what software do you use to design and modify the design for your cabs?

[JohnNevets]

Ok, I know this is of little help to h_a, but being a daily user of AutoCAD I had to jump in a bit.  Basically I think there are two differant program control setups that stared many many years ago, the graphics artist ones and the cad ones.

        I started playing with Acad back when I was 12 or 13 (they had just gotten it in the shop class room at my jr high/high school, v10 I think) and now 15+ years latter (version 2002, yea my compony is behind the times) I still use it so I'm very biased and it's use is so intuitive to me that I don't even think about what buttons I'm hitting.  Because of this I have a much more difficult time trying to use programs like PhotoShop, because they were formed from the other side of the mountin.  For instance it's so not inntuitive for me to hold a button down while making a selection, or my personal bain the fact that the scrool wheel dosn't zoom-pan like the new autocads do.

        Now I have friend's who grew up working with graphics programs (I was an Mech Eng in school, but I got a broadcasting minor, go figure) and they of course can use PhotoShop lickity split, but when they've had to jump into AutoCad they are as lost as can be, I've heard the "why do you have to click again" complaint more then once.  

       Is one of these systems easier/harder then the other, probably not for a beginer.  But once you have exposure to one or the other you're always going to find the other more dificult.  

Have Fun!!,
John

P.S. As I was typing this I realize that my learing to use word processors before e-mail programs is also an issue, I always want to hit tab before a new paragraph, DOH.

[Alpha17X]

I use photoshop and Maya. and construction tools.

[photorock]

Adobe Illustrator (superb vector based program...does anyone know if raster material can be imported into illustrator ?)  Gotta spend more time with this

          Yes, in Illusrator go to File - Place and import your file/s. You can even place Cad files.

I started playing with Acad back when I was 12 or 13 (they had just gotten it in the shop class room at my jr high/high school, v10 I think) and now 15+ years latter (version 2002, yea my compony is behind the times) I still use it so I'm very biased and it's use is so intuitive to me that I don't even think about what buttons I'm hitting.  Because of this I have a much more difficult time trying to use programs like PhotoShop, because they were formed from the other side of the mountin.  For instance it's so not inntuitive for me to hold a button down while making a selection, or my personal bain the fact that the scrool wheel dosn't zoom-pan like the new autocads do.

        Now I have friend's who grew up working with graphics programs (I was an Mech Eng in school, but I got a broadcasting minor, go figure) and they of course can use PhotoShop lickity split, but when they've had to jump into AutoCad they are as lost as can be, I've heard the "why do you have to click again" complaint more then once.

         Yes that's it exactly. I've been using design software for so long that I may be bias to other design programs. When I use design software I very rearly use the mouse (selection only, for the most part) everything else is done through keyboard shortcuts. I'm so use to shortcuts now that I don't even look at the keyboard anymore and that makes it so much easier to concentrate on design as apposed to the design process. For example when I use Corel Draw if I don't have my personal prefs, I'm lost in there. I think as a graphic artist we're spoiled with such well designed software aimed at our feild that using other software is clumsy and confusing.

          I also worked in a sign shop for a while and found it easier and faster to create in normal design software and import into the Cad software, do a little cleanup and output the files.

           Hey Guys, I'd love to learn AutoCad, any advice or helpful hints on it? I have AutoCad 2002 and would love to design my cab in it.

[ras2a]

thanks for the info regarding Illustrator Photorock

Craig

[danny_galaga]

couldnt walk by this one without showing my bitchin design system (tm). you wanna draw a circle just there? you can!! wanna draw something past some imaginary border? you betcha!! you wanna save as you go? this is the safest system there is! i swear by my bitchindesignsystem. i swear AT all the others  

[danny_galaga]

forgot to show the bitchin scaler (tm). make your work to any scale you want!!

[depressd]

ras2a, Yeah.. I've used Sketchup quite a bit. It has a little learning curve. It's very intuitive though.

[Felsir]

I used Visio to design my cab. I also used Visio for my artwork (marquee etc.) and concept modelling of my cab.

Car artwork for my (yet to build) sitdown cabinet:
http://www.arcadecontrols.org/yabbse/index.php?board=13;action=display;threadid=21752
Timezone concept and Marquee concept artwork
http://www.arcadecontrols.org/yabbse/index.php?board=13;action=display;threadid=16962
Cardboard with printed Visio graphs for testing the lay-out of the CP (I can recommend this! how the controls look on screen can be very different than how the 'real' positioning of the buttons and josticks are).
http://www.arcadecontrols.org/yabbse/index.php?board=10;action=display;threadid=16149;start=msg127284#msg127284
the final cab with the Visio marquee in place:
http://members.chello.nl/~f.buiting/mame/completed.jpg

The bottomline: If are used to the software you can use any tool to design your cab. Some say Visio can't be used for designing marquees others can work magic with Illustrator some do great things with freeware design/graphic tools. It all comes down to how well you are used to use the features of the design software... (oooh that sounded philosophic!)

[photorock]

        Hey danny_galaga nice design system. How do you connect it to your comp? Looks wireless to me! Just pulling your leg we all seem to have over looked the obvious.
        Hmmmmmmm I wonder!

[danny_galaga]

       Hey danny_galaga nice design system. How do you connect it to your comp? Looks wireless to me! Just pulling your leg we all seem to have over looked the obvious.
        Hmmmmmmm I wonder!

yep, wireless. and if i phone up a friend to talk about design, why then its also WAP!!

[photorock]

yep, wireless. and if i phone up a friend to talk about design, why then its also WAP!!

        Wow!!! It does it all, i'll have to break out my bitchendesignsystem and take her for a spin. Although I don't know if mine is compatable with XP, no drivers you know. Maybe I'll check my toolbox there maybe drivers in there.
         Gotta love traditional design, too many rely on comp and software.

[danny_galaga]

somehow that reminds me of this:

http://www.dang.se/texter/hal.ibm