I use Rotring

never tried Faber Caster except for colour pencils

Autocad is widely used in the industry worldwide. It is the most popular software for drafting. Though you can do 3d with autocad, the 3d stuff that can be done is pretty limited. 3D Max is a popular software for 3d modeling.

I used Archicad which can do 3d as well, though the rendering is not as good as 3D Max and also the animation for Archicad is quite 'static'. I usually do my modeling in Archicad together with drafting and then import it into 3D Max to clean up the modeling and then do the rendering and animation in 3D Max.

if you have to struggle in everything, it means that you aren't up to the standard...how can you even enjoy when you are struggling?

except that the when you publish, there's a archicad logo in the edu version. it can be removed with acrobat professional though.

archicad's rendering can never be comparable to 3D Max's

i use archicad for drafting and simple 3d cos it's like a 2-in-1. you can just build the walls, windows, doors, etc and you can use it to show floor plans as well as do a simple 3d rendering. i never use autocad for 3d (though i know how to do it)

i usually import my archicad file into 3d max to do the rendering (if i have the time). if not, the rendering in archicad is passable if you know how to do it well

anyone into architectural visualization ?