What's your opinion on Drawing Software?

[JoeyD]

Hello everybody! I'm in the process of weeding out some drawing software and I need some more opinions before I make my decision. I'm looking for something that will trace jpegs and would be an overall good program for a plasma machine. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

[griffin]

I use Corel X4, it works pretty good for stuff like that. I don't like it at all for making brackets and things like that, which is what I do the most of.

[kjzitur]

I use TurboCad15 for my technical stuff (like brackets, fixtures, railings, machines,store fixtures,) both 2D drawings and 3D modeling. Works great for making shop prints. And I use Coreldraw12 and CoreldrawX3 for the artsy stuff (like signs,wall hangings, fireplace fronts). I like the weld feature and the shape tool function. As for tracing, both programs have that ability but Coreldraw works much better. But if you are expecting to trace a picture and load it into your burn table and cut away, I think you might be disappointed. Depending on what is being traced, all of the tracing programs that I have tried the tracing result required cleaning up. I find it much faster and get better results using Coreldraw to hand trace over the drawing. Hope this helps...........ken

[Loyd]

I am not the greatest "artsy" guy. I do mainly brackets and parts for my many projects. I use DeltaCad for my brackets, parts etc.. It is inexspensive, very easy to learn and I have found will do anything a person would want in 2d. I have been a machinist for over 30 years from working on sawmills, concrete trucks all the way to sikorsky blackhawk helicopters and haven't had any problems with it. As far as artsy stuff I've just started using inkscape, which is free, and find it very easy and adaptable to what I use it for. I am in no way an expert on the use of programs like corel, adobe etc.. there are some people on this forum that are lightyears ahead of me so I would defer to them.
Just my 2 cents.
Loyd

[JoeyD]

Thanks everybody for your input. I think I have it narrowed down now, so I'll be making my purchase soon. Thanks again!