AutoCad 2014 Mac version

[StevieB]

We currently use VectorWorks and for a number of reasons we are looking at Acad for the Mac.

 

I am unsure about the rendering quality and would be grateful for some advice. I am a bit confused as to whether it uses mentalray or not?

 

Thanks

[tzframpton]

Not sure, but I'm going to assume not. Here's why I think that: http://www.autodesk.com/products/autodesk-autocad/compare/compare-platforms

 

If you look at the comparison columns, under the "Design" category notice the Mac stops right after basic rendering. AutoCAD's advance render settings directly manipulates the settings that Mental Ray uses. Even AutoCAD for the Windows Platform has a "stripped down" version of Mental Ray to begin with, so this is why I am going to assume that the Mac platform version does not have the rendering engine integrated into the native software application.

 

Have you tried to see if the Mac version has a 30-day trial period to give it a test drive? Also, what about using the Windows based version using Bootcamp (or whatever the equivalent is nowadays)?

[f700es]

It seems to be in there...

 

http://www.deskeng.com/de/review-autocad-2011-for-mac/

 

Was hard to find.

[tzframpton]

Good find... guess it is in there, but sure is confusing with all the advanced items missing.

[StevieB]

I have seen two or three articles that seem to suggest that mentalray is packaged with it. Unfortunately we cannot use bootcamp, parallels etc.

 

I have downloaded a copy but the majority of tutorials are for the Windows version and there is very little available on rendering and nothing so far that shows me anything other than a very basic render.

 

I will just have to keep fighting my way through it to see what is available. Is there and easy way to contact AutoDesk?

 

thanks for the replies

[tzframpton]

Try enabling Sun Properties, or add a Photometric Light. When photometrics is enabled, this is where the Mental Ray engine kicks in.

 

Not many native Mac users here, and even less that do photo realistic rendering using AutoCAD for Mac so all my/our suggestions are faint at best.

[StevieB]

Thank you. There is not a huge amount of choice for the Mac at the moment. We may have to stick with VectorWorks (VW) for now (which we do not want to do). We did look at ArchiCad but once again its owned by the same company as VW so there is not a lot of gain in moving in that direction. If I can render to a decent quality with ACad on the Mac then its a contender so I will have to try and adapt some of the windows tutorials to learn.

 

thanks again

[f700es]

I would look here....

 

http://forums.autodesk.com/t5/AutoCAD-for-Mac/ct-p/3011

 

Might be able to help you some.

[StevieB]

thank you for the reply I will go and take a look

[f700es]

I hate to send you some where else but not many ACAD for Mac users here

 

I've seen some nice rendered images from the mac version so it must be possible.

[StevieB]

You never know they may go for the scrap all the macs and replace them with pcs option. If hell does freeze over and they do that then I can come back here

[f700es]

If I can ask, why are you a mac only shop? Was there some particular reason or piece of software that was the deciding factor?

[StevieB]

We are a University in the UK and are generally Mac based. There is some 'wiggle room' for PCs and an upper limit on the number of computers in total. Unfortunately someone else stole the wiggle room and we have hit the total (they use Revit after recently changing from ACad). We have heaps of brand new Macs at which point someone says 'can we move over to ACad?' and I have to answer the question. The answer unfortunately at the moment is 'maybe not' based on the fact that the students will download the free version and invariably they have laptops/pcs which means a confusing mess when the try to switch back to the mac version. Add in the render issue (still not resolved until I can learn what is and is not possible) and we may have to stick where we are for a while until the mac version matures more.

[tzframpton]

That does sound like a mess. Students are better off sitting in the Revit classes anyways, since that's the future tool for the architecture, engineering and construction. It's a better, longer lasting career option for a graduating student who has Revit knowledge rather than AutoCAD, especially the incomplete version of AutoCAD for Mac.

[f700es]

Yeah, no Revit (or Building Design Suite) on Macs Not a wise idea imho. You're not preparing the students for the highest percentile of employment opportunities. Which will be with firms using Revit (Building Design Suite).

 

Well I'd go PC based AutoCAD education over VectorWorks, ArchiCAD, PowerCADD or any of the other mac based CAD systems. Mac have less than 10% market share remember.

[StevieB]

I have to agree. VW has been pretty good for a while and on the Mac its a good fit with the Windows version being almost identical. Jobs are typically (on my non scientific search) 2:1 in favour of AutoCAD over VW. Given a clean sheet of paper, which I don't have, then its Revit but life is never that easy

[f700es]

I have to agree. VW has been pretty good for a while and on the Mac its a good fit with the Windows version being almost identical. Jobs are typically (on my non scientific search) 2:1 in favour of AutoCAD over VW. Given a clean sheet of paper, which I don't have, then its Revit but life is never that easy

 

I understand, "gotta go with what you got" as they over here in the States Good luck and please stick around if you like. We are always open to new people

[austinr01]

If you want to cad for the Max, you can refer this site: http://www.video-tutorials.net/vtnet/product-category/autocad-video-tutorials/. It is a good cad software tutorial in Canada and provides high quality video tutorial training, super-competitive pricing, flexibility in designing training packages for institutions, and excellent, responsive customer service. Because i have been referring this site since 1 year.

 

Hope this information help for you!........ Have a great day