My cousin uses Autocad, the things you can do with it is amazing, but the price tag is really scary too.
I think for now this may do the trick. If i go the cad route i would really like to get to know how to use it. And its to late for that now just getting all geared up for the busy season. So next winter i will maybe take a cad course.
 

Land-Tech

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I think for now this may do the trick. If i go the cad route i would really like to get to know how to use it. And its to late for that now just getting all geared up for the busy season. So next winter i will maybe take a cad course.
Another way to to go is to use a photo- landscape program where you can take a digital photo of the property and use the tools to draw in trees , shrubs or whatever might be needed. clients really like to see the before and after photos. works best on new construction ,where everything around the house is dirt.
People can understand your concepts and ideas much easier if it is in the form of a picture. Progams that provide a 3d rendition after you have done a birds eye veiw are great if you have the tme to measure every feature and plot it. A landscape design needs to be accurate if you are doing a large installation but for most residential jobs you can get away with a photo.
I first talk to the client to find out what they might want. make sure these ideas are feasible economicly (whithin a budget) and practical . For estimating purposes I measure all the important deminsions and record them on graph paper with my own notes , convert these into relative costs for a bid.This usually takes about hour.The numbers I give them will be a ballpark figure and if they seem receptive ,I will then go to the computer with my photos and make a version that applies the input I have gotten from the client This takes about 30 min per photo. the time and cost of doing all this minimal compared to doing a fll plotted design, Odd shaped lots and odd shaped houses are very time consuming to measure.
The program I use now is called Visual Applications Imagine Pro 7 and You will have to google to get website and it's less than $100 when I bought two years ago.It will take a couple of days to get used to but works well.I have bought at least 10 different progams and all of them come up short, either in graphics or lousy icons for plants. Some will do a take off on your design but stick with your own notes and measurements for accuracy. if anything to protect your self. After you have done a number of these you can print all these designs and put them into a binder so the customer see all jobs you have done and this really proves to the customer that you are capable. thanks scott
 

gopal

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Oct 2, 2009
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I found another program that seems a little more affordable and less risk. see what you think www.ideaspectrum.com
Hi, I have been using the program Realtime Landscape pro from ideaspectrum since a couple of years and I can say it is a super program, it is cheap, yet extremely user friendly and quite high tech. I have now upgraded to the architect version which I find even better. I believe this program would be ideal for what you need. regards, Gopal
 

turbo54

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Good morning. I did all my land scapeing with 1970 350 JD crawer . I just got a 4635 gehl skidsteer. Im retired coal miner. Early morning with my coffee and camera takeing pictures and reviewing them on my comp worked for me . I do part time land scapeing an I take pictures an review them . Turbo
 

billy the bat

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May 29, 2011
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Good morning. I did all my land scapeing with 1970 350 JD crawer . I just got a 4635 gehl skidsteer. Im retired coal miner. Early morning with my coffee and camera takeing pictures and reviewing them on my comp worked for me . I do part time land scapeing an I take pictures an review them . Turbo
The best program at a reasonable price is Garden CAD. It is a cut down user friendly version of autocad type programmes, but more mouse operated than command operated especially for the landscaper who is more hands on building the landscape than being an architect. It is extremely powerful and very professional and a new version is coming out soon too...but it is only $50. it is an amazing piece of software for the price. There is a little learning curve, but all is explained in small videos or you can do a diploma. If you are willing to take a bit of time to learn the program, garden cad is pretty much the best bang for buck, short of spending big money on software...and to be honest this is as powerful and if not easier to use. http://www.gardencad.net/web/ Just my very experienced opinion.
 

Mark1234

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Feb 12, 2013
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The best program at a reasonable price is Garden CAD. It is a cut down user friendly version of autocad type programmes, but more mouse operated than command operated especially for the landscaper who is more hands on building the landscape than being an architect. It is extremely powerful and very professional and a new version is coming out soon too...but it is only $50. it is an amazing piece of software for the price. There is a little learning curve, but all is explained in small videos or you can do a diploma. If you are willing to take a bit of time to learn the program, garden cad is pretty much the best bang for buck, short of spending big money on software...and to be honest this is as powerful and if not easier to use. http://www.gardencad.net/web/ Just my very experienced opinion.
We use Dynascape. Have used it for over 10 years, and is much easier to learn than AutoCad. They now have plugins to color and create 3D drawings with SketchUp. Not cheap, but the old adage of you get what you pay for definitely applies.
 
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