Computer Aided LX Design Vs Pen & Paper?

[b1nuzz]

Thanks Guys, all your replies and comments have been very useful.

 

:)

 

Much'os Appreciated :)

[LeeStoddart]

99% of what I do is with a drafting program first - it's not a CAD program simply a drawing - Visio. I do this because it produces a neat output and I can change things easily. I use the layers feature extensively especially on shows with lots of different scenes where I'll draw each scene's set on a different layer.

 

I do sometimes do a rough outline on paper first but that will be for those times when it's not practical for me to get my laptop out but I need to put some thoughts down on paper.

 

And I suppose I do use paper and pencil throughout the process because I will print a copy of the rig and then mark it up for changing over a period of time and then make the changes in the PC. I always have printed copies to give to the rigging crew (even if it's only me)

 

Like others have said earlier I will develop an Excel spreadsheet of the rig which I can sort in various ways to suit the different requirements - gel sequence, physical position sequence, channel sequence etc

[Bernie D]

The basic technique used by the majority of designers in pretty much every engineering discipline is Paper first, then CAD

Same for me too. I use Wysiwyg even for small shows, just because everything I design is then in Wysiwyg.

I would only make a 3-D drawing if it was necessary and don't bother with rendering.

Having plotted in Wywiwyg I then print to PDF so I can e-mail the plot to whoever needs it. I can only print up to A3 at home, and if I need bigger I will print to PDF at a suitable resolution and e-mail it off for printing.

[Kevin Robertson]

Hi there,

I normaly start on paper and stensils and then a plot is created in some form of CAD. Usualy WYSIWYG but occasionaly vectorworks and I even once used MS word! (it worked really well)

Kev

[GregB]

Depending on the scale of the rig and venue I tend to do a rough pen and paper draft followed by a CAD version to tie up the loose ends. I quite often do complete shows before getting to the CAD stage by which time its gone and I'm on to the next gig...

[pete LD]

I use auto cad lt 2002 with symbols that have there attributes attached. the only problem I have is rotating a fixture is a pain as it messes up the atts!. I have looked in to other design packages but I haven't got the time to learn how to use them!!!

 

I don't tend to do the paper bit, I find it just as easy to move symbols round on the computer.

I like the fact that lighting design packages do your paperwork, but then it don't take long on cad!

 

pete

[Michael_hunt]

I tend to use pen and paper first. I picture the effect or look I want, grab a pencil and draw out the state, then work out where I need fixtures, and what fixtures will achieve that effect.

 

I will sometimes use WYG to put the plan together, but only if I have a scaled version of the venue already. I wouldnt ever build the venue, as the shows I work on dont warrant the time. If I use WYG, its normally to do some renderings to see if im along the right track.

 

Have once or twice preplotted a show with WYG perform at work. But it isnt great.

 

Pen and paper is far quicker and all I need is imagination, not a top of the range PC with £2,000 worth of software.

 

Regards

 

Mic