Free/Low Cost CAD Programs

[soundlight]

I'm looking for the best free CAD program/download out there for doing templates for lighting for my auditorium, as well as make up some basic "blueprints" for the auditorium, because the original ones were lost. The drama teacher and the principal spent a few hours looking through the records room, but they found nothing.

I've got this one right now: CadStd Lite

Anyone found any trial editions/free downloads that are pretty good for basic CAD design? I would like it to have a relatively easy learning curve, if possible...

As I will be going to college in tech theater next year (I got in to Bucknell!!!!), I would like to also find a low-price CAD program (with lighting/theater emphasis) that has native DXF Format to purchase for college.

[Radman]

Well at AcademicSuperstore.com, you can get VectorWorks or AutoCAD for $160-ish. Maybe that's within your price range. Student discounts are insane like that sometimes.

[soundlight]

That'll probably work when I get to college and the parents decide that I need it, but for now, I'm stuck with the free stuff.

[len]

There's a program called Microlux which does a few of the things you might be interested in. The free version is called lite.

[moojoe]

just so your aware for future when you will make a purchase, WYSIWYG is like $115 for the report version with your student discount.

[MircleWorker]

Graphisoft ArchiCAD is a good program it is fairly cheap from Academic Superstore. http://www.academicsuperstore.com/quick_search.html?qks=1&qks=1&qk_srch=ArchiCAD

[dvsDave]

The learning curve is going to mostly be affected by the amount of time you have to play with the software, your aptitude for learning new software, and the quality of the training materials (built in help menu, third-party book, etc)

I would recommend finding a textbook for learning CAD. If you can swing AutoCAD with an academic discount, the textbooks for AutoCad simply are the highest quality of any that I've seen. You may also want to contact Bucknell and see what they use... that should simplify your decision

[soundlight]

Bucknell runs VectorWorks and AutoCAD, as far as I know, and they have a specific CAD lab just for theater students working on projects.

[Footer]

most schools have a "cad lab" that is used for both hand drafting (yes you will have to do it) and CAD, and sometimes is used as a design lab as well.... but haveing CAD on your computer is a really good idea so you can work in your room and in whatever space you are in...

[soundlight]

Yeah. The lab is the Theater Design Lab, and it has computers for CAD drafting and sound editing and drafting tables for hand drafting. Ironically, I find a certain satisfaction in had drafting. I've got a whole bunch of cheap plastic drafting tools, but they work, and that's what I've been doing my light plots on.