Expert: Bill DeShawn - 8/11/2011

Question
I'm looking at going into traffic sign design; I have brief experience of AutoCAD from "playing around" (learning) with it in university in 2006 (graduating in 2008), even though my course was computing and business systems. I did this in my spare time when I could.

I'm into automotive / roads and am what you would probably define as a "roadgeek" in American terms.

I managed to understand the basics of AutoCAD, using the books in my uni's library... however, I haven't done much for 4 years now due to getting a job in working on website projects.

I'm looking at getting into traffic sign design, using the software KeySIGN and its related software from KeyTRAFFIC
(http://www.keytraffic.com) - however, I'm worrying I can't afford to get the AutoCAD licence AND the software, so how can I afford it? I'm looking at trying to re-learn the AutoCAD again, and signing design in it [traffic signs].

Any changes to learn for the 2011 version, and any general advice on AutoCAD [including affording it] for the private buyer?

Answer
AutoCAD is a great program.  As a beginner, you might want to try using AutoCAD LT.  It's less expensive and most beginners don't know enough about customization to make it worth their while in the beginning to buy the full version.  But with LT, you can get familiar with all the core commands and get comfortable with them so that you can use AutoCAD in any setting and  be productive with it.  Later on, when you want to customize commands and speed things up, and you've got a decent flow of income going for you, you can upgrade to the full version, and then you can find new ways to speed things up for yourself.  There are a lot of new changes between 2006 and 2011.  Many of the changes, including annotative text and dimensions, I have not used in my work.  There is a new tool called a ribbon now, too.  I'm not as comfortable with that as I am the old menu bar, so I don't use it, but I recommend that you do, because it may be a productivity booster and AutoCAD comes with it displaying by default, and many people at many companies don't know how to change those defaults.
Good luck to you.

Bill DeShawn
http://my.sterling.net/~bdeshawn