TFP Version 17

[garystan]

    Hi TFP Forum :

                         Well....the  "survey results"  are in.   Road testing TFP Version 17.   First of all, the  UI (User Interface). It's been dissected. It doesn't have half of the options and buttons version 16 has.  Editing.   It's very difficult to edit objects.  Not mentioning adding and importing .skp files.  These are disasters.  It WILL accept  .skp files.   But,  they next to impossible to edit. Especially with no  Properties box, as in version 16.   In fact the entire software doesn't have the dialog boxes version 16 did.   Rendering.   It's pathetic.   The  RENDERED scene results in the same results as  House Beautiful (Broderbund).  It doesn't even come close to the photo-realistic results of version 16.   This software should be trashed.  And the selling price ?   $99....this software isn't worth  $99.   Maybe....$49.   I'm sticking with version 16 until it's   "too old "  As long as version 16 keeps working in Windows 7.     Fortunately,  I downloaded the Trial Version...and didn't just up and purchase the Full Version.     

                                                                                                                     garystan   
 

[Allan Chesney]

Hi Gary,

You will notice I modified you post above - I didn't change anything, just the subject line as it said Version 11 but obviously you meant 17.

Yes V17 is very different in the way it works as it is totally different software based on a Punch, not a Cadsoft program. No doubt with regular use one would become familiar with it and probably find additional editing options, although the depth of editing options in V16 are very hard to beat. Rendering is very quick in V17 but unfortunately sacrifices some realism in the process.

I know that you are especially interested in photorealistic rendering, so, if you want to get a later version of TFP V16, you may like to consider Personal Architect. ( http://www.personalarch.com). It is based on Cadsoft Envisioneer V9 (TFP V16 was based on Envisioneer V7) so it is an updated version of V16 and includes new photorealistic rendering capabilities. Normally it is the same price as TFP but is on special at the moment ($20 cheaper), to introduce the latest version I assume. Because it is the same software as V16 you will find it will open all your old projects and they will be fully editable.

As you probably know, Envisioneer and ProArchitect are also fully compatible and have the same photorealistic rendering capabilities but cost considerably more because of their professional plan drawing functionality.

Of course, if you stay with V16, help will still be available through this section of the forum, as it is from the Envisioneer forum for all these Envisioneer based programs.

Allan