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November 13, 2009 – Add Greenhouses to your Landscapes
Greenhouses are a great way to take gardening to a new level. By having more control over your plants' environment, you can grow healthier and wider varieties of plants. In each of the Realtime Landscaping programs, a variety of 3D greenhouses can be added to your designs. Pots and planters can then be added inside the greenhouse to accommodate your selection of plants.
To add a greenhouse, click the Add Accessory button on the Landscape tab. Then click the Structures button on the left, scroll down to the greenhouses, and click the one you want. Once you have added your greenhouse, you can resize it as needed. Next, pots and planters can also be found in the Accessories library and placed inside the greenhouse. Finally, your selection of plants can be added to complete the design.
November 6, 2009 – Creating and Using Templates
Using Realtime Landscaping Architect, a useful trick is to save your own customized Plan View templates, including borders, scales, and title block. While simple to do, saving and reusing templates helps to keep your plans looking consistent and saves valuable time when starting a new landscape design.
To create a template, start a new design and switch to Plan view. Then add a title block, page border, measurement scale, compass, and other details that are common to your designs. Place these objects into their own layer to help keep them separate from the rest of your work. Then save the design using a unique file name, such as “Template1”. You can use any objects you want, including shapes, text, symbols, and more. For an example of a pre-made template, open “Landscape Template A4” using the File > Open Sample command.
October 30, 2009 – Accurate Landscape Lighting and ShadowsWhen presenting 3D designs to your clients, you can add a professional touch by ensuring that the sun is casting shadows in the right direction. In this landscape, for example, notice how prominent the tree shadow direction is. Many clients will notice this attention to detail and increase your chances of winning their business. Using Realtime Landscaping Architect, Pro, and Plus, the sun’s direction and the time of day can easily be set.
The sun direction is determined automatically by the compass direction and time of day. For example, when the time of day is set to Morning, the sun will be in the east and shadows will fall in the east-west direction relative to the compass. To set the compass direction, simply click the compass object (the arrow on the right side of the landscape) and set its rotation angle. To set the time of day, click Settings and Environment Settings. To view your design with realistic shadows and lighting, click the Walkthrough button.
You can also add landscape lights and view your designs at night. To do this, set the time of day to Sunrise, Sunet, or Evening. Any lights in the design will turn on automatically. This is a great way to visualize lawn, path, accent, and other landscape lighting ideas. Use the Screen Shot feature to create high-resolution renderings of your designs. Or better yet, use the movie creation tool to create virtual walkthroughs which will bring your designs to life.
October 23, 2009 – Windows 7: A New Platform for Realtime Landscaping Software
Windows 7 was released yesterday and tested by our staff. We are pleased to report that based on this testing, the official Windows 7 release runs the current versions of our Realtime Landscaping software beautifully, without any patches, modifications, or changes to the Windows settings. The transition to Windows 7 promises to be very smooth for both us and our valued customers.
The Windows 7 testing was performed using current versions of Realtime Landscaping Architect, Pro, Plus, and Photo. Users of earlier versions may need to adjust Windows settings for optimal performance, or upgrade to the latest version of our landscaping software.
October 16, 2009 – Windows 7: Initial Testing
We are happy to announce that our Realtime Landscaping software has passed our preliminary compatibility tests for Windows 7. This means that current and future versions of Realtime Landscaping Architect, Pro, Plus, and Photo should install and operate on Windows 7 without additional patches. When Windows 7 is released, our customers should be able to continue using our software if they upgrade Windows or buy a new computer.
We believe that the reason our current software operates on Windows 7 right out of the box and without any modifications is because it has already been optimized for Windows Vista, which uses a very similar interface to Windows 7. When the official version of Windows 7 is released, we will conduct additional testing and make solving any minor issues a top priority. If a minor issue is found and corrected, we will post a free update online for users to download. Please note that Windows XP and Windows Vista will also remain supported for the foreseeable future.
October 9, 2009 – Building your Own Waterfalls
Cascading water is often associated with tranquility, be it cresting waves at the beach or a waterfall near a wooded trail. By creating a waterfall in your landscape you can capture that peaceful ambiance while adding to the visual appeal of your design. Waterfalls can be virtually any size and shape, and can run into swimming pools, ponds, or custom basins. In Realtime Landscaping Pro, and Architect, custom and pre-built waterfalls can be added.
To create your own custom waterfall, first use rocks, accessories, or the modeling tools to create the 3D waterfall. Next, add the Flowing Water object that is found in the Waterfall library. Then, select your new waterfall and use the Model Creation Wizard to save it for future use. Set the object type to "Waterfall"
October 2, 2009 – Designing your Landscape over a Blueprint
Do you have existing 2D blueprints of your house and/or property? Using Realtime Landscaping Architect, you can save time by importing those blueprints and using them as templates for designing your landscape. Designing over blueprints makes the design process even easier and more accurate, and you can view the result in both 2D and 3D.
You can import AutoCAD drawings, scanned pictures, and other images as overlays using BMP, JPEG, PNG, or TGA format. If you have AutoCAD installed, then you can embed the AutoCAD drawings directly into your design as an OLE object. This makes it easy to import house plans, property lines, planting detail, and other blueprints to help you accurately design your landscape. Using the Layer feature, you can easily show this detail while designing, and hide it when printing your finished landscape. Here's an example.
September 25, 2009 – Faster Landscape Design using Snapping Options
One of the many helpful tools in our landscape design software is a powerful set of snapping options. Snaps help to “click” your objects into place in your 3D landscape or to a certain rotation angle. For example, when creating a house it is very useful to use the “Snap Grid”, which makes it easy to quickly build a house with straight walls and accurate dimensions. In all of our 3D Realtime Landscaping software, many different snap options are available.
To change how the snaps work, click on Settings and Snap Settings; all snaps can be turned on or off at any time. Aside from the extremely useful Snap Grid, other snap options include Angle, Point, Midpoint, Edge, and Perpendicular. Snaps make designing easier for both professionals and novices, allowing you to spend less time worrying about accuracy and more time envisioning your ideas.
September 18, 2009 – Modular Playgrounds and Swing sets
Nearly every adult appreciates a well-designed landscape, but with the addition of a playground or a swing set, a landscape can also grab the attention of younger audiences. In all Realtime Landscaping software, both prebuilt and modular playground equipment is included.
To add a playground piece, select the piece you are interested in from the Accessories library, and then click within the landscape to place it. The library includes pre-assembled playground sets, as well as modular pieces such as slides, swings, and monkey bars so you can build your own. By setting the snap grid to 2' (0.61 m), the sections will snap together intelligently to make the play set design process fast and easy. You can use the integrated modeling tools to further customize your playground to fit your landscape design.
September 11, 2009 – Landscaping with Terraces
Landscaping on sloping and uneven terrain can be a challenge. When the slope is steep, using retaining walls to create terraces are an elegant way to provide both structural support and an attractive view. Many different retaining wall materials can be used to create the terrace, and virtually anything can be used to decorate the terrace itself, so the design possibilities are endless. Realtime Landscaping Architect, Pro, and Plus provide comprehensive support for retaining walls and sloping terrain.
To create a terrace, first use the Slope tool to create a slope in the design. Next, click on the Retaining Wall tool and draw the retaining wall. Under the Retaining Wall’s options, check the “Cut Terrain” option. This will cause the retaining wall to cut into the terrain, forming the terrace. There are several other retaining wall options you can use to adjust the cut to your preference, and there are additional terrain sculpting tools to add more detail to the slope. The materials for the retaining wall sides and the retaining wall cap can be set independently. For more detail and examples, see Adding a Retaining Wall.
September 4, 2009 – Fantastic Gazebos
A Gazebo is truly a wonderful addition to any landscape design. A focal point for outdoor gatherings, the gazebo is both practical and decorative. Gazebos can house furniture, grills, or even fire pits, making them useful in all seasons. Many different gazebo designs are included with our landscape design software, and can be added quickly and easily.
To add a gazebo to a landscape design, just click on your favorite gazebo from the Accessories library and place it in the landscape. Once the gazebo is placed, it can be resized and given different materials or colors. Furniture, outdoor kitchen equipment, and lights can be placed in the gazebo and around it. For gazebos with their own patios or decks, simply use the Patio or Deck tool to build the gazebo’s base.
August 28, 2009 – Fence Design
Security, decoration, privacy; these are some of the important aspects of a good fence. Additionally, a fence is an investment that can add value to your property, or to the property of your client. Realtime Landscaping Architect, Pro, and Plus include a 3D fence tool that allows you to design realistic fences of virtually any type. Not only will the 3D fence tool help you to re-create existing fencing in a landscape to make your design more realistic, but it is also a great tool for designing new fences in realtime 3D.
To create a wooden or vinyl fence, click on the Fence button under the Landscape category and draw the outline of the fence. Once the outline is complete, the fence will appear and allow you to change various aspects of the fence, such as the wood grain, color, railing, caps, posts, height, and more. Gates can also be added through the Fence Gate button with just two clicks of the mouse. To add wrought iron or chain link fencing, access the Fencing button within the Accessories library.
August 21, 2009 – Outdoor Wooden Deck Design
A good deck is a very valuable asset for any home, and an important part of many landscape designs. Whether you are designing a new deck for a client or landscaping around an existing one, being able to accurately show the deck in 3D will go a long way toward making your design stand out among your competition. In Realtime Landscaping Architect, Pro, and Plus, detailed and realistic 3D decks can be created in virtually any shape and size.
To add a deck, simply click on the Deck button and draw the perimeter of the deck. After the deck is completed, over a hundred different wood materials are available for the deck finish. Other aspects of the deck can also be adjusted to your liking, such as the railing, the direction of the wood grain and the wood boards, and the deck stairs. Using the Realtime Walkthrough feature, you can walk around your property and view your deck in full 3D.
August 14, 2009 – Edging Your Way to a Great Landscape
Edging is both decorative and useful to professional landscapes; it frames your carefully designed plant regions and acts as a retainer for dirt or mulch. Edging also provides a nice transition between your yard or patio and the plant region while adding a feeling of solidity to the entire landscape. In each Realtime Landscaping program, edging can be added in a variety of different materials, including brick, stone, concrete, and even wood.
To add edging in any of the Realtime Landscaping programs, click on the Edging button, then click to begin drawing the shape of your edging. Edging can be made in any length or path shape, and can be set to many different widths and heights. Once the edging is created, its composition can be selected from the large library of edging materials.
August 7, 2009 – Outdoor Kitchen Design
Outdoor kitchens are a great addition to nearly any landscape; they encourage gatherings and add a comfortable atmosphere to decks and patios. Within all of our 3D landscape design software, many different outdoor kitchens can be designed. Along with cabinets and fireplaces, grills, sinks, and stoves can be added to enhance your design.
To start designing your outdoor kitchen, simply click the Add Accessory button (on the Landscape tab) and then click the Outdoor Kitchen category. Once you have chosen your object, just click where you would like to place it. The outdoor kitchen equipment can be resized, re-colored, and rotated as needed.
July 31, 2009 – Using Professional Plant Symbols
One of the highlights of Realtime Landscaping Architect is that it includes nearly two thousand varieties of artistic and CAD-style plant symbols. Most of the symbols were hand drawn by landscape design professionals. Using these plant symbols, landscape designers can produce traditional CAD drawings, or drawings that look like they were created in colored pencil or watercolor. Regardless of what symbol is chosen for the Plan View, the 3D view will always show the life-like plant as if you were really there.
Adding a plant in Realtime Landscaping Architect is simple: just click on the Plant button, choose which plant you would like, and place it in the design. To change the plant symbol, just click on the picture of the plant symbol and select a different symbol from the library.
Click here for an example of how Realtime Landscaping Architect's plant symbols can make your plans more professional and compelling.
July 24, 2009 – Idea Spectrum is Reviewed on Studio 5 Television
Realtime Landscaping Plus was recently reviewed on television and online, and was chosen as the best landscape design software in its class. Highlighted among its features are its ease of use, its impressive appearance, and its fast design speed. Following are some quotes from the review:
“The software is truly easy to use and the landscapes we created were vivid and precise.”
“Anyone can use this product and make their yard look fantastic.”
“In no other software we tested could we create such beautiful designs in so little time.”
The full review that was aired on television, along with the online written review, can be found here.
July 17, 2009 – Designing Over a Picture Using Realtime Landscaping Photo
Sometimes the ideal landscape design is simply a before and after picture of the property. This type of design can be done easily and quickly using Realtime Landscaping Photo. Because designs in Photo are done on top of a picture of the landscape, the end result is extremely realistic. Even if a full 3D design is required, a Photo design can be done first as a quick way to feel out what the customer wants.
Realtime Landscaping Photo is offered by itself, and is also included with Realtime Landscaping Pro, Plus, and Architect. What makes Photo so easy to use is its intuitive drag and drop functionality. What makes it powerful is the large library of plants, accessories, and hardscaping, as well as tools to make the newly added landscaping blend in with the original picture.
July 10, 2009 – Add Special Effects to your Landscaping Objects
Special effects can greatly enhance your custom landscaping objects. For example, a stainless steel barbeque grill can have a realistic reflective chrome finish instead of a common steel material. Special effects available include glass, variable levels of transparency, chrome, and variable levels of specular lighting (shininess). These effects allow you to create or modify virtually any type of object, including windows, outdoor kitchens, and greenhouses.
With the release of Realtime Landscaping Pro, Plus, and Photo 5, and Realtime Landscaping Architect 2, any part of any object can now have a special effect, called a “Shader”. To apply a shader, convert your object to a Custom Model, select the parts of the object you wish to change, and then select the effect from the shader list. By experimenting with the different shaders, each material can be given many different appearances.
July 3, 2009 – Making your Landscape Designs More Realistic
When creating a landscape design, every extra detail helps to bring your work to life. For example, why settle for pain grass surrounding your design when you can add realistic roads, cars, telephone poles, fire hydrants, and stop signs! While the roadway and surrounding areas are usually not the primary focus of a design, they can help to bring the entire design into perspective and add realism in the process.
With all of our 3D landscape design software, roads, cars, and other roadway accessories are included. To add one of these accessories, simply click the Add Accessory button and select the object of your choice.
Have a happy and safe Fourth of July.
June 26, 2009 – Create Beautiful Koi Ponds
Koi ponds are great additions to many landscape designs. The soothing water ripples, lazy fish, and peaceful sound create an area of serenity that adds character to your landscape. Additionally, koi ponds can add life to an otherwise motionless landscape. In Realtime Landscaping Architect and Pro, koi ponds of any shape and size can be created.
To add a koi pond, simply use the Pond Wizard and select from one of many prebuilt ponds. You can then click Ungroup and customize it to blend with your landscape design. You can also create koi ponds from scratch using the Pond tool. After the pond is created, the material, water, border, and depth can be adjusted. When entering the Realtime Walkthrough mode, koi fish are automatically added to the pond and swim around realistically – they can even be fed!
June 19, 2009 – Add Free Models from Google SketchUp
Because our landscape design software supports Google SketchUp models, you have access to thousands of free 3D models that you can easily add to your designs. These are in addition to the thousands of choices that are already included with our landscaping software. To locate these free models, simply search for the SketchUp 3D Warehouse. Once you have downloaded the models you like, you can import them into your landscaping designs by clicking Tools and Model Import Wizard.
Thanks to the new modeling tools that are included with Realtime Landscaping Architect, Pro, and Plus, it is easy to modify the materials of imported SketchUp models or to simply change the model pieces. Once a SketchUp model is imported into your landscape, it will always be available for use in future landscape designs as well.
June 12, 2009 – From 2D to 3D Made Easy
Never has it been simpler to switch between a 2D view and a 3D view in any software. With the click of a button, you can change your perspective from looking at your design at an angle to viewing your landscape from above. You can add and edit objects in both views, making the design process seamless and comfortable. For example, if you place an arbor while in the top-down (2D) view, you can instantly flip to the perspective (3D) view and adjust its appearance.
To switch between views, simply click on the appropriate view button at the bottom of the screen. Switching views can be accomplished in any 3D design at any time while designing your landscape. If you have an object selected when you change your view, the object will remain selected. Likewise, if you change your view in the middle of editing an object, you can continue to edit after the switch.
June 5, 2009 – Organize Your Plants
Taking note of every plant you add to your design can be painful, so let Realtime Landscaping Architect do the work for you! The Plant Legend is a powerful tool that takes only two clicks of the mouse to add and automatically fills with all the plants you have added to your design. If you add a new plant or remove a plant after the Plant Legend is in place, the Legend will update itself intelligently. Here's an example.
Aside from providing important information in a convenient fashion, the Plant Legend makes a powerful impression to your client that your design and you yourself are organized and diligent. Additionally, the format and style of the Plant Legend are adjustable in order to blend well with the rest of your design.
May 29, 2009 – Summer Nights
Showing off a landscape design at night-time can have a powerful effect, especially with well placed landscape lights. During night or evening, your favorite landscaping features can be showcased with spotlights, and paths can be subtly lit for an inviting atmosphere. If you are a professional landscaper, showing your customers how their landscape will look at night will greatly increase the “wow” factor of your presentations.
In each of our Realtime Landscaping programs, the time of day can be set by clicking Settings and Environment Settings. Because night-time designs focus heavily on lighting, you have strong control over the lights that you place. The wattage of the lights can be adjusted to make them brighter or dimmer, and the color of the lights can also be changed. When walking through the landscape at night, the lights will switch on and illuminate the area around them. See some examples of landscape lighting designs here.
May 22, 2009 – Be an Artist
Landscape design is clearly a form of art; one that is appreciated over many years and adds value to your property. With our latest software, we have added some exciting new ways to create stylized pictures of your 3D walkthroughs.
With Realtime Landscaping Architect 2, Realtime Landscaping Pro 5, or Realtime Landscaping Plus 5, you can now save pictures in the style of watercolor paintings, traditional paintings, or colored pencil drawings. Simply design the landscape like normal, and select your style when you save an image from the Realtime Walkthrough mode. For an example, see the "pencil sketch" example here.
May 15, 2009 - New Updates Available
Updates have been released for Realtime Landscaping Architect 2, and for Realtime Landscaping Pro, Plus, and Photo 5. These updates will put Realtime Landscaping Architect to version 2.05, and Realtime Landscaping Pro, Plus, and Photo to version 5.05. The updates make some minor changes, such as adding wind support for custom imported 3D plants.
To download your update, either navigate to the correct product page on our website and click “Updates”, or simply click “Help” and “Check for Updates” from within your software.
May 8, 2009 - A Short History of Idea Spectrum
People often ask us how we got started, so here's a short history of Idea Spectrum and its President/CEO, Jim Napier. Jim has been creating commercial software for the last 25 years and has developed over a dozen retail titles. He founded Idea Spectrum in 2004 and for the last five years has been leading the development of our landscape design software.
Prior to Idea Spectrum, Jim spent 12 years developing 3D software, including 4 years at Microsoft where he designed the 3D graphics engine for the Microsoft Combat Flight Simulator 3 and led the development of Crimson Skies for the Xbox. Both games were a huge success and have won many awards.
Jim's goal in starting Idea Spectrum was to create clean, easy to use software for homeowners and landscape designers. The first program to bear the Idea Spectrum label was Water Garden Studio, a program designed for users to design ponds and the surrounding areas.
After further development, Realtime Landscaping Pro, Plus, and Photo were released. Pro, Plus, and Photo were much more advanced than Water Garden Studio, transforming Idea Spectrum’s product line from one pond program to a full landscaping line to be used by enthusiasts and professionals alike. Our latest product, Realtime Landscaping Architect, combines the ease-of-use of our homeowner software with the CAD features required by professional designers.
Over the years, the Idea Spectrum team has grown and is continually producing new and improved landscape design software. We listen closely to our customers and continually improve our software to meet their needs.
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Idea
Spectrum, Inc.
P.O. Box 7920
Bonney Lake, WA 98391
Telephone (Orders & Technical Support):
Inside the U.S. 1-866-894-4332
Outside the U.S. 253-862-2678
Frequently Asked Questions: FAQ
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