Design Software
This page provides tips on which software to use for a particular purpose and how to get started. Except as noted, software is available for both Mac and PC. In-house support for software is available from our Design Software Tutorials page and from the Computer Help Desk assistants.
Access to Lab Software (the underlined text below is not yet updated for January 2022)
During the pandemic, you can access design software remotely. This includes Adobe Creative Cloud (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign, etc.), ArcGIS Pro, AutoCAD, Rhino, Grasshopper, Ladybug, Honeybee, SketchUp Pro, VectorWorks, and V-Ray.
- For general information, refer to Dalhousie's Computer Labs and Software Access page.
- Dalhousie has three platforms for accessing software remotely: Software Download, RLab (Remote Lab), and VLab (Virtual Lab). To view a list of software on all three platforms, go to the Lab Software page.
- To download software, start at the Software Download page.
- For RLab: For Mac and Windows instructions, go to Remote Lab Access Tutorial. To save your files before you log out of an RLab session, upload them to your OneDrive account, which provides 1TB of free cloud storage. These instructions are also available in separate videos for Mac and Windows: RLab video for Mac and OneDrive video for Mac; and RLab video for Windows and OneDrive video for Windows.
- For VLab: Go to the Virtual Lab page and follow the instructions to access software on VLab1 or VLab2.
- For support, e-mail the university's help desk: support@dal.ca.
Dalhousie University also provides Microsoft applications in Office 365: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, etc. Go to my.dal.ca, log in, and click on the 9-square grid at the top left.
For video conferencing, refer to the Remote Communication page.
1. Graphic Design
Adobe Illustrator CC
Useful for: making drawings and graphic art; laser cutting
Available from Adobe; also on Arch-Plan lab computers (see above)
Tutorials: Adobe; Lynda (free access to Lynda with a Halifax library card)
2. Image Processing
Adobe Photoshop CC
Useful for: editing photos and images
Available from Adobe; also on Arch-Plan lab computers (see above)
Tutorials: Adobe; Lynda
3. Page Layout and Compositing
Adobe InDesign CC
Useful for: producing documents with images and text; process portfolios
Available from Adobe; also on Arch-Plan lab computers (see above)
Tutorials: Adobe; Lynda
Conceptboard (web-based)
Useful for: design process, desk crits, and online collaboration (with Zoom)
Available from: Conceptboard
Tutorials: Conceptboard
4. 2D Drafting
AutoCAD
Useful for: 2D drafting, laser cutting
Available from: Autodesk (free)
Tutorials: Lynda
(For 2D drafting, see also Rhinoceros and VectorWorks below.)
5. 3D Modeling and Rendering
SketchUp
Useful for: 3D modeling, terrain mapping, site analysis, rendering, solar studies, rapid prototyping
Available from: SketchUp
Tutorials: SketchUp
Rhinoceros
Useful for: 2D drafting, 3D modeling, complex geometry, digital fabrication, rendering, solar studies, rapid prototyping
Available from: Rhino3D
Tutorials: Rhino3D
VectorWorks
Useful for: 2D drafting, 3D modeling, building information modeling (BIM), rendering, presentation drawings, solar studies
Available from: VectorWorks
Tutorials: VectorWorks
Revit
Useful for: building information modeling (BIM), 3D modeling, parametric modeling, producing drawing sets
Available from: Autodesk
Tutorials: Autodesk
6. Visual Scripting
Grasshopper for Rhino
Useful for: parametric modeling, physics simulation, hosting plug-ins for BIM, site and energy analysis, augmented reality projection, structural analysis (note: Mac version is not fully functional)
Available from: Food4Rhino
Tutorials: Grasshopper 3D; Modelab
7. Rendering
V-Ray
Useful for: 3D visualization and presentation renderings from SketchUp, Rhino, and Revit
Available from: Chaos Group
Tutorials: for SketchUp; for Rhino; for Revit
8. Energy Calculation
Matchbox (web-based)
Useful for: energy modeling
Available from: Matchbox
Tutorials: n/a
9. Website Design
Adobe Portfolio CC
Useful for: web hosting and design
Available from Adobe; also on Arch-Plan lab computers (see above)
Tutorials: Adobe
10. Digital Presentations
Keynote
Useful for: making digital presentations
Available from: Apple (free)
Tutorials: Apple; Lynda
11. Video Production and Editing
iMovie
Useful for: editing videos
Available from: Apple (free)
Tutorials: Apple; Lynda
Adobe Premiere Pro
Useful for: producing and editing videos
Available from: Adobe
Tutorials: Adobe
12. GIS
ArcGIS
Useful for: digital maps
Available on Arch-Plan lab computers (see above)