This MacNews Category Review looks at interior design software for Mac OS X. Products covered include ArchInvoice, DesignStaff, IDX Renderer, InteriorCAD, the Interior Design Collection, Liquid Ate Her and Live Interior 3D.
AC3D
AC3D is 3D software for creating imaginary models and virtual landscapes and cities, design buildings, home projects, land, sea, space, and air craft, and more.
ArchInvoice
ArchInvoice is invoicing package designed for architectural, engineering and interior design environments. Individual invoices can be produced for multiple program phases and billing types such as square feet, hourly, and/or fixed fee. Additionally, billing for consultant services and reimbursable expenses may be included. ArchInvoice tracks the billed to date for each project phase and checks maximum billing limits for a single phase and/or entire project if desired. ArchInvoice allows for multiple employees and billing rates.
DesignStaff
DesignStaff is software management system for the interior design trade.
EasyDraw is a vector-based drawing application for Mac OS X. It offers a tool for technical drawings or illustrations. You can use EazyDraw to create illustrations, logos, floor plans and elevations, technical diagrams, flow charts, maps, web graphics and more.
IDX Renderer for Google SketchUp
IDX Renderer is a plug-in for Google SketchUp 6 and 7 that provides photorealistic rendering. It supports SketchUp 7 features such as dynamic components and allowing textures to be applied to nested groups and components. Renditioner works directly within SketchUp and lets you control the materials, advanced lighting components, environments, and background images.
InteriorCAD
InteriorCAD is 2D/3D CAD software package for German interior designers and cabinetmakers. This end-to-end solution for interior construction, cabinet design, shop fitting and interior architecture is based on VectorWorks and offers additional menus commands, tools and objects as well as extensive furniture libraries. 3D views of a design may be viewed with the optional RenderWorks or through direct integration of rendering programs such as Art*lantis Render or Cinema 4D. Data may be exchanged with AutoCAD by means of DXF/DWG import and export
The same company also makes Interior 3D, a VectorWorks 3D furniture library that contains tables, chairs, lamps and accessories for use in architectural and interior design projects. Interior 3D contains symbols from manufacturers like Knoll International, vitra, Driade, Zanotta, Artemide, Arteluce, Flos, Flight, Erco and designers as Philippe Starck, Charles Eames, Mies van der Rohe, Antonio Citterio, Matheo Thun, Gregotti Associati, Ettore Sotsass, Niklas Paris and others.
The Interior Design Collection
The Interior Design Collection is a collection of over 500 real-world scaled LightWave 3D and Inspire 3D objects for creating complete and furnished home environments. The Interior Design Collection is a complete collection of over 150 pieces of furniture, 150 interior construction objects and four complete homes. A companion piece is the [url=http://www.replica3d.com/]Wright Collection[/url], a collection of over 150 real-world scaled LightWave 3D and Inspire 3D objects. This CD-ROM collection includes over 100 different home furnishings inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright. The collection includes seating, tables, storage, lighting, rugs, artglass, glassware and dining room accessories.
Liquid Ate Her
The Liquid Ate Her (no, really that's the name of the company) offers several home design products (Design Your Own Home 3D Walkaround, Design Your Own Architecture, Design Your Own Landscape, Design Your Own Home Suite, etc.).
Live Interior 3D
Live Interior 3D is software for designing house, apartment, office and other interiors with a virtual walk-through. The program enables you to visualize your home or office layout in either 2D or 3D views. The program comes with 1000-plus 3D objects including brand name furniture and 50-plus editable interiors and 2D plans. The program integrates with Google 3D Warehouse and can import Google SketchUp objects. The app lets you switch between 2D and 3D modes to preview interiors. Objects can be added and edited in both modes.
Next week: part two
