The Brew Cabin

Posted: **Tue Jan 06, 2015 9:20 pm**

How many of you use It?
What program do you Use?
Do you do your own drawings or have them made up for You?

The reason I ask is because I do my own CAD drawings and do a pretty good job on them but I know that they take me a lot longer than they should do and there are certain aspects (making components, drawing trees) that I can't get my head around.

I want to get better at. Especially now that people are giving me a lot of money to fully landscape there property.

I've been thinking about book's, DVD'S, YouTube but you can't ask any of those questions so I enquired about courses.

I'm still waiting for a reply from most but I did get a quote for a 1 day private course tailored for me personally to improve the skills I need for Â£500.

How much will I learn in a Day?
Is it worth It?

Opinions please

Posted: **Tue Jan 06, 2015 9:33 pm**

skethup use the component warehouse pretty much everything is in there

Posted: **Wed Jan 07, 2015 8:16 pm**

I'm using sketchup 8 at the moment. Thinking about sketchup pro.

Posted: **Wed Jan 07, 2015 9:51 pm**

If you want to produce 2d plan view then Turbocad by IMSI is pretty good. It's a copycat version of autocad at a tenth of the price with most of the features. There are symbols such as trees, shrubs etc and a variety of fill patterns such as paving slabs and brickwork. Turbocad will also render sketchup models depending on the version.

For 3d then stick with sketchup but don't see the benefit of going pro.
Can't quite get there with sketchup myself, which is a shame because a 3d view says it all.

Both have steep learning curves and will probably always take the likes of us time to produce unless you dedicate yourself to designing rather than hands on construction.

There's no doubt that producing drawings will help win work but it can take a lot of time and effort ???

Posted: **Fri Jan 09, 2015 9:22 pm**

Thanks for the advice lemoncurd. I've managed to pick up sketchup fairly quickly. I've been looking into sketchup pro and it's not cheap, roughlyy Â£500 with the mandatory support but there's a lot more to it.

The way that I'm looking at it is, people are now paying me a lot of money to do there gardens. My last 2 jobs have been over 10000 so I need to start being more professional in every aspect of my work.

I think the course and upgrade to pro might be a good investment. Can't be sure but nothing ventured..........

Posted: **Fri Jan 09, 2015 11:49 pm**

Sketchup is the way to go as its so simple and straight forward . Once sketchup drawing is completed , put it through a renderer software and it will look amazing.

Posted: **Sat Jan 10, 2015 9:41 am**

Personally I'd stick with the free version for now that Â£500 is better spent on new kit.
There are plenty of online tutorials available from within sketchup and/or buy sketchup for dummies, much cheaper than a course and learn at your own speed.

As GB says, there are a host of components in the warehouse, no need to make your own.

As bodgeit says, a rendered model will look amazing. You can get the plug-ins for these in the warehouse also some are free or have a trial version.
Rendering does not automatically make your model look photo real, you have to apply textures lighting etc. It also demands a considerable amount of processing power and takes forever.
I've dabbled but think I'll just aim to become more proficient with sketchup first.

Cad drawings should not be overlooked, draw to scale and add dimensions to give yourself a working drawing. Very useful when it comes to undertaking the work.

Cheers:D

Posted: **Sat Jan 10, 2015 9:55 am**

I concur with the above 2
sketchup although I can only use it in 2D works fine for me
I did have a copy of autocad a while back and it fried my brain

spend your time doing what you are best at ,doing sparkling jobs

word of mouth will sell you not fancy 3D images

LLL

Posted: **Sat Jan 10, 2015 6:00 pm**

I know nothing about rendering in CAD. I'm not fussed about them being photo realistic but I have done a few 3D designs for customers now and they love them. They become even more impressed when there garden looks exactly the same as there drawing, even down to the last cut.

It does take me a while to produce them but I think that is only down to the fact that I struggle with some of the tools.
I've tried using the YouTube videos. There good but you can't ask them questions.
The layout section of sketchup pro looks really good. Not sure if it's worth paying for pro just for the layout yet though.

I aim to be producing patio and landscaping work to the same design standards as you see in the paving brochures.
I doubt I'll be able to do that without improving my design skills.
A grand might be a lot for software and a personal tutor for a day but the result might pay off in the long run.

Posted: **Sat Jan 10, 2015 6:17 pm**

its what you lay and how you do it that will make you more money and a good portfolio showing your talent i cant draw but have good ideas and always say if i could draw plans i would not need to lay paving

p.s. the people who do them brochures dont get there hands dirty laying paving:D keep up your good work

Posted: **Sat Jan 10, 2015 6:28 pm**

cookiewales wrote:its what you lay and how you do it that will make you more money and a good portfolio showing your talent i cant draw but have good ideas and always say if i could draw plans i would not need to lay paving p.s. the people who do them brochures dont get there hands dirty laying paving:D keep up your good work

Where's the like button

Posted: **Sat Jan 10, 2015 7:14 pm**

I agree with Cookie, I can't draw either but I have a head full of ideas what I can reproduce on someone's driveway or patio

Posted: **Sat Jan 10, 2015 7:53 pm**

mickg wrote:I agree with Cookie, I can't draw either but I have a head full of ideas what I can reproduce on someone's driveway or patio

and you have a mighty high skill level and pride in your work.
pleasure to have worked with you

Posted: **Sat Jan 10, 2015 7:59 pm**

*BLUSH*

likewise with you too Cookie

Posted: **Sat Jan 10, 2015 8:20 pm**

Get a room :laugh:

The Brew Cabin

Computer aided design