Three-Dimensional Depictions

Draw Three-Dimensional Depictions and Perspective Drawings

Draw a bolt with WildTools 3D

Almost everyone has the notion that a 2D/3D program must be better than a 2D program. And many companies produce integrated 2D/3D products that on the surface appear to be all things to all people. But, as with all integrated products, there are trade-offs and compromises.

Rotations with WildTools 3D

There are several problems with integrated 2D/3D programs.

First, the additional 3D features create a complex and cluttered program. Look at any competent 3D modeling program, and you can quickly see that they are complex and difficult programs. Simply creating a 3D image is too complex a process for most people. What users love about PowerCADD is the simplicity and ease-of-use, and that would be lost if the PowerCADD were an integrated 2D/3D program.

Springs with WildTools 3D

Second, no company has yet produced a program that is good at both 2D and 3D. The 3D capabilities of all integrated 2D/3D programs are distinctly inferior to stand-alone solid modeling programs.

Extrude floor plans with WildTools 3D

Third, users who have integrated 2D/3D programs find that, in actual use, they only use the 3D capabilities about 5% of the time. Said another way, they spend 95% of their time drawing in 2D--as in PowerCADD.

Thus PowerCADD is a 2D program so that you can be productive with your 2D drawings.

For complex 3D designs and solid modeling, you'll want to use a 3D application, and PowerCADD can communicate with these programs through DXF, AutoDesk's standard exchange format, giving you the best of both worlds.

Deck rail assembly drawn with WildTools 3D

However, you can do amazing things with perspective, isometric and axonometric drawing in PowerCADD, which includes some 3D tools for 2-point perspectives and an isometric shear for creating isometic drawings. And with WildTools 3D, you can draw stunning 3D depictions and effects that no dedicated 3D program can match.

WildTools is an extra-cost add-on to PowerCADD. The features described for WildTools are only available if you purchase WildTools in addition to PowerCADD.

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