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Replies

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  Amanda Brown December 10, 2013 at 11:41pm

  Hi Shane
  May I ask a few questions? Is the software for whole garden design or just hard landscaping. Are you wanting to work up planting plans? Do you want 2d or 3d? How techie are you? How much time do you have to learn new software?
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  Shane murphy December 10, 2013 at 11:53pm

  Hi 2d is fine I guess hard and soft , fairly tech savvy was brought up with computers have a little bit of experience in drawing , was going to
  Do a
  Course that is usual provided with the software
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  Amanda Brown December 10, 2013 at 11:59pm

  If you are going to do a lot of smaller gardens with steps, fencing and different surfaces then Google Sketchup is great and you can design directly in 3d but use a 2d view for the planting plan.
  
  I used to use AutoCAD in 2d but I know garden designers who use Vectorworks.
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  Ryan Mc Gee December 14, 2013 at 11:57am

  Hi Shane, I am at the same stage as yourself. I have been searching for a few months now and feel a bit overwhelmed! I am looking into a package / company called 'Trail Systems', meeting the rep on Monday. I like the idea of this company as there is online / phone support but it has an outlay of £2500 to £3500. I might be crazy considering this when some guys on here are producing good plans on sketch up / photoshop etc which I think is mainly free! I would be interested to know how usable sketch up is;
  - How practical is it for 2D?
  - Can I print it out at 1:100, 1:200, 1:50 scales which are the typical scales I use
  
  Or is sketch up just more of a visual aid to a CAD / hand drawn plan?
  
  Sorry probably not much help but have a look at Trial Systems and let me know what you think. I would be keen to speak to anybody who has experience of this system. I will post a thread now and see if I can get any help.
  
  Good luck with the search Shane and let us know how you get on.
  
  Cheers
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  Anna McArthur December 14, 2013 at 2:31pm

  Not too well at the moment so not up to detailed reply - but I use Vectorworks (did both the basic course and the 3D follow on at Capel Manor) and I would guess that most garden designers who use a package would use it. I probably only use about a quarter of what is available in it but don't know what I'd do without it!...
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  Ryan Mc Gee December 14, 2013 at 2:35pm

  Hope you are ok Anna!
  
  I heard vectorworks mentioned a few times. Any idea of what cost I could expect. At the minute I just have an Acer laptop, I assume I could install it on that.
  
  Thanks
  
  Ryan
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  Anna McArthur December 14, 2013 at 2:58pm

  Hi Ryan - just seen a client - on my way back to bed!... :-( I first got my Vecterworks cheap as a student, via Capel - but got a later version (but not the newest which costs about £2000) off e-bay (complete with dongle and serial number). I think the main thing is to check if your graphics card with cope with the Open GL, and also if the version of Vecterworks in compatible with the version of Windows (or whatever you use)
  Hope that helps.... - Anna
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  Shane murphy December 14, 2013 at 4:20pm

  
  
  Anna McArthur said:

  Hi Ryan - just seen a client - on my way back to bed!... :-( I first got my Vecterworks cheap as a student, via Capel - but got a later version (but not the newest which costs about £2000) off e-bay (complete with dongle and serial number). I think the main thing is to check if your graphics card with cope with the Open GL, and also if the verVecterworks in compatible with the version of Windows (or whatever you use)
  Hope that helps.... - Anna
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  Shane murphy December 14, 2013 at 4:23pm

  Ryan I was talk to the same company during the week "drawing express" seems to be good and a friend of mine has it reckons it's great comes with tablet too,a few people I know have vector works boy are the same price as far as I know .any apple PC will run drawing express and the 27inch screen would be a great help,
  Hope you feel better soon Anna ,
  Regards S. Murphy Lavender Landscapes
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  Ryan Mc Gee December 14, 2013 at 6:00pm

  Good job Shane, I will let you know how I get on.
  
  Cheers