Originally Posted by
mazing
Hi Everyone, this topic has been discussed before but knowing that software can change significantly with each update, and it seems like the past discussions are at least a couple years old, I'd love to hear everyone's opinions on, and suggestions for, pattern making software.
I'm a graphic designer that works primarily in 2D; being proficient with Adobe products such as Illustrator and Photoshop. I've played around with some 3D programs (Zbrush, SolidWorks) in the past just for the heck of it but never had cause to really delve into it until now.
Being an avid woodworking hobbyist, I'm extremely interested in combining my 2 passions: woodworking and design. I foresee creating a full gamut of patterns/projects ranging from utilitarian objects such as jigs and furniture to signs to decorative items and reliefs. I'm usually pretty swift and dedicated when learning applications but that doesn't mean I want to get into something with an extreme learning curve--at least not at this point. However, I don't want to learn something that is lacking or something that I will outgrow quickly.
I know it is a tall order, but I'm looking for something that produces professional quality output but is on the "easier to learn" side of the spectrum. So as you may have guessed, my question is "which programs do you use and/or which do you recommend"? Are any considered an industry standard in the cnc field?
Thanks in advance for your knowledge and input,
Mike