An architect is using a computer program

And, those coming from that discipline might struggle initially with the transition. Most CAD applications are great with straight lines and less marvellous with anything curved.

Rhino was designed from inception to handle curved lines, meshes and NURBS surfaces of high complexity, like those in the features of a human face or the sweeping curves of a super-car. Instead, it caters for add-ins and the Grasshopper visual programming system to enable it to be tailored to specific tasks.

This makes Rhino a highly flexible tool that can be tweaked to automate complex modelling and detailing operations for those projects that need them.

Unusually for CAD software, you are not forced to upgrade to the next release and upgrades generally cost half that of a new license. Originally a Google-backed project, Sketchup is now owned and developed by Trimble, who release a new version at least once a year. After a few easy to follow tutorials, designers should be able to work rapidly to construct complex solid geometry using it. The free release has made Sketchup very popular, generating a large and active community of Sketchup users on hand to help the inexperienced.

The user-base has also contributed to an extensive object library, a vast resource of pre-constructed parts to drop into any project. It might not be suitable for designing a building entirely, but it is an excellent tool for rapidly prototyping a design when it is still at a conceptual stage. While we've featured some of the most powerful and popular AutoCAD and 3D design software programs in this roundup, especially for use in designing buildings and other architectural interests, there are plenty of alternative options to consider.

Some of these are worth looking at because they better serve as an introduction for beginners, while others are notable for being free while retaining useful features.

TurboCAD Deluxe is a particularly good choice for beginners and intermediate users. It may not offer as many features as some of the other products on this page, but that's to be expected with its lower price tag.

Even so, it may be a good piece of software to try in order to simply get used to basic functions, though be warned that there are no command line options here which more advanced programs tends to offer. FreeCAD is a free open source 3D modeler, which is especially good for reverse engineering models and seeing how changing parameters can affect the whole design.

While it's not so feature-rich as the big paid-for programs, it is a well-supported platform and it does actually have some complex features to explore.

Furthermore, it offers cross-platform support, so you can use it regardless of whether your PC is running Windows, macOS, or Linux. Although the term computer architecture sounds very complicated, its definition is easier than one might think. Computer architecture is a science or a set of rules stating how computer software and hardware are joined together and interact to make a computer work. It not only determines how the computer works but also of which technologies the computer is capable.

Computers continue to be a major part of our lives, and computer architects continue to develop new and better programs and technologies. The software offers access to stunning textures.

Further, its colour palette has few rivals. This means you can use light and shade to your advantage with V-Ray more so than most other design software. Designers across many industries use V-Ray in their work. Coming back to architecture, V-Ray is all about placing clients in a visual space.

Further, designers benefit from an extensive resource library to help them take their base designs to another level. AutoCAD software has been a fixture of the architecture sector since its release in The software has come a long way since those early days.

This history has bred familiarity. Students and professionals have used AutoCAD for decades. As such, learning how to use it often proves helpful when searching for jobs in engineering or architecture. It allows you to develop drawings that represent your buildings at the more basic level.

Designers will often transfer these drawings to other software packages to work on the more advanced modelling concepts. Further, AutoCAD is a useful teaching tool. Users can change preferences and use it to learn the basics about line weights and design layers.

Architects can even access an industry-specific version of the software. This allows for more efficient drawing of base models. There is some disagreement about how useful Maya is when it comes to architecture. Some argue that it is too general a design software. However, this lack of constraints is often useful to designers. Maya proves perfect for exploring concepts that stretch further than what other types of software allow. It offers you more freedom in your work.

This fosters innovation in design. Many use Maya to come up with new ideas before transferring their Maya models into other software. It is this freedom that has led to Maya gaining acceptance in the architectural sector. You can even download additional toolsets specific to the industry. Many who are new to 3D modelling also use Maya as a teaching tool. It allows them to get to grips with the core concepts of creating 3D models without dealing with the constraints of specialised software.

Its tutorials prove very useful. Further, Maya has a large community around it. This makes it easier for designers to get help if they start struggling with their work.

Many point to ArchiCAD as offering everything a designer would need. It proves useful in creating both 2D and 3D models. Further, you can integrate several other software packages into it. This allows designers to create photorealistic models.

You can learn the basics of the software with minimal effort. This has made it a favourite with students and those just starting out in architecture.

It offers a time-effective way to create detailed models. As such, it is great for projects where time is a factor. Beyond that, the software offers several tools for automating complicated processes. For example, it has an inbuilt library of stair and rail designs. Better yet, you can match these resources to the building you have created.

Many architects agree that designing staircases can prove difficult in large projects. ArchiCAD removes much of this difficulty through automation. Most architects work extensively with computers, using them to develop design ideas or draft construction documents using computer-aided design CAD software.

Word processing software is used to write specifications, proposals and other documents. Architects typically work with large-format drawings on 24 by inch or larger paper. Most architectural firms have their own large-format printers or plotters to print and copy computer-generated drawings. Digital cameras enable an architect to document existing site conditions for future reference or for use in presentation images. Photographs help the architect remember important site characteristics that will influence the design.