A 2D CAD application intended for general purposes.

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SimpleCAD is a 2D CAD application intended for general purposes. Just like most other CAD apps, its interface has the typical layout composed of a canvas in the center and toolbars on the top or the sides.

In this case, you can find the tools on the left while the upper bar lets you customize them, for example, setting colors, line sizes and text fonts. However, despite its name, this app is not so simple to use. In fact, depending on your previous experiences, it may have a steep learning curve, which its poor help documentation does not make much flatter.

Fortunately, there are drawing tools that allow creating practically any object, line or text. These include freehand lines, straight lines, curves, parallels, rectangles, polygons, etc. Moreover, you can add text boxes and pictures from external files. Additionally, the objects can be modified in any possible way, like rotating, resizing, moving and copying. Likewise, creating templates from an object or a group of objects allows you to reuse them later, thus saving effort and time.

One of the best things about the app is that it supports working with layers. In this respect, you can benefit from the possibility of hiding specific layers when you are working on complex projects.

Luckily, it is possible to customize the project to meet your specific needs. In this respect, you can use a given background color or even set it to transparent. In addition, you can use the unit system (Metric or Imperial) required.

Once you have finished your work, you can share it in multiple ways. For instance, you can simply select anything and then copy and paste it on another application. It is also possible to save your project in ADD format, which is unfortunately unsupported by other similar tools. However, this incompatibility issue can be somehow avoided by exporting to some other common formats, such as PNG, JPEG, TIFF and PDF.

All in all, SimpleCAD can become a powerful tool in the hands of experienced users. Luckily, it is appropriate for any kind of technical drawing. The product is also much more affordable than other tools of its type, but it has the inconvenience of being unable to generate 3D views. Finally, if you are interested, this app can be downloaded from the Mac Store.

Pros

  • Supports many types of design projects
  • Extensive collection of drawing tools
  • Supports layers
  • Allows customizing your project
  • Lets you create templates from objects
  • Exports to various picture formats
  • More affordable than most other similar tools

Cons

  • Poor help documentation
  • Steep learning curve
  • Native format incompatible with other similar tools
  • Cannot generate 3D views
This program received 1 award
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Specifications
Developer:
Tien Thinh Vu
License type:
Commercial
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