Create an Amazing Yard With Landscape Design Software

The smartest way to go about doing a new outdoor project is to use landscaping design software. Just like engineers use software to create and test products, home owners and even renters can use software to build a new yard and the various structures within. No prior experience is needed to operate the software, as the tools are easily manipulated thanks to built-in tutorial videos and drag & drop functionality. Yardsurfer has put together an in-depth overview of how this software can be used, as well as several highlights on some of the top brands.

Just a Few of the Many Materials Used in Landscaping Software

A completely digital yard ready to be built for real.

1) Create the Best Landscape:
Landscaping software is designed to allow regular home owners and renters to create a digital rendition of their dream landscape. Whether the individual intends to plan out a small project such as the addition of a brick border, or a full renovation, this software can help. The best consumer and professional landscape design software contains a wide array of plants, materials and objects to choose from, most of which can be customized. Users can quickly build custom structures such as paths, gazebos, ponds, gardens, fences, brick edging and even decks. Simple drag & drop techniques are used to place, rotate and orient the objects into the proper position. In many cases, the final landscape can be converted into a blueprint and given to a contractor for assembly.

HGTV Platinum Suite

Chief Architect Suite 10

Punch! Design Suite

2) Plan Accordingly:
With yard design software, users can accurately visualize their desired landscape without actually building it. It is far easier to modify and tweak a digital design as opposed to a physical one. Also, many pieces of landscape design software have the ability to time lapse into the future, allowing you to see what your plants would look like years from now. You can accurately estimate if a tree or shrub will have enough space to grow.

3) Save Money/Time & Go Green:
Landscape designer software can help you estimate how much your next project will cost, and how much materials will be needed. By knowing the exact quantity of needed materials, you can effectively minimize waste. Also, you never have to travel between stores to get ideas, since the software provides you with a full material and object library. Certain pieces of software such as those from “Punch!” have a quick-start feature which can create a landscape in a matter of seconds. And finally, some software packages include a library of “green” products such as bamboo flooring and wind power generators.

Top Brands (Click to Learn):

Features We Look For In Landscaping Software:

Tool Set:
All landscape software products have an interface with a variety of tools. The tool set does not need to be particularly large or complex to create an ideal landscape. When you start using this software, you will come across tools and features such as grids, material/plant selectors, drag & drop functionality, snap mode, and many more. We have picked out the best brand names by looking at how intuitive and easy-to-use their tool sets are.

Usability:
The usability in a piece of landscape design software goes hand in hand with its tool set as well as the aesthetic appeal of the 3D renditions. The objects and plants should look realistic and feature detailed textures. The best landscape software products have realistic sunlight simulation which allows you to see your landscape at different times of the day, with the sun angled in different directions. By utilizing the rotation and zoom tools, users can zoom in on specific objects or see the object from any side. One of the most engaging and fun features are known as path animations. Path animations are used to create customized fly-through videos which fly across the landscape like a bird.

Image Courtesy: Smart Draw™

2D Versus 3D:
Landscaping design software which is 3D-capable (usually CAD based) has a higher learning curve, but allows for greater flexibility and is more realistic. When you create a landscape in a three-dimensional plane, you have greater control over object placement, colors, plants, and more. 3D landscape software simulates real objects very closely, and can be viewed from any angle in any light condition.

2D software requires you to take a digital photo of your home and upload it onto the computer. The photo is displayed in the software’s user interface and can be modified by placing 2d objects on top of it. You are essentially placing flat photographs over the top of your photo to create a rough landscape design.

Help Topics:
While most of these products are very easy to use, we know that having a helping hand nearby can help spur creativity. Most of the products out there come with built-in tutorial videos which guide you through key aspects of the software, helping you learn how to use the tools and features. In addition, a good old-fashioned textual manual can be of great use as well, whether you’re using landscape design software for Mac or Windows.