Vectorworks Landmark Reviews & Product Details

I love the pre-designed elements that make it very easy to have a good overview of a project with detailing, dimensions, line weight all embedded within the components you chose from the catalog

I dislike the fact that as you chose prefab components, they are very difficult to edit. You cannot customize most of them or if you do it is highly complicated to have them edited both in 2d and in 3d. I have not yet found a good workflow with non traditional designs.

This software does not have an plugin option to add python or scripting which is probably lacking. I feel like Revit and Rhino and other very good softwares to use with a greater learning curve and move possibilities but I love the graphics and ease of use of Vectorworks. The fact that there are different graphic style is definitely a plus when considering to use it because you do not need to render on top of Vectorworks (generally).

I love the furniture and plant selection. I also love the detailing of construction within the components, especially the layers and their graphic equivalent and thickness. It saves me so much time. Also once you model is done, creating sections is so easy. I love that.

Landmark is an easy to use CAD software that is compatible with other CAD programs, which allows for collaboration with other professionals, and also has great rendering capabilities to generate legible plans. Great tech support, too! The program is set up differently than AutoCad, but once the structure of the program is figured out, its fairly easy to take it from there. Importing other files types has been easy, too, such as adding aerial photos, pdf or jpeg images as backgrounds and supplemental information on the sheet. Its nice to be able to lay everything out in one program and be able to seamlessly update the plans as changes are made.

Getting other CAD files to import properly can be challenging. CAD blocks need to be exploded to get the basic line work to be modified in some cases. I have had some issues with large files crashing, but there are a lot of program updates that keep the software working and compatible with other software.

Give it time to learn the software and utilize tech support to help figure it out. There was a steep learning curve at first until I figured out the organization of the program, but from there its mostly intuitive.

Landmark tools are really easy to use to draft and design. Even the basic tool set allows for a lot of flexibility in designing even organic shapes and hard geometry. There are a lot of options to render drawings- adding transparent hatches and colors to add texture and value to an otherwise black and white drawing. The sheet layers and view ports work really well for creating and managing multiple drawings for complex projects.

Vectoroworks can not only be used for landscape design but also for advertising content. Its a great way to edit photos and create new documents if you do not have adobe editor

I dislike how you can't export large files. There are times I would create an image I wanted to export, but when i went to just select a section to export it would be too large.

I would learn AutoCAD first then transition to this product once you are ready

Its not really solving business problems since its a design software. It is our main software for design, so we use it as a sales tool.

The ability to render 3D, produce irrigation design, grading plans, detail, hardscape and planting plans all in on simple package! I haven't even mentioned the video walk through, VR, solar analysis, storm water and I can work with DWG files from others! Wow!

Not really anything! It's very versed and full of supposed! But to put something down, it doesn't make me coffee.

It will do everything you would want it to! Don't delay make the jump!

A streamlined workflow makes us more profitable!

This is definitely the most versatile and powerful CAD program at the best price. Not cheap, but it transformed my workflow and the quality of my presentations to clients. Once you get used to thinking in objects instead of lines (as in, drawing the wall, not two parallel lines), it allows for fast and effective 3D design that is particularly readable. As a Landscape Designer, I don't think there's another program that can model the landscape as well and give you such a realistic model of the site. Not only can 'walk-thru's' and 'camera shots' give the homeowners a clear and appealing presentation of the proposed design, but while designing you can see how things will, or won't work.

Mastering Vectorworks is a real mountain to climb. This is no simple Sketchup type program. I have several colleagues who worked through training manuals to learn VW, but most needed several days of intense training courses to begin to get it.

Take a look at several finished, rendered 3D landscapes and compare the effectiveness. I saw a real difference that made investing in VW worth it (and that investment was cost and time to train). See if the program you are considering and comparing will give you complete cut/fill calculations (VW does) or see how many schedules are built-in. Those are the big time savers.

After completing the planting plan in Vectorworks, the program generates a complete and accurate plant list/count/budget. It's an unbelievable time-saver that clients love. I've also used VW to generate hardscape budgets and overall budgets. Nothing gets the job going more than well-done budgets that give the homeowner a sense of control. What used to take me days to complete now happen through a click dropdown.

This software ;package is oriented to landscape and civil design. It is one of the most comprehensive of the major CAD providers.

The learning curve was fairly steep. I had several workshop sessions at Nemetschek and had representatives visit my office. We eventually purchased the product but never fully adopted it ,for everyday use because the office had been previously exposed to ACAD, so the entire office never really became conversant in its use.

I'd recommend this software if one has the ability to invest the time to properly learn how to use the software.

We used it for condocs and had minor success in using it for presentations and proposals.

It's great to have the flexibility to draft lights on a computer

Functions take a bit to learn without prior instruction. Better tutorial would be ideal.

To avoid drafting by hand

This software is ideal for landscape architects and landscape designers. It combines the best of three different programs into one. The smart object plant features make putting together a professional looking and detailed plan immensely easier than in any other CAD software.

There is definitely a learning curve, but this is the case with learning any software. However, it is manageable and most college students coming out of school can pick it up very quickly. I wish that there were more users as has been challenging finding experienced users to employ. However, most of the new graduate hires are able to pick it up pretty quickly.

I have streamlined my drafting process and the creation of specifications. I no longer have to use photoshop and sketchup to render or draft 3D models bc I am able to do all of those things in Vectorworks.

Intuitive, video training, support, constant growth

Too many companies are still using AutoCAD and revit. Rendering takes a while

If you want one program to use for drafting, generating worksheets, 3D modeling, and generating presentations and construction documents, Vectorworks landmark is for you

Cost opinions, design concepts, grading, schedules. Saves time on worksheets, drafting, modeling, and presentations are great.

More intuitive , easier to perform tasks and works great for landscape design work

There is nothing I dislike about this platform.

Design of site development and landscape architecture projects