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Garden design software - what does it do and what does it cost?
There are a number of garden software packages out there on the web. We have two members, Neil Bromhall - Complete Gardens and Tamsin Slatter who both provide different software packages.
I will let both Tamsin and Neil explain the benefits and advantages of their offerings for themselves but what else is available and what makes it compelling for the user?
I will let both Tamsin and Neil explain the benefits and advantages of their offerings for themselves but what else is available and what makes it compelling for the user?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Andrew Fereday on -
I've never used any software packages for garden design but I always thought that a set of Lego, (with specially moulded sets of foliage and flower forms, trees, shrubs and what have you) would be a great idea for those of us who just can't work out the way that design software works.
Somehow, I can't imagine a petition to Lego working though... At least not yet.
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Permalink Reply by Phil Voice on -
Hey Stuart - that's cool!
Have you taught yourself?
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Permalink Reply by Francoise Murat on -
Hello
There are several CAD systems, mainly Vectorworks, Autocad and Sketchup.
Vectorworks and Autocad both have a Landscape design option. You can add a variety of libraries to these systems, with added trees, flowers, etc... they usually have a comprehensive library of plants, be careful with American systems, as they usually of course refer to their own geographical areas (hardiness, etc). Sketchup is what I call my quick and dirty system, I usually do some draft designs, input it in skethcup to see what it looks like in 3 D, soemtimes, drawign in plan doe snot allow you to "see" the volume of design elements, so this is very quick. You can teach yourself with their tutorial- one afternoon and you have the basics.Vectorworks and Autocad are software systems which do take some time, dedication and continuous work. It's like photoshop, there is always something new to discover! I use all of them for my practice, but still hand render and do all my skletching in pen, I like the mix and so do clients. I still take autocad lessons once in a while. I took courses in both to get the basics.
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Permalink Reply by Bigyin on -
As well as being "free", if you're used to Autocad (and others), you can import 2D dwg files and "pull/push" the polygons to the required height for the 3D effect. There are also extensive libraries of pre-drawn elements in the 3D Warehouse. You can apply "textures" (roofs, brickwork etc) to drawn faces and also apply photographs to faces for realism. It's also possible to drop completed "models" into Google Earth so you can see the design in it's real surroundings (although probably not practical at the quoting stage). Many of the plants are a bit 2D but are good enough for volumetric visualisation. There is also a viewer available so that the client can fly around the design on their own PC. It's fantastic for visualisations.
For what it's worth.
Roger
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Permalink Reply by Neil Bromhall on -
In reply to what the Complete Garden plant advice encyclopaedia CD-ROM does. You might find seeing demo secion of the website.
The demo shows that you can find plants by simply selecting a colour, aspect, month / season, soil type, height and name. Click search and the CD finds and displays images of the best plants to match your requirements.
I'm not a computer wizz so I asked the programmers to make the CD-ROM very simple to use. I think he's done a great job. I've paid freelance authors to do the plant care advice and I do the photography.
I decided to make this British interactive plant database after working as a wildlife cameraman. I wanted to find plants that would suit my garden and with this simple knowledge I could plan and design a garden for seasonal colour and interest. I alsi wanted to make plant lists and reminded what plants I have that need pruning a what to do.
The CD-ROM has been designed for the end user i.e me and other garden enthusiasts who want to find and record plant advice without having to search for hours looking through books and the internet.
The software is both PC & MAC compatible.
I have three versions. they all do the same but the 2,700 version has 2,700 UK garden plants and 7,200 photographs Price £24.95, the 3,500 plant version has 3,500 plants and 9,000 photographs Price £39.95. The multi list 3,500 plants has the same data and images but you can make multiple plant lists and individual notes as requested by garden designers, students and gardeners. Price £49.95
I can do a discount for lanscapejuice members if this is of interest. Please drop me a line.
I rely on word of mouth and reviews so if any of you guys are interested in a copy to review then please contact me.
best wishes
Neil www.complete-gardens.co.uk
neil@complete-gardens.co.uk
P.S The Complete Gardens CD-ROM is not a garden design software. It helps you find the right plants and advice for your garden.
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Permalink Reply by marzenna on -
SketchUp, SketchUp and again SketchUp. It is very easy to learn and the presentation option are great. I used this software to produce the images in my profile.
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Permalink Reply by coxy84 on -
sketch up is so quick and easy and gives you great 3d perspective, vectorworks pretty good for drawing up surveys and make them look pretty with the adobe suite.
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Permalink Reply by niall gibb on -
hi
been looking at sketch up, what one do you use? when you open it it gives you different options
cheers niall gibb
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Permalink Reply by Bigyin on
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Google Sketchup 7 at the bottom of the page is the free one. The other one is Sketchup Pro that includes "Layout" and is not free. The Pro version does nothing useful that the free version doesn't except that includes the "Layout" which is for 2D. You can do 2D plans OR 3D models in the free one.
niall gibb said:hi
been looking at sketch up, what one do you use? when you open it it gives you different options
cheers niall gibb
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Permalink Reply by niall gibb on
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cheers bigyin
i mean once i have loaded it to my laptop. and open it it gives you options for what use
architectural design,google earth,plan view?
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Permalink Reply by Colin Elliott on -
Sketch up is a great little program and I use it a lot, but it is not precision drafting software like Autocad. This was my first Sketchup drawing, used to illustrate a deck we later built for a client.
Since then I have used it many times, particularly for structures like benches or raised beds.
The last occation was for us: we needed to apply for permission to build a log cabin in the garden and they needed 6 different views. The joy of CAD is that you draw it once and view it from any direction to create the drawings they need.
For serious scaled drawing work you need serious drafting software and this is where Autocad / TurboCAD. LandCAD / Vectorworks and all the other programs come in.
Colin the Gardener
www.garden-design.co.uk www.gardendesignfrance.com www.gardendesignacademy.com
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Permalink Reply by Bigyin on
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Hi Niall,
I've only downloaded Sketchup twice. Once for Ver 6 and recently for the new Ver 7. I don't remember seeing the question that you refer to. However, I doubt if your interested in Google Earth for your purposes and as I mentioned before, you can just draw plans if you want. You usually start with a plan anyway and use the "Push/Pull" to transform a shape into a 3D object. Might be an idea if you looked here http://sketchup.google.com/training/videos/new_to_gsu.html to see some training videos for beginners.
Cheers,
Rog
niall gibb said:cheers bigyin
i mean once i have loaded it to my laptop. and open it it gives you options for what use
architectural design,google earth,plan view?
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