Vectorworks-compatible software for consumers/clients?

[BarbStuckey]

Hi,

 

We are owners of a few residential properties and are starting to work with architects to renovate. They use Vectorworks. We're wondering if there's a "Photoshop Lite" sort of thing we can purchase, and/or something that's compatible with Vectorworks that we can purchase. Our goal is to be able to take their designs and modify them during the ideation process.

 

Any recommendations are appreciated.

 

 

[rDesign]

The only ‘Lite’ version of Vectorworks is Vectorworks Fundamentals, which is a full license of Vw but with some functionality stripped out. If your architect has Vw Architect, they will be able to create some elements / objects which cannot be modified in Fundamentals. And you’d have to learn Vectorworks, which like any CAD / BIM software package is much more complex than thinking of it in terms of ‘Photoshop Lite’.

 

There is a free Vectorworks File Viewer, but with it you can only view their .VWX files: You would not be able to modify or change anything.
 

I would recommend you try using the Vw File Viewer application to explore their model / drawings and take screencaps / export PDFs of the areas you want to modify, then sketch or write your comments / ideas on the screencaps using a digital drawing / sketching application (like Photoshop Lite, or Concepts, or Trace, or Autodesk SketchBook).

 

https://www.vectorworks.net/support/downloads/vectorworks-file-viewer

Edited October 5, 2020 by rDesign

[Jeff Prince]

@BarbStuckey You should stick with whatever software you typically use for your own internal processes.  Every designer you work with will likely use a software best suited to their workflow, not yours.

 

You can ask your architect to export their Vectorworks file to a format your existing software can ingest.

DWG is typical for 2D work.  PDF for markups is another typical for 2D.

If your intention is to import their 3D work, that is a bit more nuanced and dependent on what you use and your intended interaction and capabilities.

[Art V]

Another option, if you are familiar with CAD software but do not have a license of a CAD program yourself and you prefer using CAD instead of using a PDF/graphics program to mark-up PDFs, is to check if you can "rent" Vectorworks for the duration of the project on a monthly subscription basis. If this is a long-term (multiple years) thing then you could even consider to lease Vectorworks and in the end own the license (at least that is possible over here, so it may be possible in your country as well).