Expert: Bill DeShawn - 12/29/2005

Question
hello i was wondering what was the best drawing package for for a tennager to use im 16 and doing my GCSES. in design and technology, resistant materials in school. i need to make a varity of things in 3d. and the 3d packages that i have at the moment are hard to use and are for architects. the features that the architects package has are great. but what i need is something that has all the same features that the architects package has but is easy to use. and has an instructions how to use the package to its maximum ability. could you please tell me what is the package for me to use, that comes with insturctions. and the package has to be free as i dont have a credit card. the package could also be a trial aswell.

Thank you
Yours sincerly

Amar Shafi  

Answer
Amar:
Like it or not, if you have ALL the same tools as architects, you are way ahead of all other architecture students who have nothing, so take advantage of it (even if the other students don't think it's fair).  You have an opportunity that few share.  I didn't get a CAD program until I was over 40.  Now I'm 58.  Take the time to learn the program as well as possible.  Don't look for the EASY way out.  If you do, you will be the loser.  REVIT is the best architectural package, Architectural Desktop is below that, but still good.  AutoCAD is OK, but you have to be a pretty good CAD programmer to get it working the way you want it for the way you will be drawing.  

    ADT comes with a method for pen settings, and graphical interface.  But it takes time to learn how to use it.  Get started now.  READ INTENSELY!  Ask a LOT of questions.  Read the articles in the following newsgroup:
news:\\discussion.autodesk.com
and download or view from GOOGLE GROUPS the newsgroups that are pertinent to your vocational goal.  Set your goal high!  It's GOOD to know a lot.  This is your time to build knowledge.  There are no shortcuts.  

There is ArchiCAD, but very few people use it by comparison to ADT and AutoCAD.  Autodesk software will have the lion's share of jobs available for a long time to come.  Learn ADT, and you will not be out of a job.  Learn REVIT for starting your own company and creating a better set of plans faster than anything else out there.  But YOU MUST LEARN!  So, TAKE THE TIME.

Keep in touch
Bill DeShawn
http://my.sterling.net/~bdeshawn