TurboFLOORPLAN Home & Landscape Pro
Posted on Sep 14, 2009 under Architecture software | No Comment
TurboFLOORPLAN Home & Landscape Pro is a computer-aided design (CAD) program published by IMSI/Design. Similar to the TurboFLOORPLAN Instant Architect software program, Home & Landscape Pro will let you create floor plans, cost estimates, landscape designs, and masterful 3D illustrations. However, Home & Landscape Pro is more powerful than Instant Architect and has many more features.
This review is based on Home & Landscape Pro Version 12.
What Can You Do With TurboFLOORPLAN Home & Landscape Pro?
* Draw floor plans
* View 6 sample projects
* Design houses, rooms, decks, kitchens, bathrooms, terrains, and landscapes
* Import a photo of your home and add landscape features
* Design electrical, plumbing, heating, and cooling systems
* Create 2D and 3D images
* View houses and rooms from many perspectives
* Arrange furniture and plan interior decoration
* Choose from an extensive menu of options for siding materials, landscape plants, cabinets, appliances, furnishings, and other features
* Choose colors from a large palette of options
* Add labels and other text to your designs
* Estimate building costs
* Add voice and sounds to your designs
* Create animated views of your project
* Import your own photos for textures, patterns, and details
* Modify and save your plans
What CAN’T You Do With TurboFLOORPLAN Home & Landscape Pro?
IMSI TurboFLOORPLAN Home & Landscape Pro is a simplified CAD program that will let you accomplish many high-powered design tasks. That said, here is what Home & Landscape Pro will NOT let you do:
* Browse extended libraries of house plans and house styles
* Browse color palettes from multiple paint manufacturers
* View online galleries of projects by other users
* Get design tips and suggestions
* Check your design against national building codes
Also, note that CAD programs are not intended to let you import and edit photos of your own house. For that, you’d need a paint color software program or other type of photo-editing program.
How Easy is TurboFLOORPLAN Home & Landscape Pro?
Installing and activating the program DVD for IMSI TurboFLOORPLAN Home & Landscape Pro was a trouble-free process that took about 10 minutes. Once I had filled in my activation code number, Home & Landscape Pro opened with the same House Builder Wizard found in other TurboFLOORPLAN software. Help was also available in the 57-page Getting Started guide and a 330-page manual with an index.
The House Builder Wizard guided me through the design process by offering a series of options. With a click of my mouse, I could switch to 3D views and see my design from different perspectives. I could even view my project with eye-popping realism by wearing funky red and blue 3D glasses that came with the manual.
A paintbrush option let me choose from an extensive menu of siding materials, landscape details, paint colors, interior cabinetry, carpeting, and other features. Although I knew that more advanced features were available, I could progress quickly though my project by staying with the building wizards.
The Bottom Line
IMSI TurboFLOORPLAN Home & Landscape Pro is an adaptable program with out-of-the-box simplicity for beginners and powerful design tools for advanced users. In less than an hour, I was able to create floor plans and an elevation drawing. With more time (and a careful study of the manual) I was able to add greater detail and more features to my project. Home & Landscape Pro can also help plan terrains, landscapes, interior rooms, and utilities.
System Requirements
* Windows® 2000, XP, or Vista
* 500 Mhz or higher processor
* 750 MB free hard drive space
* 512 MB RAM (1 GB Recommended)
Cost
Home & Landscape Pro is available on DVD, CDs, or via download for about $43.48 or considerably less. To find the best deal, click the “compare prices” button below.
