

- #VIRTUAL ARCHITECT ULTIMATE FULL#
- #VIRTUAL ARCHITECT ULTIMATE PRO#
- #VIRTUAL ARCHITECT ULTIMATE FREE#
Plugins also fell into the advantage category because of the incredible variety they allow users. You have to use plugins for anything beyond the basic design.

If you need an easy-to-use alternative to a CAD drawing, this could fulfill your basic needs. SketchUp 2D drawings are great for simple floor plans and elevations. Line types can be adjusted to resemble actual sketches. **Sarah has recently also added Lumion to her rendering scope which, like Podium, is a plugin for Sketchup users (it just has a much higher price tag than podium). The plugins give you the freedom to put the icing on top of your base design. Podium gives you the option to add finishes and textures (think fur!) or intricate details such as tile and wood texture, ornate furniture carving, or even tile grout dimensions.
#VIRTUAL ARCHITECT ULTIMATE FREE#
You have the ability to use both free and paid plugins, including Podium, that allow you to create more photo-realistic renderings. Many designers will tell you that it’s the easiest and quickest rendering platform to use.
#VIRTUAL ARCHITECT ULTIMATE FULL#
You can’t beat a price point of $0! For full rendering capabilities, however, you’ll want to make the investment and purchase the license (especially since its against their agreement to use it for professional purposes). That’s why she’s an awesome person to talk to the advantages and limitations of SketchUp.
#VIRTUAL ARCHITECT ULTIMATE PRO#
You can find my comparison of the two programs here or purchase Home Designer Suite from this link.* You can also check out Home Designer Pro or Home Designer Architectural.įirst things first, Sarah is a serious SketchUp whiz! She has an amazing wealth of SketchUp knowledge and it shows in her stunning renderings. However, in most cases, there’s a workaround available.įor users who want a less technical version of Chief Architect, Home Designer is a great option. It doesn’t speak well with some other programs, including AutoCAD and Canva. This allows you to easily work on the same drawing with both contractors and clients. Toggle between architectural elevations and design renderings. You can even make your rendering look as if it was designed with watercolor markers! Settings allow you to customize views and line types.

From a glass house view to a vector view that easily shows measurements and details like cabinet depth, to technical illustrations to artistic renderings, including watercolor and sketch, your options are just a click away. You have multiple drawing views at your fingertips. Finish options, drawing views, it’s all there from the moment you purchase Chief Architect. If you work closely with architects, this could be your program of choice. I work primarily in Chief Architect and Home Designer ( check out my trainings here!), and, as a former AutoCAD user, I appreciate the technical abilities of the program.Ĭhief Architect is ideal for someone who wants a more detailed, technical approach with drafting capabilities. We’ve been there! And, we both made different decisions––and we’re here to walk you through how we chose Chief Architect v. Maybe you’ve googled the pros, cons, and differences to try to make sense of which is a better investment for your business. If you’re in the interior design world, you’ve probably wondered which rendering platform is right for your needs. We are virtual design assistants, interior designers, and rendering artists.īut, when it comes to our day-to-day work, Sarah works primarily in SketchUp, while I specialize in Chief Architect. To give a little context to our experience with these platforms, Sarah and I are both small business owners who work with interior design clients to bring their projects to life virtually. In the meantime, however, I’m going to break down our Facebook Live for you here.

If you haven’t joined Presentation by Design on Facebook, you’ll definitely want to do so to stay on top of future trainings and Q&A sessions. It’s a resource and sounding board for us to come together for inspiration, troubleshooting, and support.Ī few months ago, my co-administrator, Sarah Durnez, and I went live on Facebook to discuss one of the biggest questions facing designers and rendering artists: What application should I use for rendering? What are the pros and cons of Chief Architect v. That’s why I created my Facebook group, Presentation by Design. One of my favorite things about working virtually is building a community of designers across the country who are eager to lift one another up as we navigate design and business challenges.
