3 minute read
Interview: Vectorworks
We have come a long way from the hand-drawn show designs of yesteryear. In recent times, designers, riggers and LDs alike have embraced a digitalised set up to bring the dreams of artists to life. There is a myriad of software options available to anyone who wishes to streamline the process of creating shows which are, in turn, safer and more cost-effective.
One of the leading names within digital design software is Vectorworks. The company recently launched its latest update, Vectorworks 2019, that offers designers even more ways to speed up their workflows. Earlier this year, TPi sat down with CEO Dr. Biplab Sarkar, who demonstrated this new ‘creative toolbox’.
In line with the company vision, Vectorworks sits comfortably in 3 independent markets: landscape, architecture and entertainment. In 32 operational years, Vectorworks has amassed over 650,000 global users, of which 110,000 are subscribers, who take advantage of the maintenance plan and free software updates. “Currently our biggest market is Japan, followed closely by the US, Germany and the UK,” stated Sarkar. “In fact, the UK has been one of our main focuses in recent months following the announcement of Vectorworks UK with offices in London and Newbury now open.”
More recently in September of this year, Vectorworks announced the opening of its Canadian facility in Vancouver with plans to open a satellite office in Toronto in the near future. “The opening of a Vectorworks office in Canada will allow us to better serve our growing community of users in North America, offering improved resources and a direct connection with our product development team,” said Sarkar.
Although the entertainment arm of Vectorworks only makes up 23% of its user base, Sarkar said this sector has seen some of the most significant growth in recent times. “Originally the only software Vectorworks had for the live events industry was software to lay out lighting plots - Spotlight. But with our development of 2 pieces of software, Braceworks and Vision, we now have competitive offerings for more of the market.”
Used together, all 3 pieces of software give a production team the tools to take a stage design all the way from conception to rehearsal. While Spotlight takes care of the aesthetic, Braceworks can create all the rigging plots and give accurate calculations for weight loads, as well as highlight any potential issues, such as overloading. Meanwhile, Vision allows users to open designs from Spotlight to construct lighting cues. Then, with a USB, it’s possible to transfer designs to a lighting desk and be show-ready. “The overall goal is to have a complete design suite of products that offer a seamless workflow between each stage of the design process,” explained Sarkar, in summation.
With the 3-stage workflow now in place, Sarkar and the rest of the Vectorworks team are keen to continually develop the capabilities of each faction. With much fanfare, the company announced the latest developments with Vectorworks 2019 last month. To kick things off, designers can now work in 3D from the beginning of the process in Spotlight.
Also, Vectorworks has partnered with MA Lighting and Robe lighting to bring a new open-standard format, General Device Type Format (GDTF), to the industry. Building on that momentum, Vectorworks has also introduced My Virtual Rig (MVR), an open-file-format container which packages the GDTF files for all of the lighting fixtures in a design, alongside a complete 3D model as well as data describing the positions and 3D elements. This allows users to easily conduct the revisualisation process within Vision and communicate directly from your Vectorworks design to your lighting console. The GDTF format is already supported by the MA Lighting grandMA3 console and will be supported by more than 20 of the largest lighting manufacturers in the near future.
Braceworks has also seen some new developments. The suite of tools now gives users the ability to create and calculate bridles, insert the components to achieve the needed leg length and calculate reaction and deflection forces with the Braceworks engine.
Vision had a facelift for the 2019 release with 7 times faster performance and better real-time rendering. The latest update even offers dongle-free licences, meaning users only need an internet-based protection licence to access Vision anytime. It’s an understatement to call this a huge advantage for those working on the road and showing clients designs and concepts.
While Vectorworks’ CEO was enthusiastic about how these latest developments will create more effective workflows for designers, riggers and productions, Sarkar added another key advantages is the potential cost-saving opportunities for rental houses. “While creating the show, designers are able to produce a list of equipment requirements, including cable and truss needs, which can then be linked to warehouse stock lists.”
As more warehouses now use RF ID and digital stocklists, Vectorworks is determined to communicate better and keep up with innovation. The future holds a simpler process of requesting equipment and faster methods of costing up a show.
That’s not all for Vectorworks! According to Sarkar, the company is always keeping an eye on development within the industry, particularly VR capabilities. “The idea is that designers can show the client the project in 3D,” he let on, confirming Vectorworks will continue to push protocols of art net “so our software is the most up to date with all the lasts fixtures on the market.”
For those interested in learning more about the company’s offerings, the 4th Vectorworks Design Summit will again be taking place, this year between 4 and 6 November at the Sheraton Grand at Wild Horse Pass in Phoenix, Arizona. The conference includes industry sessions, tech support, networking events, inspiring keynotes and hands-on training. TPi www.vectorworks.net
