Autocad 3d for Mac - Graphic Design Courses

Autocad for Mac has a slightly different compared to the standard Autocad for Windows workspace. We discuss both types of interface in our Autocad 3d courses.
The minimum system requirements to run Autocad are an Intel processor with 2-4 Gb RAM. And there’s no virtualization setup required such as VM Fusion or Parallels.
Autocad for Mac was introduced in 2011, so it’s early days for Macintiosh users. Autocad for Windows is almost 30 years old. The first thing Windows users will notice about the new Mac interface is that there’s no ribbon at the top of the screen. The interface is similar to the pre-2009 Windows workspace. But it’s customizable in Preferences (Options in Windows) – and the commands are similar to the PC. Pull-down menus on the Menu Bar are also customizable. And palettes can be maximized, minimized, or floating for multiple screens.
Tool Sets are on the top left and Tool Groups you can expand & lock open, eg. 2D Drafting & Annotation, and 3D Modeling. To access the tool flyouts, eg. Circle tool – hold & click for various circle drawing options. The Command Line at bottom is minimal, showing only one line of text unless more are required (eg. type VS for visual styles gives you two). Recent commands are on a pop-up. Some features are in a different location, eg. top-left: Viewports – set to 2 horizontal, etc. The Navigation (Nav) cube is on the top right (or View Cube) for 3D. Also on the top-left are Views, Save view, Parallel/Perspective for 3D, and Visual styles for 3D drafting. Most commands are the same as in Autocad for Windows. Bottom right shows the cursor coordinates – you can set these in Options. Palettes on the right, eg. Properties & Layers – you can turn these off in Windows drop-down menu.
On the bottom Status Bar we have OSNAP, Polar Tracking, etc, Pan & Zoom (although we use the mouse for this generally, or the Ortho Track Pad or the Magic Mouse), View Cube. Also at bottom right: Annotation controls, scales, visibility. Note there are no Model & Layout tabs – these are now in the Layout List on the bottom mid screen.
Locations of common features:
• To access layers: Tools > Palettes > Layers
• To create text: Draw > Text
• To create a Block: Draw > Block > Make
• To edit a feature: Modify > Properties
• To edit a Paper Layout: File > Page Setup Manager
• Or Edit > Page Setup > A3 Create
• To print/plot: File > Print > Save as PDF
• To create a Multi Leader: Format > Multi Leader Style
• To add an Xref: Insert > DWG Reference
Specifically 3d functions:
• These are just in the 2D workspace: Draw > 3D Model > Box, etc
• The Polysolid tool (for wall widths) is under the Box tool
• To edit: Modify > Properties
• Modify > 3D Operations > 3D Move
• Tools > Palettes > Material Browser
• Or View > Render > Material Browser
• Materials: you can’t create or edit materials, or adjust material mapping
• Lights in 3D > Properties Inspector
• View > Render > Light > New Spotlight
• To adjust lighting: Modify > Properties
• To render: View > Render
Autocad 3d for Mac is user-friendly and easy to learn, and we take time to teach a broad range of applications in our classes including modeling, materials, lighting and animation. See many examples of our clients’ work on our Facebook page. For more information there are lots of resources on the web, but try the Autodesk site to begin with: www.autodesk.com. Support options and user forums are also available from the home page.
Other related Autocad 3d Blog Posts: