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Permalink Reply by Christien Fontaine on October 2, 2009 at 5:56am

IMO, There are no easy CADD programs, they all give you about the same bang for the buck and it is your ability to grasp the Order of Operations, key strokes, etc. that determines how easy the program is. Most CADD apps take years to fully master, and even then updates and new features are always being added. That being said, Sketch-Up will do you very well for a entry level CADD. The program will allow you to figure out blocking, rough set GP, etc. its rendering and design abilities are a little limited, but effective non the less. If you haven't had any Hand Drafting, that is whee I would start, since it make the transition to a CADD a little easier once the fundamantals are there. Also, if just getting into a CADD program, you will find that your sets in the beginning will be a little on the boxy linear side as learning NURBS, and Lofted Protrusions takes some several steps for the o3. For templates, I would try and make your own, if by templates you are refering to your Title Block and overall page layout. Now for the Rendered Shapes, look to the Forums, and CADD stores. Or take the time to make your own library of furniture, plates, speakers, etc. I usually find that once I have done a design, I have added 10-15 new objects to my library and after a year or so, you may find that you have enough resources that you can offer up your objects for trade or purchase. I don't know if this will help you but, good luck in your efforts as learning anything new is never a waste of time!

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Permalink Reply by Gregory J. Owen on October 5, 2009 at 10:15am

A great book for set design is Drawing & Rendering for Theatre by Clare P. Rowe. As the title suggests, it's great for developing and improving your drawing and rendering skills. As far as drafting programs, Vectorworks is a great one that a lot of designers use. I am currently learning it myself and I am finding it pretty easy to pick up.

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Permalink Reply by Michael Powers on October 5, 2009 at 10:16am

Lynn Pectal's book will always be one of the best.

I use Auto Cad because I have t deal with architects for installs and bidding. Most theatre people tend to like vector works for the learning curve and cost.

Michael

Michael Powers
Project Manager
Central Lighting & Equipment Inc.
675 NE 45th Place
Des Moines, Iowa, 50313
michael.powers@clelights.com
515-277-4190x115
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www.clelights.com
515-557-0178 cell

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Permalink Reply by Steven Mitchell on October 5, 2009 at 5:19pm

Best set design book I know of is the old Lynn Pecktal book: Designing and Painting for the Theatre. At Amazon: /www.amazon.com/Designing-Painting-Theatre-Lynn-Pecktal/dp/003011901...


It may not have been updated in years but it is great for scene painting, interviews with veteran designers and solid advice on good design principles and the process.

Also good and more current is the J.Michael Gillette book: Theatrical Design and Production, www.amazon.com/Theatrical-Design-Production-Introduction-Constructi.... It is inclusive of costume and lights too.

Computer programs most used are: AutoCad, Vectorworks(runs on mac- but so does AutoCad now on the new Intel macs)and SketchUp.

I am currently learning both SketchUp and Vectorworks and both are great programs. SketchUp is much simpler and direct. (And free!) Vectorworks is for real drafting and rendering. Being used by architects even now. But especially lighting designers.

Good luck. There are many more books out there. just look at what Amazon refers you to. But many are just interviews with established designers and pretty pictures.

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Permalink Reply by Steven Mitchell on October 5, 2009 at 5:26pm

Also almost all the old guard-mostly Yale trained or teachers- have a book. With the notable exception of Ming Cho Lee who is and has been the head of Yale Set Design since the seventies I believe and iss the Dean of Modern American Set Design. Former Yale Heads were Lee Simonson, Donald Oenslager, Howard Bay. I believe they all have design books- some quite old and out of print but valuable info if very theoretical.

Also the bible for design is really Robert Edmond Jones' The Dramatic Imagination. He started it all really as far America goes. Before him Joseph Urban and Gordon Craig and Adolphe Appia(who also all have books).

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Permalink Reply by John Kimball on October 6, 2009 at 8:47am

Vectorworks, spotlight w/ rendering. Try downloading a trial version. Use the online tutorials and resources in Vectorwiki. SketckUp imports directly into drawings. Deeply discounted at academic pricing if you (or a friend) qualify.

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Permalink Reply by Braxton Winston on October 6, 2009 at 12:54pm

Hey Ken,

Check out our website. at:
http://www.rosebrand.com/shop/results.aspx?keywords=book

This link will take you to a page where we have several books on set design. Please feel free to contact me at braxton.winston@rosebrand.com if you have any questions, comments, or concerns. Thanks!

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Permalink Reply by Kyle Techentin on October 6, 2009 at 6:19pm

THe CAD program your going to use really is based on what exactly you are going to do with it. For set design i would recommend vectorworks. It can come with renderworks and or spotlight for lighting design. Like said before there are no easy CAD programs. Yale for instance uses AutoCAD, where as my school Indiana UNiversity uses Vectorworks. I swear by it. WSIWYG (Whats you see is what you get) is mainly for lighting but is VERY easy.

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