Design Software

[rika1]

I have just started working with a contractor doing some landscaping designs. I have been reviewing products looking for a program that will allow me to import or copy or scan in a plot layout. I mean, his draftsman has already done the design, I just need to get it into the software so I can place the plants in the appropriate areas. We're working with custom homes, and they have some unusual angles and such, so to redraw them in a software package is almost impossible. Does anybody know a product that does this that's fairly inexpensive?

[AGLA]

I'm not quite following you. "His drafter", does that refer to the architecture plan or a site plan?

What exactly do you have to work from? A plan with property lines and a house footprint? A foundation plan and a separate plan of the lot?

And what exactly do you want to add to it? Plants? Driveways and hardscapes? Tool sheds, swimming pools,...?

Are any of these existing plans done on CAD? It could be a matter of inserting one into another and then adding your landscape. ...depending on what they have.

[rika1]

Sorry about being so unclear. I was way too tired and aggravated last night.

What I have are architectural footprints with the property line, slopes of the property etc. The draftsman who's drawn up the plans uses Auto CAD 2002. What I want to do, is do a preliminary landscape proposal so I can submit it to the homeowners design board for approval so we can break ground. Then I can elaborate on the initial design. I want to place plants, edging, etc. on the existing plans since they already have the drives, patios, pools, etc. in some detail. I would like to dress them up by coloring the drives, etc., and be able to present to the client a more realistic plan than just a black and white arial view. My biggest concern is not havng to redraw the plans. These designs are very unique and customized with unusual angles and some even have a stepping stone type layout because of utilizing the natural slopes of the landscape.

I was looking at Punch's Master Landscape and Home Design program. It seems to allow you to scan in the plans, but I'm under the impression you still need to trace them to really work in the program.

Thanks for your help and guidance.

Shawn-rika

[kickin sum grass]

we use canvas by denaba. This is a very highly advanced drawing program that will do what you want and more. the only down side is that is does not have a plant database but you can get pics off the net and clean them and save them for use. I have done what you are asking many of times.
Canvas will do many more things than the dedicated landscape program in greater detail. Learning it freehand might be the disadvantge. I have taking many courses for using canvas in landscape design. by far the best program out there for this hands down.
I think the cost was only around 200 bucks or so. I may be able to help you out. If you want to scan in the layout and e mail it to me I could see what I can do for you.

[rika1]

Thanks for the info Kickin sum grass. I'll check out canvas. If I get really stuck, I may take you up on your offer. I'm an MIS major, so I'm pretty computer literate and should be able to figure it out.

Do you know of any other programs that might be even less expensive that are worthwhile? I'm a full time student, and since I'm just starting out and this is part time work, I'd like to keep my expenses down right now.

[AGLA]

Intellicad (~$200) is a cheaper clone of Autocad (not lite, but the full deal). It allows for the import of images.

I think that you will find it much easier to open a drawing file and add plant symbols to it than to go through extra steps.

I have used Landcadd's "Colorfast" and another program called M-Color for coloring ACAD drawings. It is a time consuming process, and would not be easy for someone with limited ACAD knowledge.

I prefer a black and white and dressing it up with colored pencil. It is very fast and takes away that "the computer did it" look.

It is one way, certainly not the only way.

I am not familiar with "Canvas", it might be the thing.

[Scag48]

We use Pro Landscape for our designs. We usually don't have to present a CAD drawing to the customer, usually the photo rendering of their house with the landscaping installed is enough for them to say "Okay, we'll do it!" Pro Landscape has both the photo rendering software and the CAD software. I have not had a chance to do any designs with the CAD because it is not needed, but I have messed around with it some. It is a very clean and precise program that works very well. With Pro Landscape you also get the estimate software that adds how many of each plant/material you've put in the design and puts together the estimate. I haven't used that yet either, so I can't speak for it as of yet. We've just been doing estimates the old fashioned way until we learn the program, which will be this winter's project.

[Wells]

This won't be a viable option to you based on your budget but if you really want to blow them away you could use 3D Studio Max by Discreet (formerly a autocad product). It allows for importing of Autocad files.

You could build a 3D rendering of the home, property and landscaped areas then set up the camera to fly through the landscaped area and create a .AVI movie file to show the client. This program is very powerfull, and very impressive.

[trailboss]

Wells, do you have a small sample of an .avi that you have created that you could email me??? I would love to see that program in action.

[Peach]

Rika 1

Trust me ..... if canvas does what Kickin' says.... then 200 clams is not expensive.

Currently I use a $100 cad (autocad compatible) and I spend HOURS redrawing footprints vefore I can begin to design.

BTW I close 90% of my designs using a simple footprint drawing - but I have spent many more hours creating my own plant images.

I'm going to check out both Canvas and Pro Landscape. I have used that type of program in the days when they left a lot to be desired.

[mowitup]

I've been doing rock landscapes for customers and my business is growing to the point that I need graphical presentation. I don't make a great deal of money yet though. I'm thinking of going for Punch's MasterLandscape since it's $70. I can't afford the $1000 programs yet. My question is, aren't there great softwares that run in the middle? Maybe $200-400. It seems everything is really cheap or real expensive. Thanks for the help everyone!

[landscapingpoolguy]

I have a vote for Pro Landscape 9.0...it has an auto cad version and a plant index and a 3d digital photo section.....it works awesome best program ive used so far.

Chuck

[johnbast3]

Hi,
Quick question..When bidding with Pro Landscape or similar product,do you bring along the laptop or do you print your drawings?Thanks,JB

[AGLA]

My opinion is that a lot of people get sidetracked by computer presentations. It can have negative effects such as being more interesting than the actual design or that some people start to think that the computer did the design by itself.

I think that a good traditional style plan with good communication skills gets the message accross and leaves the impression that you don't need gimmicks to sell the job.

I'm not saying that there is no validity to other media. You have to use what is effective communication for you. I am just saying that I think some people gain confidence with you when they see you comfortably walking a tight rope without a net.

Enhanced photos are very effective in the lower end of the market (>$20,000 jobs). After that there is a greater liklihood of a more sophisticated client that can get past that "wow factor".

That is just my view on it, not necessarily the right one.

[BGL-florida]

Prolandscape works well for me. Someone mentioned something about the property footprint. Well, if you have a scanner handy and the owner gives you a small copy of their survey--you essentially have it. In Prolandscape you can draw over that footprint and VOILA! you have your rough footprint in a few minutes.

Hope that helps.

[MikesLawnServiceLLC]

I have an old version of Sierra 3D Landscape. It renders quite nicely and is simple to use. I believe this software has become much more advanced, might want to search for it on the web. Most of the time, however, I enjoy drawing and rendering my landscapes by hand on my drafting table with everything from charcoal to colored pencil. I attend Temple University Ambler (Pennsylvania) for Landscape Architecture and the first course they brought us through was drawing, and all by hand.

[MikesLawnServiceLLC]

P.S. Chuck, the landscapingpoolguy, did i meet you at the Philly Flower Show at the Jaques Amand Bulb Specialists exhibit we may have both worked on last year? Did you do the water feature. I took some of your cards, and you took some of mine. Greenspaces is my company. Mike Platt is my name.

[bill--bls]

pro landscape--works great,will do what you are looking for

[landscapingpoolguy]

mikeslawnservice


No it wasnt me,but its possible you could have gotten my cards from another friend of mine.My companys name is Perfect PropertyServices Inc.

Chuck

[hoyboy]

We've been using a program called Dynascape for the last couple years....we're pretty happy with it.

I think they are at www.dynascape.com

Dan

[hoyboy]

let's try that again....

dynascape is located at

www.gardengraphics.com

Dan