Who can do architectural maps?

[The Vector Doctor]

I get these kinds of requests with regularity. Attached is a detailed architectural drawing of a floor from a building. Using Illustrator's default set of tools is not ideal. These are usually drawn with CAD programs. Is there anyone here interested and capable of doing this type of work? I don't want CAD output because those always produce inferior linework (curves become straight segments, multiple small shapes, etc). I thought maybe a Corel or Illustrator user had the proper tools to do so.

I do many maps and fire escape type drawings but not with this much detail. Some plugins have prebuilt tools for walls, doors, stairs, etc. Normal vector tools require drawing each item individually which is not cost effective.

Let me know in the thread or PM me

 

[jiarby]

So someone wants you to be a draftsman and copy their blueprints for $25!?

 

[GK]

MapStudio for Illustrator is a pretty elaborate program for road maps, topographical, etc. CADtools for the rest.

LoL should have read more...well, here are the tools to do the work if anyone does want to...

 

[Mosh]

Simply load it in versaworks and print. Easy $40.

 

[The Vector Doctor]

Simply load it in versaworks and print. Easy $40.

Are you suggesting to print as is? Quality is not good enough in most cases. This is not bad, but not the issue at hand. They usually are not like this and are usually worse

 

[Mosh]

Stuff like this, I tell the customer it is going to print as good as the art is. It is on them.
We make them have it sized and everything when we do them, if they can draw a blueprint, they can scale it up to the size they want it reproduce. I think you are trying too hard, sounds like they just want a copy of a print, not a peice of fine art.
You need to get over a fex pixels, I know you are the Vec Dr. but......besides if they are done on a CAD, they should be a vector at some point.

 

[Shovelhead]

I love drawing this kind of stuff...it's very cathartic.

 

[The Vector Doctor]

Stuff like this, I tell the customer it is going to print as good as the art is. It is on them.
We make them have it sized and everything when we do them, if they can draw a blueprint, they can scale it up to the size they want it reproduce. I think you are trying too hard, sounds like they just want a copy of a print, not a peice of fine art.
You need to get over a fex pixels, I know you are the Vec Dr. but......besides if they are done on a CAD, they should be a vector at some point.

The attachment was a sample. they are often worse quality and cannot be printed. Other issues... 1) they may want to overlay it onto a colored background without the white box surrounding a scan. 2) Not everyone has original CAD/DWG files 3) They want to color in objects 4) CAD drawings have some elements that the customer does not want to include

The purpose of this post was not to judge the quality of this piece, but rather to find someone who is willing/able to produce a vector of complex architectural drawings. I do apartment maps, fire escape drawings, etc but not files with this much detail

 

[The Vector Doctor]

I love drawing this kind of stuff...it's very cathartic.

Does that mean you are interested? I am serious. I need someone to refer to, or work for me when these jobs come up

 

[stevesign]

"Normal vector tools require drawing each item individually which is not cost effective."

Whichever way you look at it, in Illustrator or Autocad, its still a lot of work.

I wouldn't go so far as to say it was detailed either..

 

[Shovelhead]

Does that mean you are interested? I am serious. I need someone to refer to, or work for me when these jobs come up

F'n A.

 

[The Vector Doctor]

"Normal vector tools require drawing each item individually which is not cost effective."

Whichever way you look at it, in Illustrator or Autocad, its still a lot of work.

I wouldn't go so far as to say it was detailed either..

But don't those tools/plugins have prebuilt shapes? I think this would be far easier with the proper program/plugin.

 

[stevesign]

Sure, you can use Illustrators Symbol Librarys to speed things up, there are lots of vendors that offer architectural symbols.

You can ask the architect to export as DXF, Polyarc, which gives better results importing into Illustrator, specifically, nodes are not split.

 

[LittleSnakey]

If you have the autocad files saved as a version 12-14 dxf file you will get smooth curves.

I get these kinds of requests with regularity. Attached is a detailed architectural drawing of a floor from a building. Using Illustrator's default set of tools is not ideal. These are usually drawn with CAD programs. Is there anyone here interested and capable of doing this type of work? I don't want CAD output because those always produce inferior linework (curves become straight segments, multiple small shapes, etc). I thought maybe a Corel or Illustrator user had the proper tools to do so.

I do many maps and fire escape type drawings but not with this much detail. Some plugins have prebuilt tools for walls, doors, stairs, etc. Normal vector tools require drawing each item individually which is not cost effective.

Let me know in the thread or PM me

 

[The Vector Doctor]

these are all great solutions, but keep in mind 90% of the time my customers do not have any original files. Just scans, faxes, photos, etc

Remember, I am not a sign shop. That is up to the sign shop to get with their customer and hunt down properly saved CAD files.

 

[stevesign]

Damn customers.

 

[DOGraphics]

Do you have a different sample of the "poor quality" you have mentioned?

Are you wanting some to draw the floor plan (i.e. architectural maps)?

I have AutoCad and could probablt do these. It would depend on what need to be done. In regards to time and cost.

Let me know.

 

[signmeup]

Eric,

You need to develope your own set of standard objects like toilets, doors, stairs, windows etc. Then you just copy/paste them into your tracing. That's how it's done in CAD.

What does this sort of thing pay?

 

[mark in tx]

I have had some luck importing files like that with Flexi, believe it or not.
Usually the worst that has to be done is connecting line segments, and re-creating some specialized glyphs.
Flexi is more expensive than Autocad, I think, but it might be worth it for you to go that route, Flexi is easier to learn than Autocad.

 

[stevesign]

The trouble is, that its not often the client wants to pay $200 for his CAD drawing to be re-drawn.

Tough.