Cadsoft family sotware comparaison

[mocky]

Hello mates,
first of all, sorry for my english.
I want to design homes, only for hobby. And i have visited a lot of sites. After a brief comparaison and testing, TurboFloorPlan seems my correct election. After visit this forum and read two great posts of Robert W-"robban" http://forums.turbofloorplan.com/index.php/topic,870.msg4177.html#msg4177, http://forums.turbofloorplan.com/index.php/topic,1966.msg8444.html#msg8444, my election is TurboFloorPlan Pro.
But from the trial program, I visited Green3dHome and I see Cadsoft is the real developer of many programs: envisioneer line for professionals, and HGTV H&D, TurboFloorPlan H&L, Envisioneer express, and... Professional Architect H&L.
Throught this forum I found a comparative of the first programs, but none with Professional Architect. Anyone knows the differences of Personal Architect with TurboFloorPlan Pro?

Many thanks and sorry for my english again

[Allan Chesney]

Hi and welcome to the forum,

Basically all of these programs are the same in their production of a 3D model of a building. They look the same, work the same and produce the same photorealistic images. The upper end Envisioneer range, although they have a little more flexibility in customising elements, are still essentially the same. I can produce a model in TFP and render it in Envisioneer or do the reverse and unless I look at the name and logo at the top of the screen I would not know which I was using.

The differance comes when you want to produce printed plans. Both programs and the others you mentioned, allow you develop the same complex plan of the building and print it, but, if you want to produce a page with multiple elevations or sections ON THE ONE PAGE, only the high end Envisioneer and Personal Architect Professional can do that (easily) but in the case of the latter, it can only do 3 or 4 sheets - Envisioneer is 'unlimited'.

Basically what this means is that you choose the program according to your needs and how much you can afford to spend.
If you are an architect or builder and want to produce complex construction drawings of many pages, you need Envisioneer Professional or Construction Suite @ $1,700 or $2,200.
If you want to print 3 or 4 pages of plans/elevations etc then Personal Architect Professional can do that @ $700 (intro special $500)
If you can only justify around $100 and only want to make a 3D model with walkthroughs, amimation and print the Plan and elevations etc on separate pieces  of paper, then any of the other will do that, although TFP Pro is slightly ahead of the others in a few extra things it has available. You can also use it to produce multi elevation plans, but not as simply was Envisioneer or Personal Architect Professional, by using the techniques in the PDF in this post: forums.turbofloorplan.com/index.php/topic,877.0.html.

Not sure if any of that helps, as it is not a blow by blow comparison, but the differences in 3D are neglible, it is on when it comes to professional printing there is a difference and at a considerably greater price.

TFP Pro is probably the best value (and I am not biased), if it covers all your prining needs as referred to above. TFP Deluxe, Envisioneer Express and Personal Architect 'standard', have limitations in 3D as well as in printing.

Allan

[mocky]

Many thanks for your answer Allan.
Maybe one of the big values of TFP is their forum community .

Definitely, my 3 big options are
- TFP Pro
- Personal Architect Home & Deluxe.

And after look this forum and a lot of people talk about Punch software (seem to be fever to import Punch Models):
-Home & Landscape Design Professional NexGen 3

But TFP Pro have a big value: Can test the software in trial mode, the others no, and if you not know one item, better not purchase it.

Sorry for my english and many thanks again
Pd Great link for help to printing plans Allan. I save it.

[Allan Chesney]

Hi Mocky,

Most of what I have heard about Punch has been negative, I gather it does not have the technical precision of TFP and from what I have seen of the renderings they are no where near as realistic, although admittedly is is a while ago I looked at it.

Try double clicking and/or right clicking within TFP element Properties and you will be surprised how deep you can go - right down to the colour and thickness etc of lines, dimensions and text, or the thickness, width, style and colour of winow and door frames, or to rendering at any longitude or latitiude anywhere in the world at a specific minute on any day, of any year and see where the shadow from the sun will be, or to the type, wattage and colour of light bulbs in your light fittings etc, etc, etc.

It is a very complex program underneath its simple interface. Its limitation is your imagination.

After 15 yers of use I still find new things it will do.

Allan

[mocky]

Oky, Punch is  now out!!

One thing, if i need to create a new object, what I will do?

Thx Allan!!

PD nice sentence: "After 15 yers of use I still find new things it will do"

[Doug.S]

One thing, if i need to create a new object, what I will do?

Several approaches to getting objects/designs/plants/pictures/textures/etc. into TFP if it is not in the provided catalog:
- make it in TFP; see "how-to" in this forum by Allan (several ways)
- import stuff (much free, some for $$) from www - search or look at SU warehouse
- make your own from other 3rd party programs; some free like SketchUp or Blender, some cost

import to TFP easy but there are some cautions and at least two approaches....ask when you are ready

[mocky]

Several approaches to getting objects/designs/plants/pictures/textures/etc. into TFP if it is not in the provided catalog:
- make it in TFP; see "how-to" in this forum by Allan (several ways)
- import stuff (much free, some for $$) from www - search or look at SU warehouse
- make your own from other 3rd party programs; some free like SketchUp or Blender, some cost

import to TFP easy but there are some cautions and at least two approaches....ask when you are ready

Oki, I like create models with blender but for make buildings, floorplans, etc are too.. expensive in time.
Now I  see the forum for the "how-tos" of Allan

I promise I don't disturb more until I buy the program!!
... and we are ready, I will ask.
What community very good!!

[Allan Chesney]

Hi Mocky,

The first thee entries under 'Tips and Tricks' section are the ones you want. Each has a PDF explaining the techniques. All are done entirely in TFP - no other software needed.

Also, you will find when you right click in the Catalogue on the right of the screen, you will see Edit and Add Element. Edit will obviously permanently edit any of the existing objects while Add will take you to a design screen. In the Furniture section for example it will then give the option of Table, Sofa, Bookshelves etc select which and start designing.

You can also use the 2D drawing tools (Layout toolbar - may be turned off) and whatever you draw in lines and curves can be right clicked and be Converted to other objects. Straight lines can be converted to Members (timber, steel of all shapes) and here you can design your own shape for a piece of special moulding for example.

In 3D space anything can be made into what you want by putting thing together and sizing the bits accordingly. floors, Walls and Ceilings have that name but all are really just a box the size you make it and, especially in the case of Walls, with a few things attached to them. Use the right click and experiment. You can cut holes in them and shape them in so may ways and use them for all sorts of things.

Note too alongside some of the toolbar buttons is a drop down arrow giving other options with that element. Especially useful is the By Picking Points option. With this you can draw things any shape, so, rather than a floor just automatically fitting between the walls, you can make it extend outside for a verandah, patio etc and do the same with the roof and ceiling.

First look at all the default options in Settings / Program Settings so you know what can be changed if you want and become familiar with Settings / Building Locations as they control all the vertical aspects of your model.

There is a lot to discover!  Have fun! 

Allan

[mocky]

Finally ... I bought the TurboFloorPlan Pro!! 

Now... start the fun.

Thanks for all Allan, and you too, Doug.

[Allan Chesney]

Hi Mocky,

Congratulations!  You won't regret it - it is a fascinating program to use.

It's only limit (as I have said before) is YOUR imagination.

It also has a serious bug that I did not mention before - it is ADDICTIVE.   

Allan