On-screen space planning - Designing flag layouts on gridded window

[bay1]

I am looking for a free (!) downloadable application which will give a gridded and ruled virtual drawing board enabling:
definition of e.g patio shape and area;
selection of flag sizes, allowing for mortar gaps;
positioning of flags and easy in-filling of on-screen planning space.

Of course, I could drive 30 odd miles return to an office supplier for a stock of metric graph paper and spend hours drawing rectangles but I'd sooner benefit by someone else's experience.

Thanks

[Tony McC]

Dream on! No such thing.

[Gisburne]

I recently planned out my patio with standard picture editing software. I created a new image, with a scale of 1cm to 1 pixel, so 800 x 600 pixels would be 8 metres by 6 metres. Then I created some grey coloured shapes, again 1cm to 1 pixel - 60cm x 60cm slabs would be 60 pixels square, and I did some 30x30 ones and 60x30 ones (and 30x60, ie pointing both ways). Then whenever I needed a new 'slab' I just duplicated an existing one and moved it into place. It's just like having lots of little pieces of paper that you can easily move around... without losing them all when you sneeze!

The good thing about this approach is that if you find a pattern of slabs that you like, you can copy and paste several slabs at once and repeat the pattern. It saves a lot of time.

You'll need image editing software which lets you have 'floating' objects within a picture, so that you can move them around without adding them permanently to the picture. I kept a 1-pixel gap between each slab and because they were a different colour that served as my grouting/joint.

I used PhotoImpact, which isn't free but there is a 30-day trial version at ulead.com, which should be plenty - if you haven't planned out your patio after 30 days, you're doing it all wrong!

[AndyF]

Try this link:
http://www.bradstone.com
Look in Library|Software

I have no idea if it fits your requirements because it runs on Windows and I use a Mac. I'd be interested to know what it does, if you do give it a try.

[andpartington]

hi
just found this just what i needed hope it helps u
http://www.scotsdalegardencentre.co.uk/gardendesigner.php
andy

[mouldmaker]

The Bradstone program is your best bet.There are a number of drawing/drafting programs that will do the job - I use Micrografx designer 7 (now no longer available - I guard my copy with my life!) for simple stuff or CAD for more complex stuff.

Disregarding cost, the learning curve with much of the software is steep enough that, if it's a one-off job, you're better off doing the 30 mile round trip and using graph paper.

[Tony McC]

As with all of the manufacturer-sponsored "Patio Designers", the Bardstyone offering has severe limitations that render it little more than a toy for anyone wanting to do serious layout or design work.

It can't cope with levels, curves, non-Bradstone materials, genuinely random layouts or complex motif patterns. For simple patios, it's OK, as long as you're not worried about your patio looking exactly the same as next door's. That's the inherent fault with all of these programs - they aren't spontaneous and it has to be remembered that they are sales tools, designed to lock you in to a particular brand.

[bobhughes]

Just a word of caution - whatever method you use to design a layout.

I spent many a happy hour designing my patio in Stonemarket’s excellent Yorkstone, using 7 sizes and some octagons. Then, when we started to lay them, we discovered that they are not actually the sizes quoted because they allow for the 10mm gaps, so that a 600mm slab is actually 590mm.

This is a good idea in practice because it means that whatever combination of sizes you use you can ignore the gaps in the design.. So 3 x 600mm slabs will be exactly the same as 4 x 450mm slabs in spite of the extra gap.


Bob

[Tony McC]

...but that's not the way all manufacturers and retailers work. Only a few quote sizes "allowing a nominal width for jointing". Most quote actual sizes, with a tolerance.