| CAD drafting software is used mainly for creating | | | | 3D and 2D. The newest version (2007) is ArchiCAD 11. |
| architectural designs or blueprints. Some of the | | | | CHIEF ARCHITECT |
| available software in the market, allow users to mark | | | | Specially designed for residential design professionals, it |
| different components of a design with different color | | | | makes easier to visualize design ideas. Architectural |
| variations. Some of the most advanced CAD drafting | | | | drafting software commonly used by professional |
| software available can support a million color variations. | | | | designers, builders and architects. Available in |
| CAD drafting software programs use different types | | | | integrated 2D and 3D package. |
| of color numbering systems such as RGB (red, green, | | | | MicroStation |
| blue) and HSL (hue-saturation-luminance). | | | | Originally developed by Intergraph, It’s widely used |
| The availability of different CAD drafting software has | | | | among architects, contractors, GIS professionals and |
| helped in eliminating the need for manual design | | | | engineers to work on buildings and other projects. |
| drafting. Complex machines and architectural | | | | DATACAD |
| structures can now be drawn and designed easily. | | | | DATACAD is a comprehensive CADD package, |
| Let’s take a look at some of the most popular | | | | which includes a number of automated features for |
| CAD software: | | | | architects. The only software endorsed by the |
| ARCHICAD | | | | American Institute of Architects. |
| ArchiCAD is architectural CAD software for | | | | SolidWorks |
| developed by Graphisoft. It is easy to use software | | | | SolidWorks is a 3D mechanical CAD program |
| popular amongst architects and designers. ArchiCAD | | | | developed by SolidWorks Corporation. SolidWorks is |
| automatically generates all required 2D and 3D output | | | | used by mechanical engineers and designers. |
| from a single file. Users work and edit directly in both | | | | |