Archie Survival Tip #62
Find your preferred workflow.
While it’s important to have a basic understanding of a wide variety of programs, it’s arguably even more important - especially in school - to figure out a workflow that is most efficient for you. Everyone prefers different programs, and finding the ones that work best for you can help you to create better work in less time.
For me, this usually looks like starting in Sketchup, and then moving to different programs depending on the drawing. For 2D and 3D linework drawings (plans, sections, elevations, axons, etc.), I take the linework into AutoCAD, clean it up, then take it into Adobe (Illustrator to keep the linework vector/editable, then linked in Photoshop to add color/effects). For renderings, I livesync with Lumion, churn out the main image, and then add people in Photoshop. Overall, I use about five of the ten or so programs I listed in AT#61.
Other people I know prefer to do all their modeling and linework in Revit, then do some quick edits in Photoshop. Some use VRay for renders. Some don’t even know how to do much of anything with Illustrator. We all may have different workflows, and that will most likely be reflected in our drawing styles, but it doesn’t necessarily make one flow or another bad or good. Just different.
Find what works, and stick with it.
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