[srwatkins]

Does anyone know where I can get some good log home design software for Mac? I don't want auto cad; too expensive and I am just a beginner.

thanks

Stuart

[smax013]

srwatkins, on 30 October 2012 - 05:24 PM, said:

Does anyone know where I can get some good log home design software for Mac? I don't want auto cad; too expensive and I am just a beginner.

thanks

Stuart

What are you considering as "log home design software"? Are you talking about just a basic floor plan layout program? Or do you want to do floor plans and elevations? Or do you want something that does both of those as well as full blown technical details?

The last may not really exist...and even if it does, more than likely it is Windows only. As a structural engineer, I have found that most "specialty" design (and analysis) programs do not exist on the Mac...you have to run them in Windows (which can still be on the Mac by using Bootcamp or Parallels/Fusion).

You might be able to find some "basic" home design programs that will allow you to log home elevations, but they likely will not have technical details of log home construction. For technical details of log home construction, you likely will have to essentially make them yourself or use "standard details" from various sources that are drawn in AutoCAD.

As a parallel, I have worked with timber framed homes. To my knowledge, there is no such things a "timber frame home design software" program. Rather you have to adapt more general design programs for use with that "specialty".

[srwatkins]

Thanks for your reply.

I am looking at something called, "Chief Architect." I sent the manufacturer an email and they said that you could add logs to the design once you have it made.

In answer to all of your other questions, I do want something beyond just floor plans. I don't like Windows or parallel which I have used. I am a Mac guy....

Stuart

[smax013]

srwatkins, on 31 October 2012 - 05:11 PM, said:

Thanks for your reply.

I am looking at something called, "Chief Architect." I sent the manufacturer an email and they said that you could add logs to the design once you have it made.

In answer to all of your other questions, I do want something beyond just floor plans. I don't like Windows or parallel which I have used. I am a Mac guy....

Stuart

From your description, it seems like they just "add" the logs as image rendering for the exterior (and maybe interior) elevations. If so, then it is possible that you will find some 3D floor plan Mac programs that can render exterior elevations...and may allow you to render logs.

An option to look at would be Google Sketch. You can down load the free version and try it out. I believe you should be able to use a render/"skin" to have exterior elevations be shown as logs (I have never played much with the rendering/skins).

[spacepenguin1]

I use MacDraft for my 2d work such as architectural plans and illustrations then if I want to create 3d images of those plans I use http://www.microspot...rsPro/index.htm both softwares are by the same company and I've used them for a few years