Tim Matcham Garden Design

Residential Garden Design with Vectorworks Landmark by Tamsin Slatter

Following instruction manuals on how to do something is not in my nature. I am the type of person who is determined to figure it out for himself without the heavy burden of having to read instructions first!

So when I was asked to review this book I faced an interesting challenge. I was actually going to have to read some detailed instructions on how to create fabulous 3D rendered garden designs using Vectorworks – complete terror set in!

I have had about a years experience of using Vectorworks and have achieved a reasonable standard of 2D drawing skills, complete with rendering, insertion, labelling and reporting on plants, much of which was achieved following a days training with Tamsin – so I knew the basics (or at least I thought I did!).

Make no mistake I still have a long way to go to be called an expert on Vectorworks but the book has shown me how to take the 2D basics and transform them in to potentially thrilling 3D work.

What I found useful about the book was the way it was set out – in a straightforward, logical sequence with exercises demonstrated with simple to follow exercises and an accompanying CD. Before setting about a task we are given a taste of what the section is aiming to achieve, followed by short, well written, numbered sequence of instructions accompanied by screen grabs to add further clarity.

For me this won’t replace face to face tutoring but it does allow you to progress at your own pace and review procedures at any time. The power of this CAD tool is huge and finding the bits that mean you can make a difference to your customers is now much easier. Presenting 3D plans and walk throughs rather than a 2D representation of the garden will make a big difference for many of my clients who fail to grasp the way a garden will look when just faced with plans.

My only criticism is the small format, which while handy, also means that the screen grabs are frequently rather small and therefore hard to see – but that’s a minor criticism of a book that delivers a cost effective route in to using the power of Vectorworks Landmark.

You can contact Tamsin Slatter through her website and the book can be purchased through her or through other Vectorworks resellers

Tags:   3D design · benefit · business · CAD · garden design · Nemetschek · render · value · Vectorworks5 Comments