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 distinction should be made between drafting plans and modeling them. Conventionally, blueprints are drafted using either CADD (computer- aided design + drafting) software or by hand with pencil and paper. Since most professionals have now converted to computerized drafting, we'll use that example.
STANDARD DRAFTING PRINCIPLES
A standard set of plans is drafted in 2D, including the floor plan, elevations (which are flat exterior representations) and many specialized pages for the trades: plumbing, electrical, foundation, etc. Blueprints come in a wide range of quality and detail levels, but they are 2- dimensional drawings like this one.
MODELING A PLAN
 At Sunlight Homes, we use powerful, architectural-design software called ArchiCAD, produced by Graphisoft. Unlike traditional CADD, which creates 2D lines to represent walls, slabs, roofs and other elements, ArchiCAD fully models the plan. When we model a wall, for example, the software creates a virtual, 3-dimensional model of a wall, with height, width, depth and material attributes. The wall can be created and modified in a 2D window
or directly in 3D, giving our designer more flexibility and clarity. As the plan is modeled, we can easily view it in 3-D which is a powerful quality control tool.
With additional modeling work, you can view the inside and outside, complete with material textures, accurate shadows and transparent windows.
Click the play arrow to view this animation.
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