How to Make Vectorworks 2021 Student Download More User-Friendly

As a student, getting started with Vectorworks can be overwhelming, especially when it comes to navigating the Viewer tool. In this article, we'll explore ways to make the Viewer more user-friendly and discoverable for novice users.

One of the main issues with the Viewer is that it's currently presented as a menu item rather than a tool on the 3D tool palette. This can make it difficult for students to find and access the tool when they need it. To address this, Vectorworks could consider converting the Viewer into a tool on the 3D tool palette, making it more easily discoverable and accessible.

Another issue is that the Quick Preferences defined by the Viewer aren't always in line with the user's preferences. This can be frustrating for users who have customized their own Quick Preferences. To solve this, Vectorworks could consider allowing users to define their own Quick Preferences within the Viewer.

In terms of aesthetics, it would be great if the Viewer could provide a more polished and refined presentation. For example, the option to turn on edges in shaded rendering would greatly improve the quality of the visualization. Additionally, the ability to make glass transparent, just like Sketchup, would be a fantastic feature.

Another area for improvement is the Rendering tab on the Object Information Palette (OIP). Currently, this tab is unusable and provides no useful information. To address this, Vectorworks could consider removing it or replacing it with more relevant and useful information.

To make the Viewer even more user-friendly, several features would be beneficial. For example, the ability to lock objects in place would prevent them from being inadvertently stretched or moved. Additionally, a more comprehensive Help system and a link to a movie showing how to use the Viewer would greatly improve the learning experience for students.

Overall, by addressing these issues and refining the Viewer, Vectorworks can make it a more powerful and user-friendly tool for students and novice users alike. With these improvements, the Viewer could become an essential part of the design process, providing a more polished and professional presentation that showcases a student's work to the best advantage.

Vectorworks 2021 student download