Clint Alderman
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Posts posted by Clint Alderman
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Searched "Windows 11 change system font", because the system font is too thin of a stroke and it looks really bad in Vectorworks for Windows which is already pretty bland.
Found this on Microsoft's website. But I'm too chicken to try it.
Maybe someone brave will do it and let us know if it works.
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On 7/27/2023 at 7:05 PM, Stephanie Poole said:
Non-printing grid lines for the title block would be great.
Also, non-printing class layers.
On 7/27/2023 at 7:05 PM, Stephanie Poole said:Just to be clear, I am talking about the blue dashed grid lines.
The contextual right-click menu has a Show Grids, but it was grayed out when I tried it. I had to Convert to Unstyled in the Object Info Palette. Once I converted the title block object, I could use the contextual menu to Show Grids. A check box appears next to the menu command. When I select it again, the check box goes away. However, this does not control the blue dashed grid lines. It only toggles on and off the Grid Line Extensions in the margin, and the "Grids" (grid letters and numbers).
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11 hours ago, Claes Lundstrom said:
Yes, CorelDraw is a nice option too, though a bit more expensive than Affinity Designer. It seems to be very popular among people working with for example vinyl and laser cutting. I have an old version, but rarely use it anymore, as they left the Mac scene for a number of years. They are back now though.
The user interface feels fairly familiar to VW on the 2D side. It's not like it came from another planet, so you have a decent guessing factor. Fairly reliable communication with other apps too. One of the points where I actually do use CoreDraw is for vectorizing images. It's better than VW in that respect. In reality though, I rarely use that feature, as I mainly work with image based 3D signs and physical photo realistic 3D models, where there is not much need for vector graphics.
It's interesting to see how people use various applications in their workflow. I use to do all of my signage projects in CorelDRAW. I'd use Bricscad and Sketchup also. Then got VW in 2010 for plans and sheet management. Plus the 3D and rendering is amazing. It replaced a lot of need for other software. Since, I already had CDR and kept up the license through version 2020. They sold and stopped developing anything I'm interested in.
I have Affinity also, which is robust and yes is much cheaper. CDR has amazing annotation tools though. CAD Tools for Illustrator is more robust. Before I got VW, I almost switch to Adobe, but the cost and subscription model they went to, turned me off.
If I didn't have CDR already, I would just use Inkscape, which is free and has all the features I need for professional message creation and PDF creation. I'm trying to do more and more in VWs, and probably can, if I require the fabricator to do the final kerning. VW has crude tracking, but no kerning. VW is so close to being the best professional design package for sign design professionals. But the text features are stuck in DOS Age! ;-) Maybe VW will add OpenType support. They would be the only CAD application to do so. If Inkscape, a free program, why can't VW? I hope they develop for sign designers like they have for entertainment designers. All disciplines would benefit from full OpenType support.
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On 9/30/2024 at 7:43 AM, Claes Lundstrom said:
As an alternative, and not too expensive, Affinity Designer 2 now supports both SVG and DXF/DWG import / Export. It also imports PDF well from VW. I use it quite a lot as a complement, and for sure a replacement for Adobe Illustrator.
I have a similar workflow using CorelDraw to make PDFs for sign message layouts. It has full OpenType support, like Affinity and Illustrator. I import the PDFs with reference into VW. It works okay. The downside is having to use two applications. Inkscape, free open source, would work. The native format is SVG, and can export PDFs.
It would be nice to have a good OLE option for vector apps for round trip editing.
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On 5/16/2025 at 10:24 AM, markdd said:
The 3D Dragger is part of the Selection Tool. This will do most, if not all, of what you want to do.
There is a lot of functionality about the 3D Dragger that you will need to explore using the help files.
This is great! Thanks.
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Hi. I called Tech Support. Renderworks is not loading on desktop but is on laptop. Will be replacing desktop later this week anyway. So I’ll revisit again if an issue.
BTW it’s a PC. I did a repair. An issue was found and fixed. But didn’t fix after all. Did a clean install. Same problem. Who knows. Doubt it will be a problem in few days.
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Having trouble creating and editing Textures in VW 2023 SP 2 build 679347.
Working on an imported 2022 file into 2023. I am unable to edit Textures from Resource Manager. When I right click and select a Edit, the dialog box does not appear.
I can duplicate a Texture but not edit.
I can not create a new Texture.
Closed VW and restart.
Create a new blank drawing.
I can not create a new Texture in Renderworks.
In RM1. Right click
2. New Resource
3. select Renderworks Texture
4. No dialog box opens.
I can create other resources. If I create a Material, I can add a stock Texture. But can not edit the Texture in the Resource Manager.
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Hey Mick, good to know. And appreciate herbieherb's explanation.
As usual, this forum is a great resource! Thanks.
Looks like Samsung 980 Pro (planned for Q2-Q3) is nearing release with brief lising:
https://www.anandtech.com/show/16052/samsung-980-pro-briefly-listed-online
Nice speed bump.
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12 hours ago, mick_ch said:
Main storage : Samsung 970 EVO Plus 500GB, M.2
Mick,
Consider the Samsung 970 Pro series rather than the EVO Plus.
A few years ago upgraded a stock 7200RPM SATA Internal 3.5" HD with a Samsung 860 Pro Series 2.5" 256GB SATA (SSD).
Wow, big difference. But it filled up quick.
So, replaced the 860 Pro with a Samsung 860 EVO Series 2.5" 1TB SATA SSD to save a few dollars.
I knew the Pro was faster on paper, but I didn't think I'd noticed a performance difference between the Pro and EVO.
Wrong. The Pro was snappier.
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Awesome Materials feature!
I came to VW 2010 from Sketchup and AutoCad.
At the time, I found VW's process of setting up 2D (fills and textures) and 3D (renderworks textures) really convoluted and unproductive.
I wondered why can't "textures" be defined in one dialog box and it render in 2D and 3D? (like sketchup...)
Finally with a lot of experimentation, I learned how to get the results I wanted.
Though powerful, the current VW 2020 and prior process is not straight-forward.
Very glad to see VW developing materials in this way.
Thanks!
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Good job VW Team!
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Who's in favor of adding Teaser Thursdays?
We're eager for more!
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Looking forward to seeing the recommended hardware specifications for VW2021, along with an updated explanation for what component features will take advantage of this release.
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Thanks for the comment Peter.
Yes CorelDRAW is still kicking with new owner.
I have Illustrator and Affinity.
Not to start a “war” 😀 but CDW has stock features which Illustrator or Designer lack for signage design. Will use only CDW on small projects when VW is not needed. And almost always use CDW for message layouts.
VW is used for most signage projects and is much better in many ways than CDW. The one exception is VW is limited for handling typography due to no support for advanced OpenType features. So there’s a need an illustration app for message layouts, make PDF and import to VW. So Affinity would be a second choice app choice if CDW didn’t perform well on Mac.
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With the updated iMac, I’m doing my yearly Mac drooling and wondering if this is the year I jump fence to become a Mac Dude?! Been using PC/Windows since about 1988. Until the last few years PCs were the only option with my workflow apps.
Now it’s time for a new system and all of my workflow apps run on MacOS. The cost:quality for high performance is about a wash and often in Macs favor. So I’m doing some serious fence sitting.
The only application I have question about running on Mac is CorelDRAW.
Any Mac users on the forum using CorelDRAW?
Any PC and Mac users have experience using it on both platforms?
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On 12/12/2019 at 9:40 AM, Tanner Shelton said:
I remember watching the 2020 promo videos and thinking, "Oh wow! 2020's UI looks awesome" Then getting 2020 and realizing mine didn't look anything like that.
Yes! 1000x Yes!
Hire who ever is doing the icon design for the promo videos. It's already done. Just use it.
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On 5/29/2020 at 3:57 PM, Xland said:
I was exceptionally slow to load 2020 this year but I was disappointed to see that the desktop icons changed to double line images. They are too small to warrant pale blue shaded double line graphics- please go back to the simple, single line icons we have been using for the past 10 years. Vectorworks is an amazing product that puts out some great graphics but this is not the place to get cute.
Agree. I hope VW listened.
All, please click the up vote arrow.
As MartinFahrer aptly said: "it feels like I'm working on a kids program."
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On 9/16/2019 at 9:28 AM, Tom Klaber said:
7) New GUI - let's be honest - the new icons are not great and seemed rushed just to allow dark mode. I would be fine with the GUI you show in the promo videos. Just implement that. You have already designed it! The icons are cleaner - the dialogs are cleaner - nothing fancy - it just feels on-purpose.
I hope a professional icon theme is on the list.
The 2020 theme was a huge dud. Sorry to say. Really am.
Every time I open VW2020, I sigh.
With a new release in a couple of months, I'm really looking forward to seeing an icon theme worthy of the application.
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Thanks rDesign for finding the script!
And kudos to who wrote it. You guys are too smart. 😀
That script sounds like what I had in mind.
Someday... I'll have to learn how to use scripts.
Hopefully VW will add that script to the application as part of their commitment to improve usability.
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VP Names can be manually changed. This is good because the auto naming convention is not ideal.
Looking for better auto usability.
Currently Viewport auto naming is: VP#/Sheet Number
Example:
1/A-201
1/A-301
2/A-201
2/A-301
3/A-201
3/A-301
4/A-201
4/A-301
When there are numerous VPs, it would be much more helpful if VPs were: Sheet Number/VP#
Example:
A-201/1
A-201/2
A-201/3
A-301/1
A-301/2
A-301/3
A-401/1
A-401/2
A-401/3
Another request: automatically update the VP Name (sheet number/vp#) when the VP is moved to another sheet.
When a VP is being moved to another sheet, there is already a warning message of a number duplication conflict.
Linked drawing labels are automatically changed. So why not automatically change the VP Name using the current Sheet Number?Regardless of the above naming convention, the VP Navigation palette should have the ability to sort by Sheet Number.
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The default symbols have been poorly configured from the start. There needs be be better control using the object info palette.
These need more attention.By default, the top text object should be closer to the horizontal bar, and set to center, bottom aligned.
By default, the bottom text object should be closer to the horizontal bar, and set to center, top aligned.
I've found that Sketchup has better out of the box symbols than Vectorworks. That should be.
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Hi. I learned AC first. An issue that was very perplexing and remains a challenge is the difference in how object properties in an AC “block” and a VW “symbol” behave.
In AC blocks, objects are often drawn on layer “0 ”which is similar to VW None class. (Note: AC “layer” equals a VW “class”). When an AC block with objects on “0” is placed in the DWG file, the block objects inherit the line weight the AC layer (= VW class). Layer 0 is typically a very thick black/white line. Used correctly this is a great feature I wish was possible in VW.
When you import AC blocks into VW as symbols, those lines in the new VW symbol can be the problem. You can either edit the symbol and redefine the line thicknesses or if you’re lucky, you can redefine the class 0 to a thinner weight for all class 0 objects. The later rarely works and you’re in for grunt work to get things to look right. If the DWG file was exported from Revit then there are other issues as rotated DWG blocks get imported as multiple symbols in VW for what is really the same object. Much more grunt work!
If you have AC or Briscad or even LibreCad, you can edit the blocks before importing into VW to move block objects to a different AC layer.
Later I’ll post a Revit export to DWG options settings that works well. i give it to clients using Revit. The export settings create DWG files which when imported into VW look and print exactly like Revit. Huge, HUGE time saver!
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DBruhnke, I thought about that. And that would work.
What I decided to do was to select one sheet at a time and add to the print list, then saved as a Set to Publish list. That way if I need to reprint, which of course I did, then just need to select the list.
Appreciate your idea.
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Spaces - BOMA Rentable
in Architecture
Posted · Edited by Clint Alderman
spelling
I saw "BOMA Rentable" in the Space Style dialog.
I can't find any documentation on this is the help manual.
Can any employees describe the definition and how it's intended to be used?
I have the BOMA Standards. There are many editions, and for various building types.