AUGIWorld Magazine September/October 2007

sion can also export a rendered drawing to these image styles. Because Impression works with AutoCAD so well, an Impression drawing can be updated if the CAD file was updated and still retain the styles already set and applied. If a building footprint changes in CAD, Impression can update the CAD information and instantly change the rendered file. This reduces time spent on rendering revisions. These types of changes often cannot be done in hand drawings. Impression also updates blocks created in AutoCAD in a similar fashion. increase and ability to revise renderings often makes up for this. Big potential Architects, landscape designers, and artists alike can incorporate their rendering expertise into Impression in order to create digital works of art. More proof that Impression was built with AutoCAD users in mind lies in the import and export abilities of AutoCAD files and data. The user interface exhibits evidence of its AutoCAD influence. The icons used for drawing and file manipulation are similar in look and feel to the AutoCAD toolbars, dashboard, and palettes. The Impression Layer works similarly to the AutoCAD Layer Manager. There are even osnaps. Now that Impression is out there, who will use it? Anyone who already produces hand renderings can use it. Anyone who has a desire for color renderings but never had an employee with those skills can use it. Impression makes color renderings possible for an engineer who is accustomed to drawing straight lines, or a CAD technician who can’t draw a straight line unless the ortho command is on. Architects, landscape designers, and artists alike can incorporate their rendering expertise into Impression in order to create digital works of art. Anyone who has hand rendered can use Impression, even if they have no prior experience with AutoCAD. Resources Impression comes with many learning resources. When the software is turned on for the first time, the Quick Start Tour begins. This brief tour guides the user through the basic setup and manipulation of a drawing. If more training is needed, then Impression comes with the Quick Start Guide. This is a series of tutorials to teach the user about Impression. If more information is desired, then the Impression Community can be referenced. This is an online community set up by Autodesk where questions can be asked, tips given, and techniques shared among users. The Impression Community can be found at http://impression.autodesk.com. Conclusion Hand-drawn or Impression? Impression works with AutoCAD to create color renderings quickly. Hand-drawn renderings are very artistic and beautiful, yet they are also functional. Impression’s style options give the digitally created rendering a hand-drawn look. Hand renderings are random; digital drawings are more static. Impression has settings that adjust for scale and paper size. It also has features that allow the user to give a hand-drawn “squiggle” to the linework. Pen settings for pencil, markers, and more are designed to generate randomness in the strokes. While it may be obvious to keen-eyed individuals that the Impression-created rendering was not handmade, the speed Sep/Oct 2007 The speed with which you can produce quality colored renderings and the ability to quickly revise or use alternate styles, combined with its close ties to AutoCAD will, I believe, be key factors in Impression software’s success. If a company or individual needs a means for color renderings, Autodesk Impression gets the job done. Brian C. Benton is senior engineering CAD technician/designer for Heidt & Associates, Inc, Fort Myers, Florida. Brian has been working with AutoCAD since release 10 in the mechanical, structural, and civil engineering fields. He has been a detailer, drafter, designer, IT assistant, CAD software manager, protector of standards, and proverbial “Help Desk.” He can be reached at benton. brian@gmail.com. 9 http://www.bluebeam.com http://impression.autodesk.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of AUGIWorld Magazine September/October 2007

Contents The CAD Manager Feature: A Good First Impression ADT and SketchUp Team for Presentations Accessing Values: Now or Later Finding the 3D in Map 3D: Surface Visualization Rocks & Rock Walls Autodesk University 2007 Preview The Missing Link On the Back Page

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