Latest News

Press Release: Vectorworks Cloud Services Provides Added Computing Power and Design Freedom Apr 2, 2012

New offering to be available exclusively to Vectorworks Service Select members



COLUMBIA, Md. (April 2, 2012) – Nemetschek Vectorworks, Inc. today announced the launch of Vectorworks® Cloud Services, which will provide greater convenience, collaboration, and freedom for users to access their designs from any location, at any time. Vectorworks Cloud Services will be available exclusively for members of the company’s software subscription program, Vectorworks Service Select.

This initial offering will allow users of Vectorworks software to access and share files and make design decisions from any location. Changes to users’ Vectorworks files will be automatically synchronized to their private cloud storage, allowing them to browse, annotate and share their designs from web-enabled devices using the Vectorworks Nomad mobile application.

Vectorworks Cloud Services saves time by freeing up desktop computing power. Creating client presentations with desktop-design software often requires a significant amount of user investment to coordinate, monitor, and wait while resources consume the desktop CPU. Vectorworks Cloud Services provides a cloud-based workflow, shifting calculations needed to generate sections, elevations, renderings, and Building Information Modeling (BIM) data from the desktop to the cloud.

"The cloud offers important benefits in efficiency and collaboration to the design workflow, enhancing the value that Vectorworks products already offer on the desktop,” said Sean Flaherty, CEO of Nemetschek Vectorworks. “Vectorworks Cloud Services will provide the freedom and flexibility designers need to successfully meet the challenges of working in today’s mobile world. In particular, the ability to perform calculations in the cloud will be a significant advantage to our users.”

Vectorworks Cloud Services is initially available as a free trial until April 30, 2012 to Vectorworks Service Select members in the U.S. and Canada, and will be available to customers in other countries where Vectorworks Service Select is offered later this year. To learn more, please visit www.vectorworks.net/cloudservices

Recent News

News story archives and other updates.

• Job Posting- Latady Design- Lexington, MA Dec 13, 2011
• Vectorworks is Coming to Boston for a Test Drive Event - Nov. 2 & 3 Oct 1, 2011
• The Vectorworks 2012 Product Line Offers Increased Efficiency and Productivity Sep 13, 2011
• Vectorworks 2012 to be released Sept. 13 Sep 1, 2011
• Job Posting- Dingman Allison Architects- Cambridge, MA Jan 26, 2011
• Review: Remarkable Renderworks: An Introduction to the Basic by Daniel Jansenson Sep 16, 2010
• Review: 3D Modeling in Vectorworks by Jonathan Pickup Sep 15, 2010
• Vectorworks 2011 has arrived! Sep 14, 2010
• Vectorworks 2011 delivers! Sep 14, 2010
• Vectorworks 2011 Coming September 14 Sep 9, 2010
• Vectorworks 2011 Coming September 14 Sep 7, 2010
• Vectorworks 2011 Coming September 14 Sep 3, 2010
• Vectorworks 2011 Coming September 14 Sep 1, 2010
• New User Group Website Apr 20, 2010

Upcoming Meetings

Meetings are typically held on the first Wednesday of the month. Keep an eye on the schedule here for upcoming topics and other events.

Past Meetings

We will keep a back log of previous meetings in an effort to provide meeting notes or other interesting info given out at the meeting.

• September 2, 2009
  

  Brian Hores presented "The Power of Polygons"- The manipulation of 2D objects by adding and clipping surfaces, adding and subtracting polygonal vertices with bezier, cubic spline, and fillet conversion tools was explained. Polygons were extruded for quick 3D massing models or converted to BIM architectural, landscape, and engineering objects.

• October 26, 2009
  

  Brian Hores & David Caruso discussed online tutorial and technical-support resources, third-party add-ons, and social-networking opportunities to enhance collaboration and communication.

• November 4, 2009
  

  Brian Hores presented "3D Modeling 101"- The use of 3D primitives to create cubes, cylinders, spheres and cones and how to use multiple extrusion techniques to create 3D volumes was demonstrated. More complex models were built through add, subtract, intersect and section solids. 3D PowerPac tools and NURBS to create complex loft and free form surfaces were introduced.

• December 2, 2009
  

  Joe Artley presented "Quick Design and Modeling with Vectorworks: A Residential Case-Study"- The process of site layout and modeling, existing conditions building plan and model with a schematic presentation were covered.

• January 6, 2010
  

  Paul Humphreys presented "Fine Tuning the Look of Your BIM Model"- Part Line Styles to fine tune 2D plan views of doors and windows and Class Styles to control the look of a rendered model were demonstrated.

• February 3, 2010
  

  A Vectorworks Webinar video "From Lines to Models" was presented with a discussion about workflow and tools involved in basic BIM modeling with Vectorworks.

• March 3, 2010
  

  Wes Gardner of NNA presented "BIM in Perspective"- A 'big-picture' presentation about building information modeling (BIM) and its historical and technological precedents. How BIM differs from CAD, how BIM affects the design and construction team, and the implications of BIM for the design and construction process were explained. The presentation was followed by "What's New in Vectorworks 2010".

• April 7, 2010
  

  Brian Hores presented "Getting the 'I' out of BIM"- The difference between spreadsheets and database worksheets was explained. The use of built-in reports to generate schedules and quantity take-offs. Custom records linked to objects and symbols and filters and criteria to create custom worksheets that report specific information were shown.

• May 5, 2010
  

  Brian Hores and David Caruso presented "Working with PDFs"- Discussed importing and exporting Vectorworks documents to PDFs. Presented functions that can be preformed with PDFs through the combination, extraction, and compression of PDF pages outside of Vectorworks.

• June 2, 2010
  

  David Berner presented "A Case Study Presentation: Exploring Sketch Up and Sketch Styles"- A demonstration on how to export Vectorworks drawings and import AutoCAD files into Sketchup to use as a base for a massing model and utilize Sketch Up to create quick conceptual massing models with applied material textures. Qualities of Sketch Styles in Vectorworks for different presentation uses and audiences were compared and evaluated along with the creation of custom Sketch Styles for producing unique modes of presentation.

• September 1, 2010
  

  Sean Stewart presented “A Case Study: 3D Instructional Lessons from Wentworth's Interior Design Program”- Fundamental 3D modelling techniques and tools to produce preliminary study models and the application and modification of textures on 3D models were discussed along with a range of rendering styles and the utilization of 3D visualization tools to create building sections and section perspectives.

• October 6, 2010
  

  Brian Hores will present "A Case Study: Combining Hand Drawing and Computer Modeling for Conceptual Design" Learn how to import hand drawn sketches to be combined with orthographic drawings. Create scanned sketch symbols and patterns for use in rendered presentation drawings. Create massing models to be used with entourage colored marker rendering techniques. Use Vectorworks paper space and viewports to create presentation boards and project plates.

• November 3, 2010
  

  Chas Norton from WGBH presented “Cross Country and Cross Platform Communication” between clients, producers, and engineers to stage television productions. Demonstrated how PDF scans and DWG files of existing conditions were used as a base for laying out venues for television productions. Applied Spotlight tools to design truss structures for lighting, video, and audio. Exported DWG files to review equipment loading with structural engineers and for production managers for determining camera angles. Used modeling tools to coordinate the stacking and packing of equipment for cross-country transport.

• December 1, 2010
  

  Brian Hores shared "Reasons to Celebrate 2011" showing how 3D is as easy as 2D with Vectorworks 2011. The Push-Pull tool allows for interactive modeling like SketchUp. Planar graphics text and dimensions can be applied to any surface in any 3D orientation. Planar objects can be extracted to apply hatches and tile fill patterns. Tile Fills are much easier to create and manage vs hatches.

• January 5, 2011
  

  Brian Hores presented "Hybrid Symbols". Symbols that have both 2D Plan and 3D Model components. Graphic attributes can be applied to 2D components. Textures can be applied to 3D components. Parametric plug-in objects and resource symbols are hybrid objects.

• February 2, 2011
  

  CANCELED DUE TO WEATHER

• March 2, 2011
  

  Jim Woodward, exhibit and lighting designer with his company Exhibit Logic and expert Vectorworks trainer, will present "Strategies and Techniques for Enhanced 3D Modeling in VW2011". Presenting principles and strategies for 2D / 3D integration in VW2011. Creating and mapping textures in VW2011 Renderworks. Demonstrating 3D tools for effective solids modeling. Utilizing advanced lighting techniques for illuminating 3D models.

• April 6, 2011
  

  Paul Humphreys will present "Starting your Project Right with Templates" Templates are an ideal way to start a new project and create a standard setup between projects. VectorWorks comes with predefined templates that can be customized. The proper organization of classes, layers, and sheets saves time and creates consistency. Plug-in objects and symbols can be auto-classed keep drawings organized.

• May 4, 2011
  

  Brian Hores will present "Online Resources". Where to go when you have a question. Resources and online training to improve your Vectorworks skills. Resources for Plug-ins, textures, and customization to improve performance and productivity.

• June 1, 2011
  

  "Show-and-Tell"- Committee members present a variety of uses for Vectorworks from their personal projects. Meetings are free and open to all. Dinner will be provided to those who RSVP by May 31 to rsvp@architects.org with “VWUG 6/1” in the subject line. This will be our last meeting before we break for summer; we resume regular meetings in the fall.

• September 7, 2011
  

  "Graphic Design with Vectorworks"- Tom Parks and Brian Hores will share examples of Vectorworks as graphic design tool. Presentation boards, project plates, business cards, and banners can be created. Gradients, image fills, and tile patterns can be used to enliven 2D plans, elevations, and presentations. A wide range of color pallets both paint and pantone colors can be used to for architectural studies and graphic publications. Custom office standard color pallets can be developed. Members are encouraged to bring in samples to share.

• October 5, 2011
  

  Joe Artley will share “Presenting Options to the Client” - 2D and 3D presentations of window and siding alternates can be controlled with layers and classes. Interior and exterior 3D views can be set up with the 3D View tool and manipulated with the Walk Through and Flyover tools to present realistic rendered scenarios to the client.

• November 2, 2011
  

  Vectorworks 2012 has arrived and they are sending their experts to show us what is new. Learn about the improved functionality and efficient features and tools. Cast your votes for what you would like to see presented. Select the features you would like to see covered during registration and you will be helping to create the agenda for the meeting. Experience the innovations and advancements to help save time and increase productivity. Seating is limited. Click here to register: Vectorworks 2012 User Group Tour. A hands-on Test Drive event will be offered Wednesday and Thursday mornings and afternoons. See Latest News

• December 7, 2011
  

  “GIS-Geographic Information System”- BAC landscape architecture graduate student Terence Duffy will offer a presentation of current work illustrating the use of GIS in landscape design. Drawing upon work that he is currently doing for the Brook Farm Gateway Project, Terry will illustrate how data accessible through GIS can be a powerful resource and tool for designers. His presentation will demonstrate how MassGIS can be used to access shapefiles and the data that is associated with them, and how shapefiles can be imported and manipulated in the design process.

• January 4, 2012
  

  "2012 at the new BSA |SPACE|" Our meeting location has changed to the new BSA building at 290 Congress St., Boston- We'll explore the new space and discuss topics for the new year as well as look at users' favorite features in the Vectorworks 2012 update.

• February 1, 2012
  

  "Digital Terrain Modeling (DTM)"-Eric Gilbey, RLA, Landscape Industry Product Specialist at Nemetschek Vectorworks, Inc., shows how DTM is a powerful site analysis tool, which assists with the site design process. The presentation covered how use the information a surveyor can provide to create a site model, to discover how to build a model and analyze sites, to examine how to use basic site modifiers to set designs into models, and to create sections and understand cut and fill.

• March 7, 2012
  

  "Stories & Story-Bounded Objects: A new and easy BIM organizational scheme"- Don Ward Vectorworks lead trainer will present: The powerful new additions and BIM capabilities in Vectorworks Architect 2012. Learn how to leverage these capabilities to organize BIM files and share files with others. Understand how editing story elevations updates all linked design layers and objects. Learn how walls, columns, slabs, and stairs respond to elevation changes when “bound” to Story Layers

• April 4, 2012
  

  “Exterior Rendering Techniques” - Brian Hores will share methods for setting camera views and lighting for exterior renderings; creating and applying textures to the architecture and landscape; creating and adding entourage image props for the final rendered scene; utilizing and customizing rendering styles that can be saved as a resource for consistent rendering results.

• May 2, 2012
  

  “Event Planning with Spotlight”- Brian Hores will look at the Spotlight module of Vectorworks and illustrate how Event Planning tools can be used to quickly develop an event with stage, podium, and video/LED screens. Soft Goods tools for creating drapery and trusses with lighting and audio speakers will complete the venue.