Drafting Software Software Is Complex
Heres how it works: start with a template and then easily customize it to fit your design vision. But SmartDraw is easy enough for a novice with robust, powerful features that will please any expert. Most of the time, those illustrations are scaled down versions of actual patterns that I either drafted on my computer or scanned and then turned into a digital pattern.Traditional drafting software is complex and difficult to use. Intuitive editor and countless use cases More installs than all Confluence diagramming apps combined Best.If you’ve scooted around these parts for awhile you may have noticed that I like to make fancy-dancy illustrations for my tutorials. Looking for a CAD for Mac A modern drafting and design software for your architecture studio Get HighDesign Sketch, design, annotate, publish in one package, with your style, all without worries thanks to the permanent license.Trust the 1 rated app on the Atlassian Marketplace. HighDesign is the alternative software for architects, engineers and designers.
Three Types of Software ToolsAmong options for pattern drafting software, I’d boil them down to three types:1. If you have ever tried to import a CAD drawing into a vector program or vice versa, you know the chaos that ensues! They are two totally different languages with different purposes. CAD is a type of modeling software that is used in many fields including architecture design, interior design, 3D modeling and pattern drafting.Adobe Illustrator and other vector drawing programs are not technically “CAD”, although some like to call it that, short for “computer aided drawing”. VECTORIn the software industry, CAD is short for “computer aided design”. (No more tracing pattern to make adjustments.) Lines and curves can be measured down to millimeters which makes tasks like walking a pattern and matches notches very quick and accurate.So let’s talk about the types of software you can use for pattern drafting.
With this kind of software, you draw the patterns as you wish. (Both of which really slow down my computer…)While vector software is not created specifically for drafting, it is a wonderful tool that puts a highly accurate ruler and pen in your hand. The market for these kind of programs varies from home sewists to custom apparel and smaller garment companies.One very important caveat about all of the CAD-based programs: they are based on Windows and only run on a Mac when you own a copy of Windows and run it through Bootcamp or an emulator. Some of them include additional “style libraries” to add on to your blocks. Others offer full-fledged tools to draft from the ground up.
OH! how I wish Astute would buy Vincent’s entire collection and update/improve it for CC! Mirror was WAY more efficient and useful than MirrorMe, for my IL work anyway—which is more how-to diagram-making than pattern drafting, truth be told. I’ll admit that I was never attracted to the CAD-based programs because I’m such a Mac girl.In my next patternmaking post, I’ll explore some different ways you can use Illustrator (or any vector program) to draft patterns, along with some of my favorite tricks.Have you tried using a patternmaking program? And if so, do you feel comfortable working in it? I’d love to hear what others use.I figured anyone who even mentions Illustrator plugins these days is onto VectorScribe, but PLEASE tell me you’ve got or will GO GET SubScribe, too! My most used functions within all these tools are:Bending lines with VS’s PathScribe tool (altho every time I use it I feel sad for my little neglected pen tool, like an out-grown teddy bear:(Extending lines and checking line lengths with VS’s Extend Path toolSetting some line or other in an object (along with the whole object) to horizontal or vertical, to get access to or simplify some other IL function, with the Orient tool in SubScribe.I’m surprised I don’t use MirrorMe as much as I thought I would, since I was ALWAYS using Stephen Vincent’s wonderful Mirror function in his Kimbo plug-in suite. I drafted a pair of pants on it!Despite its cost I keep using Adobe Illustrator since I am so familiar with how it works and have collected a lot of plugins over the years that increase its functionality. It’s actually pretty sweet and has all the important tools you need for drawing. It used to be called “Adobe Ideas”, which I used quite a bit last year.
🙂I’m looking forward to reading your post on using Illustrator, I’ll give it a shot. It’s tough to know what the best option is for a small business.Also, I believe this is the first time I’ve ever commented on your blog, but I love it. I know I have to budget for a decent amount, but ‘tens of thousands’ is also out of the question.I have some basic CAD experience from my former life as a mapping tech, but I’m not sure it’d be the same.So, this long winded comment is all to ask- Do you, or any of your dear readers who might happen back to a months old post- have any advice on this specific use? It seems that most pattern drafters are either home sewists who are using their creations for their size exclusively, or big time corporate drafters. I hate grading.Anyway, cost isn’t completely limiting. It is a slow, SLOW process because I am working on it in bits and pieces, on the weekends and in the evenings when my kiddos are asleep and the regular daily grind is done.I’ve always hand drafted BUT I will need drafting software- mainly for grading.
I finally have a client that’s willing to let me learn it on the job, and I’m picking it up. Gerber is the scourge of my existence because it’s the dominant software in LA. You had to switch back and forth between multiple pages of functions while altering a pattern. I haven’t used Lectra since 2001, and just remember it being way too complicated.
They provide 2 days free training to full time patternmakers, so I got trained while at a company.Now that I’m using Gerber, it kills me how much longer it takes to do anything, and I seriously don’t know why they’re getting away with charging $10k per key these days. Tuka is $200/month to rent plus $100 for the key, but that doesn’t include training. Best feature of it is that you can show (or hide) a “ghost line” (I forget what they call it) that helps you see what changes you’ve made.
The company who makes it cheap & easy enough for the masses could make a killing.I don’t mind working on PC, these days there’s not much difference between Mac & PC, especially with Apple being so lame since Jobs died. The thing is, it’s all software.
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