Do you like taking on construction projects? Are you a meticulous planner? Whether you are an architect, graphic designer, or project manager, there are many tools like AutoCAD you can use to make sure your plans and ideas are executed seamlessly.
With advanced software, you no longer need to depend entirely on precise measurements made with pen and pencil on physical blueprints. Using the right products and services, an architect or graphic designer can create perfect blueprints, art, and media.
One such method is through the long-running program AutoCAD, which is available for Mac, Windows, and Android.
What Is AutoCAD?
AutoCAD stands for Autodesk computer-aided design and it is used by architects and planners to create and implement blueprints more easily. Developed by Autodesk, AutoCAD continues to be an industry standard for design after nearly 40 years.
Autodesk makes software used in many occupations and fields. Its services include free software and subscriptions with which users can develop architectural plans, educational materials, and more.
Now that we know a little about the background of AutoCAD and Autodesk, let’s delve deeper into what one can do with this powerful software.
What Is AutoCAD Used For?
While AutoCAD caters mostly to graphic designers, the software actually has quite a few key uses.
- It lets you draw more accurately. Above all else, AutoCAD allows for accurate drawings and designs. Whether you are an architect working on a building plan, or a graphic designer launching an advertising campaign, AutoCAD is perfect for drawing nearly anything.
- It allows you to create architectural plans. Perhaps the most prevalent feature of AutoCAD is its meticulously detailed building schematics. Sure, you could create physical blueprints for buildings on paper. But with AutoCAD, the process is much easier. Learning the software is essential if you want to become an architect.
- It can help engineers. In the same vein as architects, AutoCAD programs and services can be used as drafting tools for engineers, electricians, HVAC installers, and plumbers. Want to see an entire sewage system layout? AutoCAD can literally give you a better picture of a complicated pipe system or electrical grid.
- It minimizes human error. Pouring a ton of time and energy into a project only to find a huge error when it is too late is always regrettable. With proper AutoCAD training, you can significantly minimize the frequency and severity of human errors in your designs.
Learning AutoCAD
Whether or not you should learn AutoCAD depends on whether you use architectural drawings as part of your occupation. At the very least, you should have an interest in graphic design. If you fall into one of these categories, then learning AutoCAD can help advance your career.
How Long Does It Take to Learn AutoCAD?
It will take a few years. Everyone’s journey with the software is different. If you are already familiar with Autodesk software and services, you will be able to pick up AutoCAD more quickly.
However, don’t let the timeframe discourage you from learning AutoCAD. You may be better equipped than you realize to learn the software. Let’s look at how you can easily get on the track toward mastering it.
How to Learn AutoCAD: Step-by-Step
Although mastering AutoCAD will certainly take self-motivation, we’ll point you in the right direction. Here are the proven steps to make learning AutoCAD an absolute breeze.
- Download AutoCAD. The first thing to do is to get yourself a copy of Autodesk AutoCAD. You can get the subscription model on a month-to-month basis for $210. The best value comes with their three-year plan, which costs $4,565, or $127 a month. There are also quite a few benefits and purchase options to help you acquire a copy of AutoCAD. If you aren’t quite ready to drop a lot of money, there is a free trial available for experimentation.
- Read up on the documentation and AutoCAD tutorials. Long-standing companies like Autodesk offer a ton of resource documents and tutorials. As you’ll see, these AutoCAD tutorials, whether official or on YouTube, will give you an inside look at the software’s potential uses for both creative and professional projects.
- Create and experiment. If you are a graphic artist, this should be a given. One of the best ways to familiarize yourself with a piece of advanced software is by learning the interface through experimentation. Feel free to draw, build, and plan.
- Take an AutoCAD course. Even if you have already pored over several manuals and watched a few video tutorials, nothing beats attending an online course. This is especially true for complicated computer programs. There are tons of ways to learn software like Excel or Photoshop through courses, and AutoCAD is no different.
- Get certified in Autodesk. After you feel that you have mastered the software, you might consider getting a certificate. Autodesk itself offers several options for certification in various fields. Having one of these certificates can assist you significantly in job hunts and interviews.
The Best AutoCAD Courses and Training
Autocad training is a fantastic way to learn the fundamentals of the program. Online courses and in-person classes can give you a better idea of how to best use AutoCAD in your building projects.
Best Online AutoCAD Courses
What better way to learn this popular software and its applications than online? You will have many online options to choose from. Let’s look at some of the most notable, paid online AutoCAD courses.
The Complete AutoCAD 2018-21 course
- Provider: Udemy
- Time: About 19 hours
- Prerequisites: None
- Price: $30
Udemy offers online courses on many topics, from guitar lessons to painting, photography, and of course, AutoCAD. This course is one of the best selling AutoCAD classes online and starts by introducing absolute beginners to the program.
Throughout the course, students will partake in exercises involving blueprints and building layouts, pipes, and electrical circuits. Along with showing students the varied uses of AutoCAD, this course also prepares them for their certification exam.
Throughout 21 sections and 186 lecture videos, total beginners will transform into confident Autodesk software users.
All you need to start this bestselling Udemy course is a basic grasp of the Windows operating system.
AutoCAD Course – Project 2D and 3D
- Provider: Udemy
- Time: 13 hours
- Prerequisites: None
- Price: $40
This more specialized course deals with both 2D and 3D drawings in AutoCAD. The course includes many short, useful video lectures. You will watch videos on everything from how to install the program to advanced 3D drawing techniques.
This course is intended for those with no prior knowledge of AutoCAD.
Best Free AutoCAD Courses
If you are just starting out and using the free trial of the software, you might also want to try a free online AutoCAD course. Just because AutoCAD can be expensive doesn’t mean you can’t master Autodesk products and services on a budget.
Let’s look at some of the free options available to you for AutoCAD training.
60 AutoCAD Tips in 60 Minutes
- Provider: Autodesk
- Time: 1 hour
- Prerequisites: None
- Price: Free
This is a great little primer course for anyone dabbling in AutoCAD. Participants have access to an hour of highly informative HD video and many other downloadable resources available.
Taught by Lynn Allen of Autodesk, this quick, free AutoCAD course will help participants learn how to perform advanced commands with little effort and master drawing skills. This course is guaranteed to get you comfortable with both the UX/UI.
AutoCAD 2020: Basic Drafting Techniques for Designers
- Provider: Udemy
- Time: 2 hours
- Prerequisites: None
- Price: Free
Since AutoCAD is a powerful piece of drafting software, it only makes sense to pursue classes and courses that deal specifically with design techniques.
Aimed towards both beginner and intermediate users, this course is a great primer to solidify AutoCAD skills and knowledge. There is about two hours worth of video material to consult when testing out new skills in AutoCAD.
With this short list of lectures, paired with a comprehensive list of commands, this is a great, free AutoCAD course you can complete at any time. All you need is a remedial grasp of the software to join. If you are thinking about a career in graphic design or architecture, this intro will work wonders.
AutoCAD 2D and 3D practice drawings
- Provider: Udemy
- Time: N/A
- Prerequisites: None
- Price: Free
While this is technically listed as a class, this is a fantastic AutoCAD reference more than anything. The AutoCAD 2D and 3D practice drawings are just that: examples of both 2D and 3D drawing techniques and examples to draw your own style from.
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Through these techniques, participants learn why AutoCAD is one of the premier pieces of software in the field of graphic design.
The course serves as a supplement to other Udemy AutoCAD courses and offers individuals the chance to see and harness drawing and creation techniques.
Best AutoCAD Books
Are you hesitant to jump headfirst into a course that may be over your budget? If so, there are quite a few books published on Autodesk and AutoCAD that you can turn to instead.
AutoCAD For Dummies, Bill Fane
Where would we be without the ‘For Dummies’ series of beginners’ reference books? These books cover thousands of subjects, and luckily, AutoCAD is one of them.
The book covers AutoCAD as well as other computer-assisted design programs. This continually updated text clues readers in to both simple and advanced methods used in graphic design projects.
Specifically, this book will help you create an advanced project from scratch, master basic drawing, and generate 2D and 3D drawings.
Practical Autodesk AutoCAD 2021 and AutoCAD Lt 2021: a No-Nonsense, Beginner’s Guide to Drafting and 3d Modeling With Autodesk Autocad, Yasser Shoukry
If you want to take things a step further than the For Dummies series, check out Shoukry’s Practical Autodesk.
Predictably, it covers the basics of AutoCAD, including the GUI, the files, formats, and toolbars that make up the user interface. However, this impressive text also delves deep into AutoCAD’s more advanced features, giving users a chance to put their skills to the test.
This book is good for nearly all skill levels, although it is written for design professionals and engineers.
AutoCAD 2021 A Project Based Tutorial, Tutorial Books
Whereas most of the AutoCAD books available are great for the basics, this text covers the specific field of home architecture. This AutoCAD book is perfect if you want to focus on building 3D homes.
Tutorial Books takes you through the detailed process of mapping out your first building, using advanced, yet intuitive features to build a structure. After that, readers will learn how to outfit their homes with lights, doors, and windows. After completing the roof, your 3D home will be fit to print.
This book is excellent for AutoCAD beginners as well as budding architects.
AutoCAD Certification
AutoCAD certifications can help you score a job in graphic design, engineering, and of course, architecture. While they might not be the deciding factor in the hiring process, certificates will help boost your resume.
Official AutoCAD Training from Autodesk – Autodesk Certified Professional (ACP)
If you want to prove that you know all about AutoCAD, you should go straight to the source.
This Autodesk and AutoCAD training certification gives you the chance to show that you are proficient at the program, and will impress industry experts.
However, Autodesk recommends that you have a firm grasp on the basics before signing up for this course. Participants will go over Autodesk tools, then will take a two-hour exam. If you pass, you will earn a certification in Design and Drafting with AutoCAD.
Best Online AutoCAD Tutorials and Resources
What happens if you don’t want to take a course and would rather learn on your own? Well, there’s a solution. As this is a noteworthy software, there is no shortage of online resources offering forums, tips, and tricks to help you learn.
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to AutoCAD Basics
This is a creative and simple way to familiarize yourself with AutoCAD. Provided free of charge by Autodesk themselves, this guide is perfect for any skill level.
This doesn’t just go over the basics like the user interface or user experience. Instead, it includes a detailed list of complex commands, modes, and modules to explore. Definitely check this site out to help you prepare before enrolling in a class.
The AutoCAD Blog
The official AutoCAD blog is the perfect information hub for reaching your personal goals with the software. Along with timely news on software updates, the blog outlines helpful sites, demos, shortcuts, and resource centers for all things AutoCAD.
This is a great site to check out once you have downloaded the free one-month trial of the software. It is also one of the fastest and easiest ways to get in contact with the developers.
The AutoDesk Services Marketplace
The Services Marketplace is a unique resource. No matter your language or location, you can find consultants, trainers, companies, and tutorials on the different Autodesk products and services.
Got a question about Autodesk Maya? Need someone to help with an intensive AutoCAD project? Going to the Autodesk Services Marketplace is a great way to tap into the vast network of individuals and companies that use these products.
Should You Study AutoCAD?
If you are a graphic designer looking for a new product to assist in designing, you will want to try AutoCAD. Additionally, if you are an architect who wants to create an extremely accurate, modern blueprint, AutoCAD can assist you.
Regardless of your occupation, learning the fundamentals of an Autodesk program like AutoCAD can serve you well in the long run. If your resume contains certifications or accolades in programs and services like AutoCAD, it can be extremely beneficial.
The only thing to do now is to get your hands on a copy of AutoCAD. You can find it available on mobile devices like iPhones and Androids, as well as on desktop operating systems like Windows and macOS.
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