Likelihood to Recommend Adobe Illustrator is used to help make drawings look good but not make them. It is easy to add color or texture but it is hard to actually make the drawings in it. I would recommend using other software to make the lines for plans and sections and using Adobe Illustrator to make it look good.
Read full review As a mechanical engineer, it is one of the best tools to just start modeling and engineering with. The UI tools are intuitive and engineering analysis such Mold Analysis, FEA, are great! Other 3D CAD modeling tools have a longer learning curve to master. All in all, if you're not planning to design an entire airplane with large assembly files, then Solidworks is your tool!
Read full review Pros Vector graphics for scaling to large sizes Filling an object with a texture Easily adjusting and expanding an artboard to fit the size of the content (especially for infographics) Compatibility with other Adobe CC programs, but also exporting for PPT graphics Read full review The collaborative work environment is a cool and useful feature where groups of people can work on the same model at the same time, and SOLIDWORKS ensures that you don't overwrite each other's work. The ease and amount of customization options are very useful for creating a personalized and intuitive user interface, whether SOLIDWORKS is your native CAD package or not. It is very easy to quickly edit a model you have already created. The software allows sketch and feature editing without having to take the time to actually enter the sketch/feature environment. The use of configurations and configurations-specific dimensions in the same sketch is very useful for creating different forms of the same part Read full review Cons It's tough to master. If you haven't used Adobe products like Photoshop or Illustrator before, there is a lot to take in. It would be great to have some better options to preview the final product if you're creating a multiple page document. Better integration and pricing points with Adobe Stock for the useful stock images to complete your projects. Read full review Save DWG 2D files in inches or metric easily, defaults to metric and has to be manually converted to inches When using the sketch feature, the ability to disable ALL references. If I don't know the exact shape and I want to draw/adapt my design, it harshly interprets the references which have no value to me. The easiest exact is to think about when you have a Microsoft Word document that has a lot of formatting, photos, tabs, etc. If you accidentally hit the "enter" key, you can explode the formatting and everything goes crazy. SW does this to me, I just want to "doodle" my sketches, edit/delete/etc and not be bound by arbitrary references. For the sketch feature, ability to use a DraftSight plugin of some sort. I'm super fast in DS, if I could draw using the commands in SW then I would probably never open DS again and convert to SW full time. Currently, I only use SW as a way to convert 3D files so I can build everything in DraftSight. Read full review Likelihood to Renew While Adobe Illustrator CC is one of the only true design software out there, it really stands heads above the other products. It's clean UI and menu structure is easy to navigate.
Read full review We have absolutely no reasons to not keep with SolidWorks for the foreseeable future.
Read full review Usability Illustrator has become easier in recent years to use with more intuitive tools and controls for them. Illustration software has improved but Adobe Illustrator has kept up and keeps the edge with its extensive toolset. Newly added collaboration tools with Adobe make it even better and the expectation is that is to continue.
Read full review SOLIDWORKS is very user-friendly. The user interface is intuitive. Many sources for help are available in the event you are attempting something new.
Read full review Support Rating I normally already know how to do whatever I'm trying out, but the documentation (as well as a simple Google search) makes any question quick to resolve. The Adobe boards themselves are a fantastic resource, especially for resolving questions between new programs and iterative releases.
Read full review We have an unusual arrangement. We don’t pay for support, but we’re partnered with a VAR for second-tier support.
I work with other users if I have questions but when we’ve had to ask the VAR, they always have answers. It appears that all of the VARs have access to a support platform from DS SOLIDWORKS that helps them answer most questions.
Read full review Alternatives Considered They complement each other, each with its own specific characteristics, but within a marketing sector, an experienced designer knows that the use of these tools in sets makes all the difference. It is possible to combine their uses and create really relevant materials that will bring a great return to the company and in the dissemination of arts with superior quality to the competitors
Read full review Onshape is a direct competitor. It has great entry level pricing and it is easy to access with no installation required. Being a web based app there is sometime some lag being based in NZ. Management also have concerns over where the data is stored on the cloud. With SW we can control where it is stored
Read full review Return on Investment Helps us quickly and easily create and manage numerous logos Cloud libraries allow us to access commonly used colors, fonts, logos and other design elements quickly We are able to provide high-quality, scalable college logos for print and digital which give us a more professional, credible look. Read full review Creation of small 3D pieces to generate cash flow. Not being able to create 3D sculptures with this tool, and not being able to fulfill the client's requirements. To be able to sell high visual quality simulations for companies that hire the service. Read full review ScreenShots