Guides & Publications
Whether you're new to Vectorworks or an experienced user, you'll find a training workbook that's tailored to your skill level. Each training guide offers a different type of experience for the user, from a conversational tone with simple exercises to detailed step by step instructions. Download the tables of contents and a few sample chapters to see which one best meets your needs. Many guides come with sample files and tutorial videos. Review the descriptions below to see what additional resources are included. Instructions on how to order are at the bottom of the page.
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Entertainment Design: Scenery, Lighting, and Sound with Vectorworks Spotlight $75 This book, written by award-winning scenic and lighting designer Kevin Lee Allen, explores the use of the Vectorworks Spotlight with Renderworks program for use in the entertainment industries. While the methods and techniques described are applicable to film, television, concerts, exhibits, and themed architecture or interiors, this tutorial focuses on a project that creates a lighting, sound, and set designs for the stage, the root of entertainment design. From one step beyond traditional pencil thumbnails, this guide outlines a process of design development and collaboration with other designers and technical staff. The text is tutorial-based and directs the user to create two projects, each supported by a series of simple exercises. The first project is the creation of a simple 3D form, and the second project details the creation of scenic, sound, and lighting designs for a theoretical Broadway production of Romeo & Juliet. Each step of the process, created for either a sole practitioner or a designer working in a team, is laid out as an exercise with step-by-step directions and options to suit individual designers’ work preferences and tastes. The tutorial is perfect as either a classroom text or a self-guided training option. Recommendations and Tips:
Read Table of Contents and Sample Chapter
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3D Modeling in Vectorworks, Fourth Edition $75 3D Modeling in Vectorworks by expert Vectorworks trainer Jonathan Pickup is an essential guide for anyone interested in learning to create free-form models with Vectorworks software. By taking complicated examples and breaking them down into manageable steps, this tutorial will help the reader build a foundation of skills for creating 3D forms through the use of extrudes, sweeps, solids, NURBS, loft surfaces, and 3D primitives. This fourth edition of the book has been updated to show you how to get the best from Vectorworks 2012. The chapter on Architectural Modeling has been completely re-written to demonstrate how to use the new Automatic Working Planes with the Push/Pull mode to quickly develop your designs.Recommendations and Tips:
Read Table of Contents and Sample Chapter
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Light Plot Deconstructed, Fifth Edition $40 (AVAILABLE MAY 10) Veteran scenic and lighting designer Gregg Hillmar has succeeded again with this fifth edition of Light Plot Deconstructed for Vectorworks Spotlight. The guide, written in an easy-to-follow and insightful manner, reflects Hillmar's drafting style and functions as a companion handbook to the software to help readers draft light plots more easily. The fifth edition reflects updates in the 2013 version of Vectorworks Spotlight software, including the re-engineered lighting device object, color options for lighting devices, unlimited fields in Label Legends, the new Clip Cube mode and Auto Hybrid command, improved rendering capabilities, increased navigation speed, and more. Readers who purchase this essential resource will gain a better handle on how to approach design and create more spectacular shows. |
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Remarkable Renderworks, 2nd Edition $75 Remarkable Renderworks, Second Edition® is a must-have tutorial for anyone wanting to become proficient in using Renderworks, the essential rendering tool designed to work seamlessly with Vectorworks® software. This self-paced guide uses an exercise-based format to show you how to create impressive, realistic renderings. You'll learn to set lighting controls, add map textures and backgrounds, and illuminate scenes with Renderworks' Heliodon tool, which replicates the sun's light. The workbook was written by respected architect and long-time Vectorworks user Daniel Jansenson, and it is intended for the Renderworks user who already has some experience with the fundamentals of Vectorworks software. |
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Residential Garden Design with Vectorworks Landmark, Fifth Edition $75 This tutorial covers the workflow for residential garden designers using Vectorworks Landmark software. Author Tamsin Slatter, the leading Vectorworks Landmark expert in the U.K., guides the reader through a landscape design project from start to finish.
Read the Table of Contents & Sample Chapter
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Vectorworks Architect Tutorial Manual, Fifth Edition $75
Although the example in the manual is a residential project, the principles learned can also be applied to commercial building design. Recommendations and Tips:
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Vectorworks Essentials Tutorial Manual, Fifth Edition $75 Recommendations and Tips:
Read Table of Contents and Sample Chapter
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Vectorworks Landmark Tutorial Manual, Fourth Edition $75 Written by experienced Vectorworks trainer and author Jonathan Pickup, the Vectorworks Landmark Tutorial Manual provides explanations of Vectorworks Landmark concepts and techniques for users of all levels. The topics discussed apply to both residential and commercial projects. The manual uses a series of exercises to reinforce the features and workflow capabilities of Vectorworks Landmark software, starting with a very simple exercise on landscape budgeting. Content and exercises build in complexity, and by the end of the manual the user will be able to use the plant database, create custom plants, edit the plant graphics, import drawings from consultants, create planting plans, and send the drawings back to a consultant. Recommendations & Tips:
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How To Order
US Customers:
Please call 888-646-4223 or visit our Online Store.
International Customers:
| Country | Distributor | Phone | |
| Australia | OzCAD Pty Ltd. | 612 833-88622 | sales@ozcad.com.au |
| Belgium | Design Express | 015/71 96 00 | info@designexpress.eu |
| Canada | Paxar Technologies | 800-260-0905 | sales@paxar.ca |
| Canada | Resolve Software Solutions Inc. | 1+866-288-1888 | sales@resolve.ca |
| Denmark | MikroGraf AS | 7022 2101 | info@mikrograf.dk |
| Germany | ComputerWorks | 49 (0) 7621 40 180 | info@computerworks.de |
| Greece | iSquare S.A. | 0030-210-9012892 | tsimetta.v@isquare.gr |
| Israel | Arigent Ltd | 03 5615322 | support@arigent.co.il |
| Netherlands | Design Express | 018/275 66 60 | info@designexpress.eu |
| New Zealand | Megabits Trust | 09 445 8480 | info@megabits.co.nz |
| Norway | Dakantus AS | 47 22 82 87 00 | vectorworks@dakantus.no |
| Sweden | BMV Studio | +46 (0)8-795 55 10 | info@bmvstudio.se |
| Switzerland | ComputerWorks Switzerland AG | 061 337 30 00 | backoffice@computerworks.ch |
| UK | Computers Unlimited | 44 0 20 8358 6668 | 3ddesign@unlimited.com |
All other international customers, please call us at 410-290-5114 or email sales@vectorworks.net
Other recommended guides:
Vector-workout
From $124.00US to $135.00US
Vector-workout is a downloadable movie based training resource offering fast and easy access to instructive movies, ideal for sharpening vectorworks skills quickly.
Jonathan Pickup, the author, said "a client told me recently 'I'm too lazy to read the manuals, just give me the information. Quickly!' So, I've rethought how to deliver Vectorworks training resources as visual tools. Vector-workout is the result - it's a visual teaching revolution for Vectorworks. As they say, a picture tells a thousand words, and Vector-workout kits do this brilliantly and the movies are the perfect alternative to slogging through endless textbooks.
Vector-workout training manual kits use pdf files with embedded self contained movies. When you open the files with Acrobat Reader, you have bookmarks on the left-hand side for quick access to the movies. Acrobat Reader has a built-in search function, so you can type in a word or phrase and have Acrobat search for you."
Platform: win/mac
Contact:
archoncad
ph +64 21 743 470
email: jon@archoncad.co.nz
web: http://www.archoncad.co.nz/training/vector-workout.php
Short Sharp Training
$21.50US
This new training resource is designed to sharpen your Vectorworks skills using a single task manual that explores and explains a single area of Vectorworks. If you want to learn about just one area of Vectorworks, these are the resources for you.
Each SHORT SHARP MANUAL clearly demonstrates key learning tasks and techniques, with 15-25 pages of step-by-step instructions and screenshots. By focusing on single topics, we give you access to new Vectorworks skills and techniques in small meaningful chunks!
These manuals are suitable for Vectorworks 12 to 2010.
Platform: win/mac
Contact:
archoncad
ph +64 21 743 470
email: jon@archoncad.co.nz
web: http://www.archoncad.com/electronic-manuals.html
LRA Designs
http://lradesigns.com/training-videos/
Price range $35-$200
These tutorials teach 2d drafting, 3d modeling, lighting rendering and light plot creation for VectorWorks. They also teach the basic use of Lightwright 5 and Adobe Acrobat Writer Pro. They are intended not only to teach the software but also to teach a way of navigating drawings and setting up workflow for large scale projects.




