3d applications to use alongside AD

[marksthompson]

Is anyone using a 3d drawing package alongside AD?  I am looking for an inexpensive package that will allow me to export a vector AD drawing and then redraw into 3d and then pass a 2D orientation back to AD.   Any suggestions?  I am working on non regular building designs that do not work (for me) using isometrics.

[verysame]

Try Blender 3D. You can export SVG files from AD to Blender, extrude the SVG, add lighting, textures, etc.

You can even export an SVG from Blender.

[Paul Mc]

I would second Blender. I've been using it successfully for several months with AD (and AP for texture work). The reverse path is possible but a little quirky depending on your needs. The LANPR development looks promising though so it might be worth checking for the Graphicall builds for releases.

[marksthompson]

verysame, Paul Mc - thanks for suggestion, I will have a look at it.  I have been playing with Sketchup-free but so far I am not liking it. I am sure the paid version will have better functionality but I will check other options first.

[Efvee]

I am using Blender. When exporting SVG from Designer however I cannot seem to get the units to coordinate. I guess some scaling will have to do. (scaling to 1.25 seems to be the right amount. :)

[telemax]

To export SVG to Blender, with the correct 1:1 units, your document must be at 90 dpi.

[Alfred]

3 minutes ago, telemax said:

To export SVG to Blender, with the correct 1:1 units, your document must be at 90 dpi.

Can you confirm that the correct value is 90, not 96? (I seem to remember that Inkscape used to require 90 dpi, but they changed it to 96. I have no idea where the value 90 comes from.)

[telemax]

Yes, I confirm that it is 90.