Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: Set Design Software

Author

Message

mark_j
Lead
Lead

Joined: 11/28/04
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 31

Topic: Set Design Software
Posted: 3/17/06 at 10:20am

I know this was asked before, but I can't find it. What is your favorite CAD software for designing sets?

I haven't found anything yet. I downloaded Blender and Open Stages, but haven't played with them enough to make them work. I'd like something cheap, simple, and useful. (Tall order, maybe.)

Anyone have any favorites?

IP Logged

75director
Celebrity

Joined: 8/19/05
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 122

Posted: 3/17/06 at 12:34pm

Oooo, I'd like to know about that too! Same requirements, cheap and simple to use. I know there's got to be a better way to design than the by-hand method I'm using now.

IP Logged

Thespian_4_ever
Lead
Lead

Joined: 9/16/05
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 43

Posted: 3/17/06 at 3:32pm

openstage works really well...

IP Logged

75director
Celebrity

Joined: 8/19/05
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 122

Posted: 3/17/06 at 7:13pm

Matt, who manufactures that program?

IP Logged

Chris Polo
Admin Group

Community Theater Green Room

Joined: 10/01/03
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 166

Posted: 3/18/06 at 8:58am

I use Punch Professional Home Design Suite Platinum.The price was definitely right -- I originally bought the Home Design Suite Professional at Sam's Club two or three years ago for 40 bucks, then upgraded to the new Platinum Suite last year for $20. The Platinum Suite online at their website retails at $99, which I wouldn't have paid, but you can find it on eBay for a LOT less. It's meant for designing houses, but works great for me for set design. I first built a model of our stage based on accurate measurements, and I use that as my base template every time. Then I add walls (i.e. flats), stairs, furniture, etc. The thing I like best about it is that it lets you do a 3D walkthrough of your design. That's really helpful in allowing you to see things like whether there will really be enough room between two pieces of furniture for an actor to walk through without being cramped. Our set builders really like the fact that I can provide them with both a plan that includes dimensions and an accurate 3D representation of what it's supposed to look like when built. Website is at http://www.punchsoftware.com .

Chris Polo
Visit Community Theater Green Room Originals at www.cafepress.com/ctgr
"The scenery in the play was beautiful, but the actors got in front of it." -- Alexander Woolcott

IP Logged

Gaafa
Celebrity

Joined: 3/21/04
Location: Australia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1181

Posted: 3/19/06 at 3:01am

I like that idea Chris!
Much better than using ?Excel?, as I?m far too old to be bothering with Cad drawings!
However on amdram.co.uk forum board. Dogsbody otherwise know as Graham, has developed a new set design software, which was developed & is being packaged through his CT Group.
www.turbocad.co.uk,
It looks like an ideal product designed for amateur applications, with ProAm in mind!
It may be worth while to have a look!

Joe
Western Gondawandaland
turn right @ Perth.
Hear the light & see the sound.
Toi Toi Toi Chookas {{"chook [chicken] it is"}
May you always play
to a full house}

IP Logged

Thespian_4_ever
Lead
Lead

Joined: 9/16/05
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 43

Posted: 5/30/06 at 10:25am

Here is the openstage link...

www.openstages.com

IP Logged

Gaafa
Celebrity

Joined: 3/21/04
Location: Australia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1181

Posted: 5/30/06 at 8:17pm

Joe
Western Gondawandaland
turn right @ Perth.
Hear the light & see the sound.
Toi Toi Toi Chookas {{"chook [chicken] it is"}
May you always play
to a full house}

IP Logged

bigtech
Walk-On
Walk-On

Joined: 8/15/06
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 0

Posted: 8/21/06 at 11:16am

I've gotten hooked on SketchUp. It's very simple to use, if you go through the video tutorial. More importantly, since Google bought the company it's now free-of-charge:

http://sketchup.google.com/

The trouble with doing something right the first time is that nobody appreciates how difficult it was.

IP Logged

eagle100
Walk-On
Walk-On

Joined: 10/25/06
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 0

Posted: 10/25/06 at 6:52am

I agree that Google Sketchup is a good program. And it's free for a period of time I think. It's easy to learn and use as well. I used it to design large set pieces and was able to do so getting quite accurate measurements of the items as well.

IP Logged

Set Design and Construction
Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board :Producing Theater :Set Design and Construction

Author	Message
mark_j Lead Joined: 11/28/04 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 31	Topic: Set Design Software Posted: 3/17/06 at 10:20am
	I know this was asked before, but I can't find it. What is your favorite CAD software for designing sets? I haven't found anything yet. I downloaded Blender and Open Stages, but haven't played with them enough to make them work. I'd like something cheap, simple, and useful. (Tall order, maybe.) Anyone have any favorites? mj

	IP Logged

75director Celebrity Joined: 8/19/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 122	Posted: 3/17/06 at 12:34pm
	Oooo, I'd like to know about that too! Same requirements, cheap and simple to use. I know there's got to be a better way to design than the by-hand method I'm using now.
	IP Logged

Thespian_4_ever Lead Joined: 9/16/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 43	Posted: 3/17/06 at 3:32pm
	openstage works really well...
	IP Logged

75director Celebrity Joined: 8/19/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 122	Posted: 3/17/06 at 7:13pm
	Matt, who manufactures that program?
	IP Logged

Chris Polo Admin Group Community Theater Green Room Joined: 10/01/03 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 166	Posted: 3/18/06 at 8:58am
	I use Punch Professional Home Design Suite Platinum.The price was definitely right -- I originally bought the Home Design Suite Professional at Sam's Club two or three years ago for 40 bucks, then upgraded to the new Platinum Suite last year for $20. The Platinum Suite online at their website retails at $99, which I wouldn't have paid, but you can find it on eBay for a LOT less. It's meant for designing houses, but works great for me for set design. I first built a model of our stage based on accurate measurements, and I use that as my base template every time. Then I add walls (i.e. flats), stairs, furniture, etc. The thing I like best about it is that it lets you do a 3D walkthrough of your design. That's really helpful in allowing you to see things like whether there will really be enough room between two pieces of furniture for an actor to walk through without being cramped. Our set builders really like the fact that I can provide them with both a plan that includes dimensions and an accurate 3D representation of what it's supposed to look like when built. Website is at http://www.punchsoftware.com .
	Chris Polo Visit Community Theater Green Room Originals at www.cafepress.com/ctgr "The scenery in the play was beautiful, but the actors got in front of it." -- Alexander Woolcott
	IP Logged

Gaafa Celebrity Joined: 3/21/04 Location: Australia Online Status: Offline Posts: 1181	Posted: 3/19/06 at 3:01am
	I like that idea Chris! Much better than using ?Excel?, as I?m far too old to be bothering with Cad drawings! However on amdram.co.uk forum board. Dogsbody otherwise know as Graham, has developed a new set design software, which was developed & is being packaged through his CT Group. www.turbocad.co.uk, It looks like an ideal product designed for amateur applications, with ProAm in mind! It may be worth while to have a look!
	Joe Western Gondawandaland turn right @ Perth. Hear the light & see the sound. Toi Toi Toi Chookas {{"chook [chicken] it is"} May you always play to a full house}
	IP Logged

Thespian_4_ever Lead Joined: 9/16/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 43	Posted: 5/30/06 at 10:25am
	Here is the openstage link... www.openstages.com
	IP Logged

Gaafa Celebrity Joined: 3/21/04 Location: Australia Online Status: Offline Posts: 1181	Posted: 5/30/06 at 8:17pm

	Joe Western Gondawandaland turn right @ Perth. Hear the light & see the sound. Toi Toi Toi Chookas {{"chook [chicken] it is"} May you always play to a full house}
	IP Logged

bigtech Walk-On Joined: 8/15/06 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 8/21/06 at 11:16am
	I've gotten hooked on SketchUp. It's very simple to use, if you go through the video tutorial. More importantly, since Google bought the company it's now free-of-charge: http://sketchup.google.com/
	The trouble with doing something right the first time is that nobody appreciates how difficult it was.
	IP Logged

eagle100 Walk-On Joined: 10/25/06 Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 10/25/06 at 6:52am
	I agree that Google Sketchup is a good program. And it's free for a period of time I think. It's easy to learn and use as well. I used it to design large set pieces and was able to do so getting quite accurate measurements of the items as well.
	IP Logged

Topic: Set Design Software( Topic Closed)
	Page of 2 Next >>