SketchList 3D allows for the use of glass panels in your cabinet designs by creating a material and setting the transparency percentage. You can choose the color of the glass by selecting the color of the material from the color list. To give you an idea of how glass can be used in your designs, let’s take a look at an example of glass front doors.

Incorporating Glass Panels in Your Assembly

Let’s say we have two different types of glass panels, one blue and the other green, and they are used with transparencies set at 80% and 91%, respectively. The glass panels are inserted as “boards” in the assembly, with the glass serving as the material for that board. Just like any other board, the glass can be contoured or shaped to fit your design needs. You can even shape different pieces of glass to create a stained-glass effect.

Experimenting with Different Design Elements

You can vary the color of the glass, the percentage of transparency, the background color, and the angle from which the 3D rendering is taken to create different looks for your designs. The angle of the 3D rendering affects the look of the design due to the differing shadows cast by the light source. SketchList 3D allows you to experiment with all these design elements until you achieve the desired result.

Expanding Your Design Options

SketchList 3D is not just limited to cabinet design software. You can use the software to create designs using any material, whether it’s glass, metal, plastic, or any other material. With SketchList 3D, you have the freedom to create designs that truly reflect your creativity.

In Summary

If you’re looking to incorporate glass panels into your cabinet designs, SketchList 3D cabinet design software is a great option to consider. With its user-friendly interface and ability to work with various materials, SketchList 3D gives you the freedom to create designs that meet your unique needs.

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SketchList 3D: An Alternative to Layer-based Design

SketchList 3D’s cabinet design software is a powerful tool that can help you create custom furniture designs. Unlike other CAD programs that use layers, SketchList 3D uses levels or subassemblies. The advantage of this system is that it allows you to work on different parts of a design with more precision and control.

Each level or subassembly represents a different level of detail, such as doors, drawers, assemblies, or projects. This system enables users to design in a more intuitive way, without having to keep track of layers or other complex design concepts.

Viewing Your Design: Exploding, Wireframe, and Deleting Boards

While SketchList 3D’s system of levels and subassemblies is a great way to design furniture, there are times when you need to see the inner workings of your design. There are three different ways to accomplish this:

1. Exploding the View of Your Design

Exploding the view of your design can be a great way to get a closer look at all of the different components of your project. This view allows you to see all of the pieces in your design at once, giving you a better sense of how everything fits together.

2. Viewing Your Design as a Wireframe

Viewing your design as a wireframe can be helpful when you need to see through all of the boards in your project. This view allows you to see the internal structure of your design, which can be helpful when you’re trying to visualize how everything fits together.

3. Deleting Boards to Take a Peek Inside

A third option is to delete a board to take a peek inside your design. While this method might seem counterintuitive, it can be a helpful way to see what’s going on inside your project. Simply delete the board that’s blocking your view, and then do a control Z or undo action to replace the board when you’re finished.

In Summary

Using woodworking design software can be a great way to create beautiful and functional pieces of furniture. SketchList 3D’s system of levels and subassemblies offers an intuitive way to design without relying on complex layer-based systems.

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Custom cabinet design software should be flexible enough to allow the creation of a cabinet beyond standard rectangular boxes.  A SketchList 3D Professional user sent in an email asking for some advice on how to make such a project.

The corner television unit was just part of a more complex wall unit his client wanted – but an important part.  He had figured out how to make the case but was puzzled a bit on how to best fit the face frame.  The task is to “cut” and fit the rails and stiles so they fit flush on the 45 cabinet front.  Actually because his cabinet had side of tdifferent legs the front was less than 45 degrees.  That’s not a problem because with SketchList 3D you can rotate objects in one degree increments.

We met online and worked on the design.  At first I suggested the front of the cabinet face forward and the back ‘legs’ would angle backward.  It sort of worked but sort of not.  After our meeting ended I tried putting the ‘legs’ of the box at 90 degrees – to the left and the back – and using a door as a container for the frame.  The door was made to the size to fit corner to corner of the ‘legs’.  I used the blue dot alignment method to line the door up in the corner and rotated the door back 45 degrees.  You’ll see in the video I made one key mistake that kept things from fitting together – but the fix wasn’t that bad.

Once I had the door sized and placed it was extremely easy to make a frame inside the door.  Two stiles and two rails later -perfection.

An option would be to have made the frame in another assembly, sizing it and rotating it as you would the door.  In this case you can merge assemblies in our cabinet design software so all boards are int he same container.  There are some small advantages when all the boards are in the same container.  But I’m not sure they are worth the effort.

Watch the video.  And please — subscribe to my YouTube channel for direct access.

I spent about 90 minutes online doing this design / training.  In the end the user had better knowledge of the tools and techniques of SketchList 3D.  Not only that but his project file was there as well.

So if you have a question or problem send me an email and we can work together to get you moving again.

The post Cabinet Design Software Works in the Corner appeared first on SketchList3D.

Here is an example of work designed by SketchList 3D user William LaRue of Ballston Spa, NY. He is a relative new-comer to the SketchList 3D cabinet design software tool. He is an experienced woodworker – in business for over 30 years. His smaller shop of four employees is constantly turning out cabinetry, furniture, and an assorted range of other products. You can see his work at

www.laruewoodworking.com

This sample is his fourth design with SketchList 3D. He has used the software for 2 – 3 weeks.

Notice the reality he is able to achieve by taking photo graphs of the room and importing those images into SketchList 3D objects for use in his designs.

The prospects now sees exactly what they are going to get. On top of that William was able to provide some alternatives.

This first image on the left is a photograph of the room

The second image shows how William replicated the existing room in SketchList 3D capturing all of the important elements — pattern, color and style.

In the the third image he had added a book shelf to the left of the fireplace and mantle.

This is a side view of the SketchList 3D model of the bookcase. Notice the beaded board back on the bottom case.
In the next image you see the proposal for placing the bookcase on the right.

As you view the images think of that William’s prospect is seeing and thinking.

Certainly not about how it’s done, or does this person know what he’s doing – or maybe not even about the price. That prospect is thinking ‘”This looks great: , This will work nicely.” , “Maybe a case on both sides would be best..”

He or she is engaged in the creation of something that adds value to the room, increases utility, and is something to be proud of owning.

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So in a few minutes the bookcases are combined in the overall project – giving the prospect what he or she wanted.

The bookcase on the left is cloned, moved to the right, and automatically stretched to fit into the space available.

Sales tool? Design Tool? Planning Tool? You Pick.

SketchList 3D becomes a strategic part of a woodworking firm’s business. The prospect is totally engrossed in the process. In fact many times will say to friends admiring the end product “Yes I did design that for that spot.” Ownership in every sense of the concept.

A side benefit for the woodworker – the process of thinking about how this is going to be made has already started. It can be tested, and tried, and modified until it’s just right. All without wasting a minute in the shop or a penny on material.

The shop drawings, parts lists, cutting diagrams – purchase lists are finished when the design is finished.

All that’s left to do is head into the shop and hand the job over.

Result – What Did the Prospect Say?

“Will,

Really nice presentation. Looks like you had some fun too with moving pictures around etc. I feel like I’m watching an episode of Property Brothers.

We would like pricing on both “Our Option” and Option 4.

Could you also provide the dimensions on both options.

Thanks,”

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Cabinet Design Software Choice – Which is Best for You?

From time to time people write in about my cabinet design software asking if they should invest the money for the Pro version or can they get by with the Hobby.  There is a chart on www/sketchlist.com that compares the two – but those types of charts leave me feeling undecided.  So let me try this…

If you are making money with your woodworking buy the Pro.  Again — if you are making money with your woodworking buy the Pro.

That being said the Hobby version exists because lots of people make a project or two a year, want to design it right, don’t want to invest more than $100, and are willing to take the time it takes to design the work.   These woodworkers only need to impress themselves (ok well maybe the spouse) and don’t need high end images.  They can get by with using only 2 assemblies.   If they need a shop drawing – they can create it on screen and do a print screen to put it on paper.  One woodgrain and/or color will do.  And if they want to save some time and money by optimizing the layout of parts on materials – they can buy the add-on to do this. ( Think of the cost of one sheet of pylwood materia saved!)

Frankly in terms of design I can acheive almost  anything in Hobby as I can in the Pro.   But it is more complicated and takes more time.  And the outputs are not as impressive.

I do use the Pro version.   It accomplishes designs much, much  faster saving me time.   And for most of us  time is precious.  I can have any number of assemblies in a project.  I can define a standard assemblies, doors, drawers, hardware, and boards and call them into my designs from my standards library as needed.   I can create any number of shop drawings and know that any change in design automatically reflects in the drawings.  I can use any number of material grains and colors – and most importantly  I can generate 3D images in photo quality formats.   These images  sell my proposals.   In addition I can create spinning 3D images of my designs and send them to prospects so they can view and spin them as PDF (world wide, free standard viewer) files on their own computer screens.  The optimizer is built in and shows me how to lay out the parts on the materials to reduce waste.  This output links to the purchase report that shows me exactly what materials to buy.

So everyone should get the Pro version – like everyone should have a powerful CNC machine in the garage cutting out parts :).  BUT not eveyone can afford that – or uses it enough to justify the cost.  So make a choice.  In any case buy cabinet design software because it will improve your design and your work .  This is because you will have thoughtfully gone over every aspect – virtually – on your computer screen – before buying materials.  You’ll find when you go to the shop to make whatever it is you’re gong to make – it will come our better.

By the way – some ask why is this cabinet design software and not furniture design software.  Well it’s both really.  Designing from the board level lets you make pretty much anything you need.

Thanks,.

Dave

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Certainly if you are in the business of making and installing storage sheds – you could design two or three basic models – and use the standards capability of SketchList 3D to insert different objects like windows, or doors, maybe even a fireplace.  [You can tell I have been thinking about a ‘man-cave’ building for my yard.  My neighbor built one last fall and every guy on the street wants one!]   Then using the stretch and shrink abilities of SketchList 3D you can create any size building you want.

Heck – you could clone and space these babies and put up a whole street or neighborhood.  Kind of a Sim City for builders!  A special thanks to Brian from Halifax, Nova Scotia for sharing his work. By the way Brian  if you read this – please comment on your design experience.

The post Build a Shed?? Application of Woodworking Design Software appeared first on SketchList3D.

Let me show you in this video…

So to breifly summarize assemblies:

1. allow speeding design by cloning
2. let you create an assembly, save it as standard, and insert it in other projects
3. take one design and stretch, shrink, or clone and mirror the contents
4. can be cloned and spaced over distances in one step
5. can be rotated 90left, 90 right, or even 180 degrees.

Assemblies in furniture design software make you more productive – both in terms of time saved and results produced.

The post Using Assemblies for Good Design – Cabinet Design Software appeared first on SketchList3D.

What I like about this project is that this contractor used a relatively simple design to get started with SketchList 3D.  He made good use of features such as clone and achieved a result.  When stuck he sent in an email and asked a specific question.  This video will help him get moving.

The process is automated to the point where you specify the size and location of the dado and the tenon – and SketchList 3D does the rest.  There can be a great degree of flexibility in the resulting tenon.  Fast.  That’s the goal of woodworking specific design software

CLICK TO SEE VIDEO

So follow the guidelines for good testing / learning.

1. Have a realistic first project in mind
2. Watch some video to learn
3. Begin
4. When stuck – communicate.

Thank you,
Dave

The post Tenon and Dado to Join Boards – woodworking design software appeared first on SketchList3D.

I have always been a bit crazy about more screen space on my computers.  I am willing to pay a bit more and make more connections to maximize my view of what is on my computer.  This true for spreadsheets and for graphics and so it’s especially true for SketchList 3D cabinet design software which combines the best of spreadsheet management of sizes and location values and images.

Attaching two monitors is pretty easy these days – a snap on most laptops.  In the past, with desktop towers, an additional monitor meant putting in another graphics card.  Often that involved increasing the output of the power supply.  Frustrating and expensive it was…

But now it’s easy.   I just plug in my second monitor to my laptop.  The graphics setup will identify the second monitor and give you options as how to set it up and use it.  I’m talking Windows here – to see the setup form just right mouse click on blank part of screen.  I have attached another monitor to my MAC as well.

The way I use it is to have both screens connected so I can move windows off the right of one into the left of the other.  I think this is the most productive.

You may be able to dig that old monitor out of the shed and use that.  Make sure you get some help lifting it!  Also it has (for us in the north east) the additional benefit of heating your office.  OR you can use this as the ‘need’ to buy another flat screen.  There are deals to be had.  I bought my 28 inch screen about two years ago for around $300.

More screen space increases productivity by eliminating the need to open and close, or cover and uncover windows you need.  You can simply find a place on the screen and park the needed form there – always available at a glance.  Also because you can increase the size of the image areas you can make you designs bigger.  This brings up more detail and gives better feedback.

Even if one of the screens is a bit smaller – you can put the board forms on it.  Or put less used forms on the additional screen.  But eventually you’ll see them both as one big screen and this will help you.

I have one user who connects his SketchList 3D design software to a very large TV.  I tried this with my 50 some inch high-def and wow – it’s really cool.  I thought about bringing the TV to my shop office — but I have teenagers who watch that TV.  While I’ll do a lot to get a big screen – I won’t mess with them for it…

The other thing I really like that I feel helps my productivity is a track ball.  I can spin the cursor all the way across the screen(s) with a flick of my index finger.  The other thing is that the wheel (upper left of photo) is very useful for SketchList 3D functions like zooming the size of an image larger or smaller.  You might see there are a series of buttons.  Using the software that came with the trackball I set set up all sorts of short cuts – like click and hold.

And yes it is wireless.  Most of the time I use a wireless keyboard and my wireless trackball so on those long days of designing, testing, or writing I can squirm about in my chair without getting tangled in the wiring.

I have played with digitizing pads – which essentially are bigger versions of the pad used on most laptops for moving the mouse around.  I found the lack of feedback by having the finger movement and eye on the screen to be a problem.  I expect as more computers move to touch screen input and SketchList 3D does more with moving objects around on the screen – this might change.

Anyhow – at a minimum scrape up another monitor, even a ‘smaller’ one.  Anything you can do to increase screen size will speed your design with the SketchList 3D cabinet design software.

The post Setup for Success in Cabinet Design Software appeared first on SketchList3D.

One key point is the concept of work area within an assembly.  The thing is you can drop a standard object into an assembly and re-size it, but then getting that assembly to line up with the rest of your work can be cumbersome.  One solution is to take the re-size object (say drawer) and save it as yet another standard.  Then go into ‘target’ assembly and insert the new standard.  That works fine.

OR you can make room in the  target assembly, insert the standard (drawer) – and re-size that portion of the assembly.  Move it into position and you are all set.  Then clone you hearts out – makes work easier and faster still

Next very powerful V3i feature — rotating of boards and assemblies within a project.  This means you can not only re-size standard objects – but use them left, right or center in your designs!  This feature is out of development and being tested.  Should be an auto-update available to V3i users by the end of the month.

V3i is coming out this week.  On Wednesday the downloads, instructions for upgrades, and purchase options will be added to the web page.  These new features make SketchList 3D furniture design software a very powerful and productive tool for your business.

If you have any questions or comments, let me know…

Dave Rozewski

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