Help! autoCAD 2D floor plans to 3D model

Hi. I have 2D floor plans (front elevation, side elevation, plan) in
..dwg format that I need to convert to a 3D model. As I am not at all
familiar with CAD, can you advise on how difficult it will be to
convert to a 3D model? Is it a few clicks away? Or is it weeks of
teeth-grindingly difficult work? Thanks, Geoff.

 

For a newbie, closer to the latter. (Much depends on the level of detail. I
assume you want a "nice" model.)

 

There's no way to 'convert' a 2D drawing into a 3D drawing.
The representation must be redrawn using software that can
create the metadata required for a 3D model, that metadata is
not present in a 2D file, hence, no 'conversion' in the sense I
suspect you are hoping to find.

I suggest you try using 3D Home Architect [1] as I know from
experience using 3D Home Architect 'Project Trace' is a
work-around that is fast, inexpensive and incredibly easy to learn
compared to 'CAD' software. Its really nothing more than pushing
a few buttons and dragging and dropping stuff like windows and
doors.

--
<%= Clinton Gallagher, "Twice the Results -- Half the Cost"
Architectural & e-Business Consulting -- Software Development
NET
URL http://www.metromilwaukee.com/clintongallagher/

[1] http://www.broderbund.com/ProductGroup.asp?CID=467

 

Check out Plantracer from Csoft. It takes 2D raster or vector floor plans
and converts directly to 3D models. Versions for AutoCAD and AutoCAD ADT

check www.csoft.com

 

email the drawings to me and I'll see what I can do in half an hour,
If you want high quality stuff for television, I can do that to, but
It will cost. I run Three Point Productions , an architectural
modeling company in York. You can have look at our images, just search
for "three point productions york" on google and we should be at the
top of the list.

 

I suggest you SketchUp 3D: http://www.sketch3d.com
N.

 

SketchUp *is* amazing but remains expensive and only comes into
its own for mass, site, and sun studies. For the intended purpose
expressed by the OP -- reading between the lines -- 3D Home
Architect will prove to be the best choice -- still -- it would be helpful
if the person who made the OP explained himself.

--
<%= Clinton Gallagher, "Twice the Results -- Half the Cost"
Architectural & e-Business Consulting -- Software Development
NET
URL http://www.metromilwaukee.com/clintongallagher/

 

Thanks Michael, Clinton, Norbert, Kevin and blackpikex. All very
helpful advice.

Sorry I didn't respond sooner, but I expected to be emailed when a
post response comes up in Google. Didn't get one. Probably my fault.
(Maybe my next posting should be Help! Need advice on keeping up to
date with Google blog!)

Well, first up, the 2D to 3D drawing is for a personal project. Not
BBC. So sorry blackpikex, no money to be made I'm afraid!

Clinton, Michael, Norbert and Kevin. Thanks for the advice. In
response:

1. I want the 3D model to look very good. The model is to put on a
web site promoting a future villa. I do of course know my very
limited limitations in not working with 3D apps (though I know how to
draw isometric projections of plan and front elevation by hand), so
I'm going for a nice looking rough at worst, to a well rendered
accurate model at best. Somewhere in between. Quickly!

2. I have a trial of AutoCAD, and you're right, Clinton, my 2D
doesn't convert to 3D. The drawings I have are in .dwg format. When
I try to convert to isometric it just puts the flat drawing at an
angle!
I have an example from a tutorial on AutoCAD that converts 2D to
isomtric with one click (convert to SE Isometric). But I think that
is because it has the metadata you mentioned. Is metadata difficult
to add?

3. Looks like 3D Home Architect may be the answer to my prayers. I'm
on a ridiculously tight budget. Is there a trial of the application
out there? Or a trial of Sketchup 3D, perhaps?

NB: I will respond to posts a lot quicker, now. Apologies for not
doing so before. And just to say again, thank you very much for your
help. It is greatly appreciated.

 

Sketchup is quite easy to learn but I have never seen anything better than
fairly simple massing models done on it. I don't think it's capable of near
photo-realism.

 

Hi Kevin,

I am looking into using Plantracer. Looks like it could be a
solution. I've downloaded the trial and will give it a try.

Thanks for the lead. Will let you know how I get on.

Cheers,

Geoff.

 

Hello Geoff,

Almost lost your thread as it got posted out of order last week.
As I've been saying, buy 3D Home Architect [1] as its exactly what
you need. Don't worry about ease of use. As I said, this program is
all drag and drop and push-buttons with no confusing jargon.

The software is so inexpensive I don't think they provide a demo
for 3D Home Architect but you can evaluate the professional
version Chief Architect [1] and make sure you visit the Chief
Architect gallery as 3D Home Architect will produce the same
3D renderings as Chief Architect.

I was a reseller of Chief Architect when the product was released
on 'Day One' and the vendor ART Inc. licensed 3D Home Architect
to Broderbund. They are both the same product. One sold retail
to folks like you and the other to home builders and remodelers
that do not need the power or complexity of AutoCAD.

Don't forget to send me a URL where I can take a look at your
results.

--
<%= Clinton Gallagher, "Twice the Results -- Half the Cost"
Architectural & e-Business Consulting -- Software Development
NET
URL http://www.metromilwaukee.com/clintongallagher/


[1] http://www.broderbund.com/ProductGroup.asp?CID=467
[2] http://chiefarchitect.com/