Not being
an interior designer myself, I wasn’t sure how I
would get on with
Live Interior 3D. However, it wasn’t
long before I realised that this was one of the
easiest programs to learn, and yet one of the most
powerful programs I had ever used.
When you first start LI3D you are welcomed with a window offering you choices. You can choose a ready made template, or make your own. Although the supply of templates is vast, and the variety covers just about every scenario you could come across, I decided to test Live Interior 3D to the full and make my own design.
So, I started with a blank canvas. The first thing I needed to do was to build the walls (outer and then inner). This is so very easy to do. On the right hand side of the screen you have the Inspector. This allows you to choose what you want to do, such as build Walls, Columns, Doors, Windows & Openings, and Furniture. For each of these things you can then choose the materials you want to use (brick, concrete, wood, etc.) Once you have selected these you then have the ability to set the measurements, such as the thickness of the walls and so on.
On the left side you have all the furniture and fittings. The drop down menu gives categories for everything you could ever want, such as Chairs, Bedrooms, Kitchens, and so on. The selection of equipment is vast, and if it isn’t enough you can either go on the internet and download more, or you can design your own. It’s worth mentioning at this point, that everything you do is adjustable. If you feel the window is too long, narrow, wide or short, just double click it - at ANY stage of your project - and drag it to the size or shape that you want. And this applies, not just to the windows, but to every object of your plan, even the walls themselves.
For the building of the brick walls, placing the widows, doors and furniture & fittings, you are normally working in 2D. So on the screen you are looking at a blue print floor plan. Much the same as you would if you was using paper, pencil and ruler. However (and this is where the clever bit comes in) you can - just by the click of the mouse - change to 3D view and ‘walk’ round the inside (or outside) of any and all rooms. All you have to do whilst designing your layout, is to place Cameras where you want them to be. The views you get in 3D are from these cameras. And amazingly, these cameras are not fixed, they can be moved with the mouse.
You can keep switching from 2D to 3D and back again as much and as often as you like.
Now, I have only ‘scratched the surface’ of what this incredible program will do. But how could it really be of any use to me? I have no intentions of building my own home (nor the means to do so). So how could I justify the cost of buying Live Interior 3D just to build a ‘fantasy’ home?
Well, I soon realised that Live Interior 3D is one of those programs that, once used, you just can’t do without.
Obviously, if you are planning on building your own conservatory, or adding an extension to your home, then this software will allow you to see exactly what your finished product will look like, as well as helping you to find all the mistakes and pitfalls before you even start work.
But I am not going to build an extension, and yet, I can’t imagine being without this program. Why? Well I’ll explain in one word. RE-DECORATING. We all do it. After a certain number of years (or even every year!) we like to change the looks, colours and design of one or all rooms. Imagine being able to see what that room will look like BEFORE you start!
Once I had built my bungalow (based exactly on my current home), laid the floor, put on the roof, installed the lighting and heating etc., I then ‘painted’ the walls, chose the carpet, and rearranged the furniture, several times before I was completely happy with the results. Remembering to switch in and out of 2D/3D constantly. Eventually, when I had that room looking exactly how I wanted it to be, I could then go and buy the paint etc., with full confidence of what the result would look like. And I hadn’t even left the computer yet!
Now this obviously applies to every room of the house/home. Kitchen, bathroom, bedrooms and so on. Or even your Office.
But even if you have no intentions of re-decorating yet, but fancy rearranging the furniture in one of your rooms. The ability to do this from in front of your computer, and seeing the results in true 3D and full colour, without building up the slightest sweat, must make the purchase of Live Interior 3D worth every penny of its, very reasonable, cost.
In the box you get the program CD plus an additional drivers CD for those using a Mac with a PPC processor. You also get a book (user guide), which will guide you through installation and setting up, as well as actually using the program. If you need it that is. I found everything so simple and straight forward that it wasn’t until I was actually building my project, that I needed to look in the book. I just couldn’t work out how to put doors and windows in the walls. A quick glance in the book soon put me right. You just select the item you want, and then ‘drag and drop’ it to where you want it to be. You can then rotate it to its correct orientation, and resize it to its exact measurements. Simple. I didn’t need the book at all after that. The whole program is so simple to use, and easy to learn.
So, what are the Pros and Cons?
Pros: Simple to use and yet extremely powerful in use, very good value for money, the sort of program that - once used - you couldn't be without.
Cons: None that I could discover.
When I first started this review I thought I was going to be so bored I would have a struggle with what to write. After having used it for a while I am already re-designing every room of my home. I can’t wait to start decorating (when I have the time!!).
I can very highly recommend Live Interior 3D to any and every Mac owner. Buy it, I can assure you that you will not be disappointed.
When you first start LI3D you are welcomed with a window offering you choices. You can choose a ready made template, or make your own. Although the supply of templates is vast, and the variety covers just about every scenario you could come across, I decided to test Live Interior 3D to the full and make my own design.
So, I started with a blank canvas. The first thing I needed to do was to build the walls (outer and then inner). This is so very easy to do. On the right hand side of the screen you have the Inspector. This allows you to choose what you want to do, such as build Walls, Columns, Doors, Windows & Openings, and Furniture. For each of these things you can then choose the materials you want to use (brick, concrete, wood, etc.) Once you have selected these you then have the ability to set the measurements, such as the thickness of the walls and so on.
On the left side you have all the furniture and fittings. The drop down menu gives categories for everything you could ever want, such as Chairs, Bedrooms, Kitchens, and so on. The selection of equipment is vast, and if it isn’t enough you can either go on the internet and download more, or you can design your own. It’s worth mentioning at this point, that everything you do is adjustable. If you feel the window is too long, narrow, wide or short, just double click it - at ANY stage of your project - and drag it to the size or shape that you want. And this applies, not just to the windows, but to every object of your plan, even the walls themselves.
For the building of the brick walls, placing the widows, doors and furniture & fittings, you are normally working in 2D. So on the screen you are looking at a blue print floor plan. Much the same as you would if you was using paper, pencil and ruler. However (and this is where the clever bit comes in) you can - just by the click of the mouse - change to 3D view and ‘walk’ round the inside (or outside) of any and all rooms. All you have to do whilst designing your layout, is to place Cameras where you want them to be. The views you get in 3D are from these cameras. And amazingly, these cameras are not fixed, they can be moved with the mouse.
You can keep switching from 2D to 3D and back again as much and as often as you like.
Now, I have only ‘scratched the surface’ of what this incredible program will do. But how could it really be of any use to me? I have no intentions of building my own home (nor the means to do so). So how could I justify the cost of buying Live Interior 3D just to build a ‘fantasy’ home?
Well, I soon realised that Live Interior 3D is one of those programs that, once used, you just can’t do without.
Obviously, if you are planning on building your own conservatory, or adding an extension to your home, then this software will allow you to see exactly what your finished product will look like, as well as helping you to find all the mistakes and pitfalls before you even start work.
But I am not going to build an extension, and yet, I can’t imagine being without this program. Why? Well I’ll explain in one word. RE-DECORATING. We all do it. After a certain number of years (or even every year!) we like to change the looks, colours and design of one or all rooms. Imagine being able to see what that room will look like BEFORE you start!
Once I had built my bungalow (based exactly on my current home), laid the floor, put on the roof, installed the lighting and heating etc., I then ‘painted’ the walls, chose the carpet, and rearranged the furniture, several times before I was completely happy with the results. Remembering to switch in and out of 2D/3D constantly. Eventually, when I had that room looking exactly how I wanted it to be, I could then go and buy the paint etc., with full confidence of what the result would look like. And I hadn’t even left the computer yet!
Now this obviously applies to every room of the house/home. Kitchen, bathroom, bedrooms and so on. Or even your Office.
But even if you have no intentions of re-decorating yet, but fancy rearranging the furniture in one of your rooms. The ability to do this from in front of your computer, and seeing the results in true 3D and full colour, without building up the slightest sweat, must make the purchase of Live Interior 3D worth every penny of its, very reasonable, cost.
In the box you get the program CD plus an additional drivers CD for those using a Mac with a PPC processor. You also get a book (user guide), which will guide you through installation and setting up, as well as actually using the program. If you need it that is. I found everything so simple and straight forward that it wasn’t until I was actually building my project, that I needed to look in the book. I just couldn’t work out how to put doors and windows in the walls. A quick glance in the book soon put me right. You just select the item you want, and then ‘drag and drop’ it to where you want it to be. You can then rotate it to its correct orientation, and resize it to its exact measurements. Simple. I didn’t need the book at all after that. The whole program is so simple to use, and easy to learn.
So, what are the Pros and Cons?
Pros: Simple to use and yet extremely powerful in use, very good value for money, the sort of program that - once used - you couldn't be without.
Cons: None that I could discover.
When I first started this review I thought I was going to be so bored I would have a struggle with what to write. After having used it for a while I am already re-designing every room of my home. I can’t wait to start decorating (when I have the time!!).
I can very highly recommend Live Interior 3D to any and every Mac owner. Buy it, I can assure you that you will not be disappointed.
Belight Software Live Interior 3D Review