What software to create colour plots? Alternatives to M-COLOR

[Anonymous]

Hello,

I am an architect and I would like to create colour plots. I would like to create drawings which have a breadth of colours and hatchings etc.

I was previously using M-COLOR, http://www.m-color.com/m-color/products/mcolor.shtml

in conjunction with AUTOCAD but I realise that is a little dated now. What would you reccomend that I use?

Thank you

[ELLIOTCORREA]

I never post on these Forums

A simple line

M-Color Should be saved

Thanks

Elliot

[J-Porter]

I'm sorry to wake the sleeping dog here.  @john.vellek, we have a landscape architecture division here who relies heavily on the M-Color add in software. It provides options that are not native to the AutoCAD world.  M-Files, the makers of M-Color, announced that they will no longer make M-Color.  The last version they made was for AutoCAD 2023.  You can purchase this one version and use it to your hearts content.  However, as we get further and further away from 2023 what will happen to users who need these options?

In the past, Autodesk had a similar product called Autodesk Impressions.  I think the big questions here are. . .

1. Does anyone know of an add-in software that might compete with M-Color?

2. Does Autodesk ever intend on bring back Autodesk Impressions?

3. Does Autodesk have any interest in purchasing M-Color and adding it to their software options?  

Someone please be a hero and guide me down the right path.  

Thank you! 

[pendean]

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@J-Porter wrote:

I'm sorry to wake the sleeping dog here.  @john.vellek...

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You are replying to an old post and to an Autodesk Staffer that has not been with the organization for almost as long as the date of their last post.

M_COLOR is gone.
All the old software you are inquiring about are long gone.

Invest in software like Adobe Illustrator (and many others) that do a way better job. 

Best wishes.

[J-Porter]

I didn't realize John was gone.  Apologies.  We have Illustrator.  The users state that it just takes much longer to accomplish what they need and M-Color was easier to use.  

Thanks!

[pendean]

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@J-Porter wrote:

I didn't realize John was gone.  Apologies.  We have Illustrator.  The users state that it just takes much longer to accomplish what they need and M-Color was easier to use.  

Thanks!

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Indeed, a lot of things we are each very familiar with and trained on are easier to use for all of us: I would not dismiss a 40-yo software like Illustrator though based just that.

What they seek no longer exists sadly. Many AutoCAD users find the for-purchase SketchUpPro software easier for tasks like your needs over a software never designed for such abilities.

[johntomlinson2971]

I've not found anything better, and a lot of the comments on this are from
people who have obviously not used M-Color, and so have no appreciation of
how simple it was to use, how integrated it was with AutoCAD (& yes, even
with LT back in the day...), and what terrific results it could produce
with just a few mouse clicks. Suggestions of using Illustrator or
Photoshop, or even sketchup, are totally missing the point. I would go so
far as to say it is the USP of my business, so much so that I am sticking
with Autocad 2022 for the foreseeable future.
If only someone from Autodesk would pick it up, it could be a massive sales
incentive for the next upgrade, rather than the fairly underwhelming
upgrades we have seen over the past few years.
Oh well, rant over!

[ELLIOTCORREA]

Hello 

I agree with John. M-Color is easy to use for simple 2D Renderings.  I use 3D Max on 3D. On 2D, M-Color is the best.  I have tried Illustrator and photoshop that adds to much time.

The owner of M-Color, Antti Nivalla, may be willing to license to anybody that would take his program and enhance it and keep it alive. Hos other software, M-File kept him too busy.

As far as John is saying, sticking to AutoCAD 20222...  I will stick to AC 2024 for the same reason.... M-Color.  After using AutoCAD since version 1.6 on DOS, for the first time I have to start looking on any CAD software that will allow me to do these 2D simple renderings.

To all of you that have never used M-Color you should try it.... It is simple and powerful for illustrations.

Thanks
Elliot

[RobRocks]

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@ELLIOTCORREA wrote:

To all of you that have never used M-Color you should try it....

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Why would someone try a program that is no longer being developed?...

[pendean]

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@RobRocks wrote:

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@ELLIOTCORREA wrote:

To all of you that have never used M-Color you should try it....

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Why would someone try a program that is no longer being developed?...

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🙂

[ELLIOTCORREA]

People have to experience how easy to use simple programs for simple 2D rendering.

Just look how complex are all the rendering engines for 3D Max.

These complex programs take my creativity production time. All the tome thinking which button to push and which physical material place.

We need a simple software for color 2D presentations

Thanks for your response!!!

[RobRocks]

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@ELLIOTCORREA wrote:

People have to experience how easy to use simple programs for simple 2D rendering.

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I think it would make sense to try out what is and will be available not a program that is at end of life.

[andersen9845BFT]

Perhaps this thread could be a request for Autodesk to pick up the program and run with it.  It's truly a useful tool for companies that need a little ooomph to show off an illustrated site plan.

[pendean]

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@andersen9845BFT wrote:

Perhaps this thread could be a request for Autodesk to pick up the program and run with it.  It's truly a useful tool for companies that need a little ooomph to show off an illustrated site plan.

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Since no one here is Autodesk... feel free to propose that idea over here (they convince a 1000+ other users not from your one company to do the same)

https://www.autodesk.com/support/technical/article/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/Feedback-to-Autode...

Remember, Autodesk used to be in the space (you kids remember FREESTYLE? IMPRESSION?) but they gave it up a long time ago and why M-Color found a niche (that also dried up due to little interest).

[amalandfx]

I stumbled on this while talking to somebody about this and wanted to put out another option for those who liked the 2D color tools being inside AutoCAD since it looks like people still want it.

Land F/X is a plugin to AutoCAD that includes Site Color and Color Render. We've had several past M-Color users start using them and they found them to be just as good if not better than what they had in M-Color.

M-Color and Land F/X 

I also have guides on how to take these things set up in AutoCAD and move them to Illustrator or Photoshop after for quick finishing touches if needed.

Using Photoshop in Post-Production Renderings 

Power Tip: Using Illustrator to Spice Up a CAD Plan 

-Amanda