The object of this series of classes is to give you an opportunity to build on the skills that you learned while completing the courses 'Prepare Computer Assisted Drawings CAD 1' and 'Produce Computer Assisted Drawings (B) - 3-D Advanced]'. In contrast to those earlier courses, where we aimed to give you the confidence to produce (mostly) 2-D plans to show to clients, here we aim to give you the opportunity of experimenting with a wide variety of software tools. We will give you some experince in including 3-D representations in your presentation to clients and designing and experience with different software presentation tools. We will cover:

• Using IntelliCAD and AutoCAD to extrude 2-D geometry to create 3-D geometry.
• Introducing methods for adding to and editing 3-D wire frame models. (3DCAD1)
• Solid modelling and rendering 3-D wire frame models.
• Using SketchUp to create designs entirely in a 3-D environment.
• Using Illustrator, Photoshop and Gimp to present complex design ideas drawn from a variety of CAD software tools.

We will use AutoCAD, MicroStation, Illustrator, IntelliCAD, Google SketchUp, VariCAD, Indigo, Podium,Gimp, Microsoft Access and Microsoft Excel.

On completion of the course, you will have gained an appreciation of the various methods which can be used to convey design ideas to clients and be able to form an opinion as to those you wish to use. Further study modules on the tools discussed will be available on this site.