Analyzing of
software for kitchen design
Currently kitchen design software is one starting point
for everybody who thinks about a new kitchen. Whether
you are the actual cabinet maker or the customer who
looks for a new kitchen, a good kitchen design software
can help you finding new ideas for your kitchen. This
article want to give an overview on what to look for
if you look for any software solution in this field.
Basic features of kitchen design software
Some
standard features that every kitchen software should
have are ease of use and self explaining help functions.
As user friendlyness is a wide term, every software
maker claims that his programs are easy to be used.
A quick look at some of the program screens can already
clear the dust on that issue. Is the program menu driven
or can be accessed mainly by the mouse. Do you find
a written manual that comes with it or is there a good
online-help available. If you have access to a demo
version of the software, its ease to check out.
Second basic question is about the PC requirement.
As most kitchen design software offer many graphical
features, they might require rather up-to-date computer
hardware to run properly. Make sure you check the system
requirements and compare it with your computer.
Kitchen design specific features of any software
Start
comparing kitchen design software evaluating some of
these key and important program features:
- 3
D View – can you see the kitchen
you designed in a three dimensional view. Is the
view rotable, so you can get a look at it from
many different angles.
- Print
plans – Check what type
of plans can be printed out from the designed kitchen.
Make sure you get print outs in different scales in
order to get more detailed plans of certain special
kitchen elements.
- Parts
list and cutting plans – A
good kitchen design software might also allow to
generate a parts list of all parts and materials
needed. Some more sophisticated programs even
offer cutting plans, so the cabinet maker knows
exactly where and in which order to cut any boards
to get the out of it.
- Library
of kitchen
appliances – Good
if you can draw any kind of oven or dishwasher into
your kitchen design software. But even better, if the
software offers a library of kitchen appliances which
can be pasted into your kitchen designs.
- Test
or Demo version available – Its
always good to read about something, but its better
to try it. Check if you can get a demo version
of the kitchen design software, so you can try
it before you buying it. Often these demo versions
are limited in time or some features like printing
are restricted, but they allow you to get a good
feel for the software.
If you have tested the various kitchen
design software programs
according to these features, you should obviously
compare pricing. However, especially if you us software
as a professional cabinet maker, you should also have
a good look on the service and if the program will be
developed further in the future. For those of you who
are homeowners and just look for kitchen design software
for one time use, this is of minor importance.
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