Vectorworks 2024 – Faster Workflows From Start To Finish
Vectorworks 2024 is out now, and it's a game-changer! Here are my top 5 favourite new features.
Get a 25% Discount on Vectorworks 2024
Be sure to use promo code "IPDNJT2023" at check out for 25% off on an annual subscription license!
Updated UI
The updated and modernised user interface makes working in Vectorworks more efficient and easier to customise. In Vectorworks 2024 the reorganised View and Mode bars bring a wide range of tools to the forefront, so you can decide how to organise and have everything you need right where you need it.
Cabinet Tool
Lay out and design built-in cabinetry for any space, creating more realistic visualisation and more accurate documentation with Vectorworks 2024. Now, you can have the kitchen of your dreams using the new parametric cabinets. You can easily create customised configurations or replicate popular cabinet styles from more manufacturers.
Fence Tool
Get ready to save significant time while designing in 2D and 3D with accurate material reporting, reducing errors in material specifications in Vectorworks 2024. The new automated Fence tool will ease your design process with support for integrated posts, gates, and terrain-conforming options like sloped or stepped.
Viewport
No more replicating your viewport settings with the upcoming version of Vectorworks. With new Viewport Styles in Vectorworks 2024, you'll be able to save custom viewport settings as styles, making them easily transferrable between viewports and project files.
Landmark Colour Palette
Welcome the latest addition to Colour Palette family – the Landmark Colour Palette. With a wide range of natural colours, optimised for landscape industry the Palette supports landscape professionals on their creative journey. Create your own house-style by using colours from Landmark Colour Palette and enhance the aesthetics of your 2D layout plans, planting plans or materials specifications. Available in Colour Palette Manager, the Palette includes some of the soft colours that are traditionally used for the landscape illustrations, giving designers the power to produce impactful bespoke plans with ease.
Empowering All Designers
Vectorworks 2024 introduces an updated and modernized user interface that enhances efficiency and allows for effortless customisation. The View and Mode bars have been restructured, placing essential tools front and center for easy access. This intuitive arrangement simplifies navigation and workspace personalization, saving valuable time for designers.
The revamped Project Sharing feature ensures that project data and geometry are always up-to-date. Project Sharing+ brings meticulous change tracking into play, ensuring reliability regardless of project size or team composition. Notably, designers can now save custom viewport settings as "styles," making them easily transferable between different sheets or project files. This feature streamlines workflows by eliminating redundant tasks and minimizing the risk of errors.
A significant enhancement in Vectorworks 2024 is its integration with Excel files, facilitating bi-directional data referencing. This integration reduces manual input and enhances connectivity to external data sources, fostering improved collaborative data capabilities. Additionally, the Shaded Rendering feature has been refined, allowing designers to infuse their designs with heightened realism. Enhanced shadow casting and the addition of camera settings for depth of field, exposure, and bloom effects bring real-world camera dynamics to the real-time Shaded Rendering mode.
Architects and Interior Designers
Vectorworks 2024 prioritises architects' needs through refined BIM tools tailored for precision. The update includes improved geometry controls for thresholds and sills, ensuring seamless integration with wall closures. It also introduces expanded options for controlling interior and exterior conditions, offering unprecedented flexibility in dictating gaps around doors and windows. Standardized door handing supports accurate geometry and data representation.
The inclusion of materials assignment to door and window objects ensures consistency in visual representation and reporting. Vectorworks also addresses architects' demands with redefined parametric objects. Parametric handrails and guardrails can now be generated from building elements like stairs and ramps, providing the precision needed for custom configurations. Additionally, parametric cabinet objects facilitate greater customisation for interior projects, simplifying model creation and documentation.
Empowering Landscape Architects and Designers
Vectorworks 2024 introduces the automated Fence tool, a game-changer for landscape architects and designers. This tool streamlines fence design in both 2D and 3D, reducing errors in material specifications and enhancing accuracy. The Fence tool is optimized for detailed and simplified representations, featuring integrated posts, gates, and terrain-conforming options like slopes and steps. This advancement empowers designers to create comprehensive fence projects with unprecedented precision and collaboration potential.
Lighting and Live Event Designers
Vectorworks 2024 introduces the Equipment Lists feature, catering to professionals in the entertainment industry. This tool automates the complex task of equipment and inventory tracking, streamlining the preproduction process by planning and documenting necessary equipment for shows or productions. Additionally, the ConnectCAD Share Reports command enhances A/V installation by allowing designers to upload design data to Vectorworks Cloud Services. This ensures real-time access to up-to-date information for project partners and installers, fostering seamless collaboration.
Rich Libraries and Analysis Tools
The software comes equipped with extensive libraries of objects, plants, trees, textures, and more, saving time and effort in the design process. Additionally, Vectorworks offers tools for analyzing sunlight and shade patterns, aiding in optimal site planning and landscape design decisions.
Furthermore, Vectorworks Architect offers seamless integration with other industry-standard software, making it a valuable asset for professionals who work with multiple design tools. This interoperability allows you to easily import and export files, ensuring a smooth workflow and eliminating any compatibility issues.
A Glimpse into the Future
In addition to these remarkable innovations, Vectorworks 2024 promises advanced automation, problem-solving capabilities, and substantial quality enhancements. The release is expected in September 2023, granting early access to Vectorworks Service Select members and subscription customers. As Vectorworks’ tradition of excellence continues, designers can anticipate a software version that not only addresses their needs but also pioneers more innovative and efficient design workflows.
In conclusion, Vectorworks 2024 embodies the company's dedication to enhancing the creative journey for designers across various disciplines. By seamlessly integrating tools into specific design workflows and harmonizing new features with existing ones, this upcoming release is poised to set new benchmarks in the world of design and architecture software. As the launch date approaches, the industry eagerly anticipates the transformative possibilities that Vectorworks 2024 will unlock.
Stay updated by visiting vectorworks.net and following @vectorworks for the latest news and insights.
This article was written using information from the Vectorworks Forum, specially the blog written by K Price.
Download a free Plumbline faucet for Vectorworks.
We are currently building an entire library of Vectorworks objects to download. Join the waitlist and get a Free Plumbline Faucet!