I just bought TurboCad and it came with FloorPlan (NOW exports 3ds files). Don't know why I haven't bought something like this before. Oh I know! They never allowed you to export any 3D information. Now even though the 3ds file generated has to be taken into another program before Poser and cleaned up (Poser still tends to want to weld vertices even with it turned off resulting in flat walls with curved parts), and it still is a messy file, it still is useable. Windows and window frames weld together. Then I tried Punch! Home Pro (The plans in the pic here are from PHomePro). That does decks but does not export 3D information. I hope to figure out how to export those files, because it looks a bit better than FloorPlan. Anyway the image on top is done in Bryce 4, just because it's easier to place lighting inside a closed structure. I hope to post some free and sell some interiors soon. James

Well done. Best of luck.

I've been using FloorPlan since v.4 and it's been a nightmare to get anything out. I did finally figure out how to get the dxf exported so that it can be cleaned up in Max 2.5, but man, it's a hassle. Gotta do one room at a time and color each element differently (baseboards, walls, windows, doors, frames, floor, etc, etc,) otherwise it comes in as one lump and you have to go through the process of splitting it all up. Yuck. Glad to hear that TurboCad outputs in 3ds. I hope it's less of a pain in the neck than the dxf from FloorPlan is. :) Kate P.S. I like the versatility of Punch! over FloorPlan, but the export leaves much to be desired. sigh

There is no export as I can see in Punch, unless you know something I don't? Please share if you do. Some careful planning (pardon the pun) in FloorPlan and a quick run through TurboCad is going well. Just have to make sure you group with colors in the materials requester in FP. This finally got the windows (glass) to export as a different entity then clumped with the rest of the window. It's a little time consuming but in the end I think it will be worth it. James

<< There is no export as I can see in Punch >> Exactly. Leaves much to be desired. ;-) And you're right about the worth of the FP/TurboCad export. It is time consuming, but once you're finished you've got an excellent model. So far I've only done one full building but I've done several individual rooms to use for various projects and they've turned out wonderfully. Kate

Well I've written (emailed) Punch in hopes that maybe they will either make an export available or may know of a plugin or workaround. It does have a 2D DXF export, so how hard could it be to write a 3D export. But still all in all 40 bucks for the pro version wasn't too bad for an almost throw away program. I still like the ease it makes of Decks and would love to have that to create some for my figures to play on. But also has terrible selection of windows, but better fitting than FloorPlan. JEEZ, I wish these companies would make their products complimentary to each other. But I guess that's like asking Steve Jobs and Bill Gates to the same party. ;-) I'm also going to look into Broderbunds Home design software. Seiarra Home design clearly does not work with any CAD or any other program for that matter (as an email i got from them), so It is useless. Well again, I hope to have some freebies and then some saleable items up shortly. James

Here's an example of faking a deck in FloorPlan. After some textures are applied, it should be great. James

It looks great, James! I got started with the Broderbund programs. The Home Interiors is only useful if you've got one of those Photo Modeling programs (like Canoma) but it puts out gorgeous rendered images. Sadly, you can't import anything other than jpg or bmp (I have to look it up, it's been so long since I've used it). I will say that they have a marvelous collection of windows, doors, furniture and textures - my gawd, the textures!!! The 3D Architect didn't export in 3D, which is why I went with FloorPlan. Sierra is ok. It does export into 3d dxf format, BUT you can't group by color, etc. When you bring it into a modeling program it's just one mesh, you have to chop it up yourself, which can be a real pain the the nether regions if it's a large, complex model. Word of advice - avoid the Bob Vila software, it's useless. Kate (the Home Improvement Software Junkie)

Here's an example of a room I exported, cleaned up and then moved to obj rendered in Vue d'Esprit. I got the toilet roll, towels and towel bars from Props Guild and the tub and shower curtain came from Viewpoint, and the toilet and sink are from Mesh Factory. The mirror and shelf are mine, the rest are from various free sites (and I'd have to find the CD with the original zip files to tell you who did what on those). Kate

Kate, You may or may not know this, but I'll pass it along anyway. In FloorPlan color means everything when you import to TurboCad. See picture for explanation. I hope this makes sense. James

Oh it makes total sense. I've been grouping by color since I began using floorplan. I just found it easier to work with once it was exported. Kate