3D to 2D OR start with 2D?

Hello all,

a general question I asked some of old Autocad users;

If I have a two floors building and I need sevral 2D draws of horisontal sections, one for each floor, and draws of several vertical sections, and draws of sevral sides of the buildng; what is the best way to go? should I start with a 3D and then use sections and elevations on paper models or is it better to draw directly the 2Ds I want? If I start with a 3D, then where is best to draw the dimensions?

Thanks.

In my opinion 3D would be the way to go. Do you have any experience with 3D?

ReMark is right. Start with 3D and grab all of the 2D views you need from it.

The correct answer to this question will depend on what you're really trying to present with your finished drawings. I work in the architectural world and if your looking for some floor plans and wall sections then 2D is really all you will need. If on the other hand you're looking to present more to the viewer then 3D maybe the best for you.

What you will find in working with 3D is that it's not a simple matter of just giving depth to a 2D drawing, like a floor plan. You will end up with all kinds of lines showing up on your sections and you'll also end up working twice as hard to get just the details you want in the viewports.

The first question you will want to answer is what do you really need to show in your drawing. And then, and most important is how much experience do you have with AutoCAD and 3D drawing.

Thanks for your answers.

I am experienced with the 3D, and also with the 2D (not an expert; but I can do what I need).

I mainly need floor plans and some sections. Yet, I want to show also the 3D model to the customer to help him understand better the expected result.

In this case looks like Autocad should have a way to start with 3D and then extrat the 2Ds. However, most of the experienced Autocad users draw only the 2Ds and do not use 3D at all; this looks to me an easier way to go but not sure Autocad can support it all the way.

Please share with me your experience and list some guidelines.

Some of the 3D you create may have its basis in 2D. Walls can be done using the Polysolid command if you desire.

I'm "old school". I do the 2D then extrude (union and subtract), loft, press-pull or sweep as the object requires.

As someone who works in the architectural world I can say again that simply taking your floor plans and giving them depth will not be the best way to present your 3D drawings. I would recommend that you get a very clean floor plan first. The more objects, like notes, leaders, dimension, etc...that you have on a 2D floor plan that you're going to turn into 3D will appear funny and obscure when you begin to rotate your 3D objects.

I do lots of 3D stuff these days and I always find it best to start in a clean environment. But your circumstances may be different. This type of presentation and modeling work is an artform and each person will want and need different things from it. And you can start extruding, lofting, slicing and subtracting and uniting objects in a 2D floor plan to make your ideas clearer to the readers. As you begin to work more in this I think what I'm conveying will become clearer.

Hi Bill Tillman,

I agree that you shoul do a clean 3D and on your 2Ds (e.g. floor plans) add you other required details (e.g. notes and dimensions).

Can you share with me one simple 3D draw that you have used for creating 2D drawings? I believe you are using the "Document/Sections and Elevations" in order to draw your 2D fronts and floor plans.