Software to make very simple technical-ish drawings

Bounty · Post by **Bounty** » 2006-07-16 10:19am

Floorplans, to be precise. I already used Paint to make a set, but lining up and scaling all the parts is a bitch. I need a piece of software that allows you to work on a grid, snap parts (lines, circles, arcs) to the intersections on the grid and export the result to a useable image format (PNG, JPG, BMP, whatever).

The problem is that all the software I've looked up is either outdated, doesn't have an export format except for printing, or is aimed at a professional market and hence both too complex and waaay to expensive for the odd set of starship drawings.

Is there something I can use, or is it back to paint for me ?

InnocentBystander · Post by **InnocentBystander** » 2006-07-16 10:49am

Google Sketchup

Bounty · Post by **Bounty** » 2006-07-16 10:50am

That's 3D, not 2D.

phongn · Post by **phongn** » 2006-07-16 12:47pm

You could try and mess with Xfig (google for any Windows varients)

General Zod · Post by **General Zod** » 2006-07-16 01:11pm

You could always get the GIMP. It's free and similar to Photoshop.

Dark Lord of the Bith · Post by **Dark Lord of the Bith** » 2006-07-16 04:15pm

Destructionator XIII wrote:
General Zod wrote:You could always get the GIMP. It's free and similar to Photoshop.
GIMP isn't very good for things like this though. Drawing circles and rectangles with it is not an easy task.

I'd second Xfig if you can find it on Windows. It doesn't look very pretty, but it is pretty easy to use and gets the job done, for free.

Drawing circles and rectangles are cake: use the select rectangular/circular region tool, draw the shape, then edit--stroke selection.

With GIMP, though, using paths would be better suited for what you want, though it takes some getting used to.

Azrael · Post by **Azrael** » 2006-07-17 01:13am

Drawing circles and rectangles are cake: use the select rectangular/circular region tool, draw the shape, then edit--stroke selection.

With GIMP, though, using paths would be better suited for what you want, though it takes some getting used to.

Hey, don't forget, you can turn selections into paths and stroke them out if you so desire.

TimothyC · Post by **TimothyC** » 2006-07-17 12:35pm

You could try OO Draw, and then copy/paste back to paint or PDN.

Melchior · Post by **Melchior** » 2006-07-17 08:25pm

Did you know Inkscape?

Braedley · Post by **Braedley** » 2006-07-17 11:00pm

My pick would be for OO Draw as well, but if you can swing it, Adobe Illastrator (sp?) is nice too. I use it at work and can't really complain about it, except if I had to pay for it.

The Silence and I · Post by **The Silence and I** » 2006-07-18 12:36am

I am looking at Dia right now, it just might be up your alley: There is a windows port too

Bounty · Post by **Bounty** » 2006-07-18 04:33am

I'll look into the suggestions. Dia and Inkscape look very promising. Thanks for the help.

Bounty · Post by **Bounty** » 2006-07-18 05:37am

I've tried Inkscape and it's pretty much exactly what I was looking for.